Physical Fellowship - Highly Sprung Performance

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Physical Fellowship

The Physical Fellowship

The UK’s only physical performance festival exclusively for young people.

Highly Sprung’s Physical Fellowship Coventry was established eighteen years ago to give young people the opportunity to explore their understanding and experience of physical theatre.

To this day, it remains a unique and exciting opportunity for 11 to 19-year-olds to immerse themselves completely in physical theatre practice, working with renowned professional artists to make and present original work.

In 2026 Highly Sprung piloted the first Physical Fellowship National in North London – testing how the model can be expanded into new regions of the UK.

Produce

Highly Sprung artists deliver a two day residency participating schools and youth groups. Through games, exercises and workshop the artists inspire young people and support their creativity, creating their own piece of original physical theatre.

Participate

Students then attend a day of workshops, seminars and masterclasses delivered by visiting professional companies, allowing the students to gain a deeper understanding of the artform from world leading practitioners.

Perform

Finally, students have a professional platform to present their work in the festival showcase, followed by a headline performance from Highly Sprung’s youth theatre company, Sprung Advance PLUS in Coventry, or a company of students in professional training (National)

Physical Fellowship 2027

Physical Fellowship Coventry

Mon 28th June – Fri 2nd July 2027 at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

The 2027 festival will for the first time have fifteen schools places available, with school festival days and performances Monday – Friday of the festival week.

Due to the high level of interest for the 2027 festival and the limited number of school places available, places for The Physical Fellowship 2027 will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once the booking form has been completed.

Bookings are now open for 2027, we encourage you to book early to avoid missing out.

We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of physical theatre performers to the festival!

BOOK YOUR SCHOOL'S PLACE

Physical Fellowship National

Highly Sprung now aims to build on the learning from the 2026 pilot by expanding Physical Fellowship National into additional locations, creating a connected network of regional partnerships that increase access to high-quality physical theatre training and strengthen progression routes into further education, higher education and the creative industries.

If you are a School/MAT/College/University/Physical Theatre training organisation/Venue interested in exploring Physical Fellowship National in your area, get in touch below:

get in touch

Want to know more about the Physical Fellowship? Watch our recap video from Coventry 2024 to see how it all comes together:

Wonder how the Physical Fellowship National works? Take a look at the PF National North London 2026 video to find out more:

In photos: behind the scenes of our headline show

For 2024, our talented photographer Andy Moore created a special editorial following our performers for Say No More.

It documented the journey of our Sprung Advance PLUS group, taking you behind the scenes to rehearsals, warm up games and scene plans, to costumes, tech runs and those final moments waiting in the wings.

View here

Gallery

A group of young people are crouched in a circle on a stage lit up in green. A young female with braided blonde hair stands in front. She is wearing tracksuit bottoms and a grey jacket.

A group of students are sat on stage in a semi circle, watching a man giving a talk.

A dark stage, with a blue-lit backdrop and an image of the sun. On stage are 2 young people reaching their arms up towards the sun.

A large sculpture of a globe, with a pair of hands reaching towards it on a stage. It is made of clear plastic and is lit in blue and green.

A group of young performers lifting a performer into the air. Background is lit red with smoke.

A group of young people crowded together. A young female with glasses stands in the centre with her hands posed together.

A group of performers on stage, holding umbrellas. Behind them, more umbrellas are attached to the wall. All of them are wearing grey except one who is wearing a back t-shirt.

A group of performers are stood on stage with smoke over them.

A young person with a long brown ponytail with a green streak in their fringe and a red hair tie. They are wearing a white top with grey bottoms. Another person is sat opposite them with short dark hair is smiling. They are wearing all black. They are both holding onto a blue and white object.

A large group of performers are on stage, stood or sat with their arms to the side.

A group of young people in shirts and ties look at another performer stood on a bed.

A young person in and all black hooded tracksuit is stood with their hands on their waist. They are being instructed by a female with shorter red hair, she is wearing a grey jumper and blue bottoms.

A group of performers reach outwards with their hands.

A young performer is stood with their arms outstretched, screaming while other performers stand behind.

A young person in red and white stands with their hand in the air. Other performers behind them hold a similar pose.

A group of young performers stand in lines, arms on each others arms connected to another perform in the centre.

A group of performers stand on stage with their arms raised golding up pages from a book.

A performer stands reading from a page in front of a silhouette of a soldier.

Performers in overalls looks happily at an item in a person's hand.

Three performers are mid jump, on top of a projected image on stage.

a performer in a brown cardigan stands with their hands grasped looking shocked in from of another performer stood with their arms raised.

students in yellow polo shirts laugh with each other.

What People Say

“

“Once again the Physical Fellowship shows that Highly Sprung and all the young people involved can transcend ‘youth theatre’ and bring to the professionals a run for their money!”

“Great experience and a lovely thing to be a part of, learnt lots”

“Very fun, energetic and teaches you skills you can’t learn anywhere else. Thanks Highly Sprung and everyone who made the Physical Fellowship great”

”