The Busking Lab
Strengthen your street performance technique and master the craft of busking! Over four days, you’ll gain a toolkit of skills, frameworks, and principles to create and perform a circle show and confidently pass the hat.
Apply Here.
Strengthen your street performance technique and master the craft of busking! Over four days, you’ll gain a toolkit of skills, frameworks, and principles to create and perform a circle show and confidently pass the hat.
Apply Here.
What is
The Busking Lab?
A 4-day intensive workshop
When
Monday 2nd – Friday 6th of March, 2026
Arriving Monday at 5pm
Finishing Friday at 6pm
(exact times may vary)
What you’ll learn:
~ How to build an edge (your front row)
~ Crafting a routine that captivates
~ Holding and growing a crowd
~ Hatting with confidence
(earning from your audience)
~ Traditional techniques, tips, and tricks from seasoned performers
Across 4 (and a bit) days, you’ll explore the craft of street performance through hands on sessions, group devising, practical challenges, and guided reflection, supported by experienced tutors who understand the realities of busking and performing outdoors, with real audiences, in real time. It’s the only workshop of its kind (that we know of!)
Who is it for?
Who It’s For
- Anyone who wants to explore the possibilities of busking
- Performers curious about street theatre or busking
- Artists wanting to expand their practice into public space
- Experienced buskers looking to refresh their approach
- Anyone excited by collaborative, hands on learning
Why Join Us
- Build practical skills you can use immediately
- Gain confidence performing in unpredictable environments
- Learn from experienced practitioners
- Experiment safely, creatively, and without pressure
- Connect with a community of artists who love making work in public space
Facilitators
The Busking Lab will be taught / led by:
Darryl J Carrington
Darryl is a juggling clown with over 20 years of performing experience, trained at Circomedia and now creating and touring comedy‑juggling shows worldwide. His work blends physical comedy, skilled juggling, and playful audience connection. A seasoned busker, he shares practical insight into crafting routines, building rapport and performing in diverse settings.Paschale Straiton
(also at Red Herring)
Paschale has been creating street shows for 25 years, wearing various hats as a performer, writer and director. She founded Red Herring Productions and is a regular collaborator with a range of companies including Avanti Display, Ramshacklicious and Walk the Plank. She provides expertise in audience participation, show dynamics, clowning and visual storytelling.Rob Sim
What A Palaver
Rob brings 45 years of performance experience, from double‑act work to a decade as a solo outdoor artist. Rooted in comedy and circus, he brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight for show creation, crowd‑building, audience engagement, along with fire breathing, bed of nails, juggling, and stilts. His teaching centres on playful, creative exploration.Hazel Anderson
Hazel is a Theatre Maker, director and clown with over 25 years of street performing, devising and directing experience she performs at events and festivals across the globe. Co-founder of likely story and creator of almost always muddy and able mable, she specialises in outdoor performance, devising, live audience engagement, and building resilient “street performing muscles” through collaborative creation. Hazel loves blending fearless play and risk-taking with care, and turning public spaces into dynamic stages.
The Cost
Catering & Accommodation
The Lab is fully catered lunch and dinner, some additional snacks and basics will be provided.
Accommodation in onsite cabins is included for up to a dozen on site plus a couple of live in vehicles. Cabins will be allocated with priority given to bursary places and access needs in order of application.
How to apply
Apply by filling in the form here.
Be sure to click submit at the bottom of the form!
If forms are scary or hard for you, email us at missioncontrol@nasauk.org and we will sort out an easier way for you to apply.
Application deadline (extended):
We have limited places left, but on request are extended the deadline to the 23rd February: This is just 1 week before it starts. Hopefully this allows for those trying to make it happen to do so.
Accommodation on site and bursary support is still available for a very limited few. Both are granted on a first come first served basis.
Confirmation of place (for extended deadline applicants):
Rolling…
Those who applied under our original deadline will hear confirmation sooner, as will any further applications.
NASA UK member – £275
Non-member price – £400
The full cost (unsubsidised) would be £800!!!
Membership is from £20. Bursaries are available for NASA UK members experiencing hardship.
Join here
thanks to our supporters
The Busking Lab is supported by our hosts at 101 Outdoor arts creation space, and by the sector support agency Outdoor Arts UK, who along with Without Walls, are providing funding for bursary places.
None of this would be possible without the support of Arts Council England.
