The Rural Touring Guide – How to Take Your Show on the Road

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Want to bring your performance to new audiences in inspiring locations?

The Rural Touring Guide is your essential introduction to touring live performance in rural and community settings across the UK.

For the first time in almost two decades this free guide has been revamped, refreshed and re-energised. Commissioned by NRTF and created by Creative Arts East, it was published in August 2025.

It is packed with expert advice, insider knowledge, and practical steps to help artists, companies, and promoters bring high-quality creative work into village halls, libraries, pubs, schools, and more.

Why Get Involved in Rural Touring?

Rural touring flips the traditional model on its head: instead of inviting audiences to come to you, you are invited into their communities. It’s about connection, intimacy, and creating memorable cultural experiences where they’re needed most.

Whether you’re an experienced performer or just getting started, rural touring offers:

  • Direct audience connection in welcoming community spaces
  • Guaranteed fees with no box office risk
  • Changing lives by reaching audiences with limited access to the arts

What’s Inside the Guide?

The guide is broken down into clear, accessible sections:

  • The Basics – What rural touring is, who’s involved, and how it works
  • Getting Started – Choosing the right show, preparing your materials, applying to schemes
  • Bookings & Events – Marketing, contracts, and what to expect before, during, and after the show
  • Important Considerations – Accessibility, sustainability, new technology and international touring
  • Further Reading – Resources and networks to support your next steps

Whether you’re an artist looking to build relationships with new audiences or a promoter aiming to bring brilliant work to your community, this guide will empower you with knowledge and confidence.

Ready to Start Your Rural Touring Journey?

Download the Guide Now using the buttons below:

Download the Rural Touring Guide (PDF) Download the Plain Text Version (Word)

Rural Touring Guide Audio Versions

Here you can download the audio version of the Rural Touring Guide to listen to on the go.

How to use the Rural Touring Guide Audio Version

You have two options.

You can download or view the printable PDF Guide online and use the audio to listen as you read. The Rural Touring Guide has six sections. Click on a section heading to skip to that section, and use the white ear icon, in an orange square, to listen along. In the bottom left hand corner of each page, you’ll find an underlined link that will take you back to the Contents page.

Or if you prefer, you can download the full audio Guide and listen only, without the PDF.

Don’t just take our word for it, take a look at a behind the scenes of Just Some Theatre’s rural tour as they share the challenges and joys of touring a rural theatre production.

Explore our website for more resources on Rural Touring.