Get Into Theatre and Masterclass unite to create a clear national route into theatre careers. Young people across the UK looking to build a career in theatre will now have a single, clear route from first inspiration to first job, as Get Into Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust join forces from April 2026. 

Bringing together Get Into Theatre’s national digital platform for 12–25 year olds with Masterclass’s long-established programme of talks, workshops, mentoring, paid internships and the annual TheatreCraft careers fair, the new combined organisation will provide joined-up support at every stage of a young person’s journey. From discovering what roles exist, to developing skills, building networks and securing paid opportunities, the pathway into theatre will be clearer, more accessible and more sustainable. The merger brings together two charities with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to widening access. Operating under the name Get Into Theatre, the new organisation will serve young people, teachers, parents and industry partners across the UK, creating a stronger bridge between emerging talent and the theatre workforce.

Alex Duarte-Davies, CEO of Get Into Theatre says “This merger creates a truly joined-up classroom to career pathway for young people across the UK — from that first spark of curiosity, to exploring opportunities, building skills, making industry connections and progressing into sustainable careers. Get Into Theatre exists to break down barriers and diversify our industry, ensuring that every young person, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, can see that there is a place for them in theatre. This milestone for both the charity, the education sector and the wider industry comes at a time when it is needed more than ever.”

Clare Annamalai, CEO of Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust says “The team at Get Into Theatre have built an invaluable resource for young people, teachers and the theatre industry. The work they do to demystify theatre careers is the perfect precursor to a visit to the TheatreCraft careers fair and perhaps, eventually, involvement in the Masterclass creative community. By combining our complementary capabilities, resources and geographical reach we can offer a coherent pathway to young theatremakers, as well as a compelling service to our industry partners. Through this merger we will become stronger and more effective, without sacrificing the rich history and personal connections that make Masterclass so special.”

Cush Jumbo, actor and collaborator with both organisations says: “Theatre changes lives, but only if people can find a way in. Masterclass and Get Into Theatre already do brilliant work supporting young people, so I know that by joining forces they will make the journey into a theatre career more visible, more accessible and more possible for the next generation.”

Zeynep Gunaydin, producer and Get into Theatre trustee adds “Both Get Into Theatre and Masterclass played such an important role in my journey into the industry, so it’s incredibly exciting to see them come together. It’s going to make a real difference for future theatre-makers to be able to access that kind of support all in one place.”

Arnold Crook, founder of Masterclass and TheatreCraft says “I'm so proud of the work we've done to train and educate young theatre makers, over nearly 30 years. Joining forces with Get Into Theatre will allow us to go beyond London and support even more young people, which has always been the driving force behind Masterclass and TheatreCraft.” 

The new organisation will retain a strong national focus, while deepening relationships with partners across the UK’s theatre ecology, including training institutions, producers, venues and independent artists. Existing activities will continue, including the Masterclass membership programme of masterclasses, workshops, paid internships and ticket offers, and theatre careers events under the TheatreCraft banner, in the West End and around the country. There will be no downsizing or redundancies, and the teams will maintain working hubs in London and Bath, with their work taking them all over the UK. Duarte-Davies and Annamalai will serve as co-directors of the new organisation. 

The merger follows a period of strategic review by both boards of trustees, which identified shared missions, complementary strengths, and enhanced funding and business opportunities as some key positives from this move. 

For more information, please see the About Us page HERE or email info@getintotheatre.org. 

Images HERE.

Editor’s notes:

• Masterclass is a little West End institution that, since 1998, has helped to give tens of thousands of young creatives from all backgrounds access to a career in theatre, through masterclasses with leading on- and offstage practitioners. The list of past masters is a directory of the theatre industry over the last 30 years, and includes Gillian Anderson, Alan Ayckbourn, Mike Bartlett, Michael Billington, Nica Burns, Jez Butterworth, Ryan Calais Cameron, Bradley Cooper, Richard Curtis, Danny DeVito, Idris Elba, James Graham, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Tom Hiddleston, Robert Icke, Angela Lansbury, Ewan McGregor, Elaine Paige, Alan Rickman, and Bryan Cranston. In addition, the charity’s free year-round programme for 16-30 year olds includes creative workshops, script development opportunities and paid internships. Since 2007 Masterclass has facilitated 66 paid internships with companies including Sonia Friedman Productions, Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Theatre Royal Haymarket and LW Theatres. In 2003 Masterclass founded the annual TheatreCraft careers fair, which is now the UK’s largest offstage theatre careers fair, produced by Masterclass in association with SOLT UK Theatre and RBO. 

• Get Into Theatre was launched in 2019 with the three founding partners: the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, UK Theatre/SOLT and The Stage, as a one-stop shop for theatre career advice and opportunities – with a view to facilitating entry to the industry for those from underrepresented backgrounds. It is the long-standing theatre partner of government funded Discover Creative Careers, and in 2024 joined forces with ATG to create the ACE funded Work In Theatre which engages with over 275,000 young people, teachers and freelance artists. Get Into Theatre registrations from young people from underrepresented backgrounds have increased by 263% in the seven years of this small charity, with over 25,000 young people and teachers accessing its resources every month.