Oliver! is looking for a Trainee Company Manager to join the team for 12 weeks. The Trainee will primarily be based at the Gielgud Theatre, but may work across other London shows. The trainee will be taught all aspects of the roles of Company Manager and Deputy Company Manager through a variety of training sessions, task based assignments and on the job shadowing.

No formal qualifications are required. This is an opportunity for someone to learn on the job in a structured and supportive environment with the aim of being equipped and confident to undertake a position within company management at the end of the post.  

Person Specification

Essential 

·       A passion for pursuing a career in theatre and live events.  

·       Some experience working in a theatre environment (whether on stage, backstage or 
        front of house).
·       Experience of or an interest in managing people. 

·       Positive and proactive attitude.

·       Organised, efficient and able to prioritise tasks. 

·       Good verbal and written communication skills. 

·       Ability to remain calm and patient during difficult situations or in a busy environment.

Desirable

·       Experience or understanding of working with children. 

·       Stage Management experience. 

·       IT and admin experience. 

Training

The Company Manager at Oliver! will be delivering most of the training. Some training in other specialisms will be organised with other professionals either within the CML team or outside training providers (for example First Aid). Topics covered include: 

·       Rules & Regulations, Health & Safety 

·       Company Management Paperwork 

·       Press and Marketing 

·       Payroll 

·       Company Care 

·       Production Management 

·       Producing  

·       Touring 

·       Networking

·       Mock interviews 

·       Practical First Aid 

·       Mental Health First Aid

·       Leadership & Management 

Main Duties / Salary / Interview Process

Reporting to the Company Manager and Associate Producer of Oliver!

Assisting the Company Manager & Deputy Company Manager with managing the day to day running of Oliver!, including:

·         Management of the production personnel.
·         Managing cast holiday request enquiries.
·         Drafting weekly schedules with the resident team.
·         Maintain awareness of Working Time Directive across the departments.
·         Have a strong understanding of the Producer’s health and safety policies and ensuring 
          that requirements in relation to health and safety are met within the department.
·         Coordinate and manage promotional events such as publicity and photographic calls, press
          and media interviews and other events where necessary. 
·         Support the DCM when they are covering the Company Manager during shows for days 
          off, holidays and sick leave. 
·         Book and organise company, cast and creative ticket requests. 
·         Learn one Stage Management plot for the show to cover as and when required 
          (experience dependent).   

Start date: Flexible
Contract length: 12 weeks
Salary: £828.60 per week plus subsistence, if applicable, in line with the SOLT/Equity Agreement 

Interviews – round 1 will be on Zoom, round 2 will be in person in London. 

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and have an equal opportunity approach across all personal characteristics. 

Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Theatre-Maker Placement with Company of Wolves
Two new paid opportunities for early career theatre-makers in Scotland

Following a successful pilot, Company of Wolves are offering a rare opportunity for 2 early career artists to be embedded in the operations of one of Scotland’s foremost contemporary performance companies, for up to 40 days over an 8-month period.

This development opportunity offers the security of paid work to help promising theatre-makers take the next steps in their journey as artists, producers and leaders, so they’re better placed to make a real impact in the future of Scottish theatre.

The placements will run between June 2026 and January 2027.

Successful applicants will work closely with the Company of Wolves team through a bespoke programme of activities during which you can expect to:

• Learn in depth about the practical aspects of self-producing / running and sustaining a small theatre company in Scotland;
• Receive ongoing mentoring and coaching with the Company of Wolves team;
• Participate as an artist and performer in the research & development phase of our forthcoming production, Agamemnon;
• Take part in Company of Wolves’ flagship training workshops;
• Attend the company's team and board meetings during the placement period, plus relevant sector-wide events.

Our aim is that participating artists will leave this programme with a stronger understanding of the theatre sector in Scotland, a clearer picture of how they want to work and the work they want to make, and an expanded professional network and skillset to help them continue building successful and sustainable careers in Scotland.

Placement artists will be paid a daily rate, plus reasonable expenses as agreed with us, for all their time working with the company.

About Company of Wolves

Company of Wolves is a laboratory theatre company based in Glasgow. Founded in 2012 by Joint Artistic Directors Ewan Downie and Anna Porubcansky, we have developed a unique and powerful approach to training, making and performance based on experimentation, inclusion, collaboration and play.

For more information about us, please visit our website at companyofwolves.org

Content, timescale and commitment

The Theatre-Maker Placements will run for up to 40 days, from June 2026 until the end of January 2027.

The work includes both fixed and flexible elements as outlined below.

Please note that the fixed elements of this placement involve medium to high physical activity, and solo, partner and group work, and include a wide range of activities from meditative practices to running. Please get in touch if you have questions about the scope of this work and its likely demands.

FIXED DATES
Successful candidates must be able to commit to the following fixed dates:

Agamemnon R&D week (5 days in Glasgow)
8 - 12 June 2026

Placement artists will participate in the research & development phase for Company of Wolves’ next show, a new adaptation of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. They will work collaboratively as part of a team of 5 performers, exploring practical, embodied ways to integrate text, rhythm, song, movement and dance to realise a new version of this Ancient Greek text. The R&D will be supported by Ancient Greek specialist Dr Michael Carroll from the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews.

Movement & Voice Lab (equivalent 3 full days in Glasgow)
5 weekly evenings over Sept/Oct 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed)

Company of Wolves’ ongoing weekly training group will return this autumn, based in our rigorous and playful body-centred training practices. The group will be led by joint artistic directors, Anna Porubcansky and Ewan Downie, and use movement, voice and imagination to connect, develop deep listening to ourselves and others, awaken the sources of our creativity, and shake off old patterning.

Winter Training (6 days in Glasgow / Edinburgh)
Over w/c 11th Jan and w/c 18th Jan 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed)

Winter Training is Company of Wolves' hugely popular annual public workshop, dedicated to waking up our bodies, voices and imaginations to free creativity, develop confidence and resilience, and build connections with other people. These workshops take place in January and are led by Ewan and Anna.

REMOTE AND FLEXIBLE WORK STRANDS
The following work strands will be organised flexibly taking into account your availability and the company’s planned programme for 2026/27. 

Because this is a developmental opportunity, details of these strands will be shaped together with successful candidates, in accordance with their personal and professional development goals. Learning areas may include project management, production, tour-booking, fundraising, general management, financial management, recruiting and working with freelancers, governance, marketing and PR. We anticipate that this will involve:

Shadowing, mentoring, coaching and organisational support (up to 18 days)
Successful candidates will have dedicated time with Company of Wolves’ Artistic Directors, Producer and Company Manager, learning new practical skills and gaining insights into multiple facets of running a company or being a self-producing artist, and will receive mentoring and coaching sessions to support their own career development and skills development.

They will also have the opportunity to contribute to discussions regarding future development of the company’s plans, policies and long-term strategy. We anticipate that within this time we will also support each Placement artist to develop a funding application (e.g. a Creative Scotland Open Fund application) for a project of their own.

Support for Agamemnon script development (2 days) 
Including reading script drafts, contributing to ongoing research as appropriate, contributing to script development conversations with Anna, Ewan and Michael.

Meeting and event attendance (3 days)
Attending Company of Wolves Board meetings, and sector events such as FST meetings.

Optional and schedule dependent: The Bacchae on tour (approx 3 days)
An opportunity to attend THE BACCHAE on tour in Scotland (end May 2026), to gain first-hand experience of the practicalities of touring in different contexts. This is not obligatory and will be subject to individuals’ availability.

Successful candidates may also undertake some practical admin/producing tasks, as appropriate, to support the work of the organisation, in order to gain more hands-on experience of Company of Wolves’ day-to-day operations.

We will work closely with the individuals selected to discuss and refine the shape of this opportunity throughout the process.

JOB DETAILS

Contract type: Freelance

Time commitment: Up to 40 days between June 2026 and Jan 2027, with exact number of days to be mutually agreed.

Fee: £130 per day worked. This is based on a weekly rate of £650 (above ITC minimum) and reflects length of time commitment. 

Expenses: We can also reimburse travel costs and other expenses that are necessary to enable artists to take part; depending on individual needs and subject to discussion and mutual agreement. 

Access: Access support is also available, subject to a conversation with each individual about their specific needs.

For the flexible/remote aspects of the work, Placement artists may work from their own base, or from the Company of Wolves office in central Glasgow if this location is easily accessible for them.

Who we are looking for
We are looking for early-career theatre-makers who have begun to forge their own artistic vision through making work at a professional level. 

Essential criteria:

• You can demonstrate three or more years of professional practice. You have graduated from a degree-level performing arts course that involved a performance element before beginning your professional practice, or have equivalent professional experience. 
• You will have presented at least three pieces of work publicly, outside of an educational context. These must be projects where you were the lead artist or one of the lead artists, working on an idea that you originated or co-originated. This may consist of work presented at scratch nights, readings/sharings, research and development processes, or may extend to having presented full productions.
• You are not in full-time study or training at the time of the placement.
• You are comfortable performing, even if performing is not the main part of your practice or how you self-define your practice.
• For practical reasons, this opportunity is only available to theatre-makers based in Glasgow or within easy travelling distance of Glasgow.

Desired skills and experience

• Some experience of self-producing.
• Ability to be self-supporting administratively.
• IT literate.

In assessing applications, we will be looking for evidence of:

• A clear sense of how this placement would support your professional and personal development.
• Clear artistic ambition, and a commitment to establishing or furthering your own theatre company, or creating/developing a structure to support your own ongoing work as a self-producing artist.
• Understanding of the Scottish theatre sector.
• Clear, effective, professional communication skills.
• Willingness to learn, contribute and try new things.
• Desire to work collaboratively as part of a small team.
• An affinity for the kind of work Company of Wolves make.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Company of Wolves believe in equality of opportunity, and are committed to building a collaborative culture where everyone can do their best work. Our aim is that our work and the people with whom we work reflects the diversity of our society. We particularly encourage people who are currently under-represented* in the Scottish theatre sector to apply for this opportunity. 

Our application process is designed to enable us to make contextual decisions which acknowledge how some artists will have encountered additional barriers while working in the arts (and may therefore have been less able to attain a certain level of experience). If you think this applies to you, please let us know.

How to apply

Please complete the application form here
You will have the option to apply through written answers or in video format, as preferred.

After submitting an application, you will be sent a link to an anonymous Equalities Monitoring Form. Completing this form is voluntary but we appreciate your input in helping us to assess how well we are meeting our Equalities aims.

The Equalities Monitoring Form will be separate from your application and does not form part of the selection process. Information obtained from the form will not be available for the people preparing the shortlist. Data obtained from the forms will be used solely for monitoring purposes and no individual can ever be identified from it.

The application deadline is 5pm on Thursday 9 April. Applications received after this time will not be considered. 

Your application will be read by Company of Wolves’ Artistic Directors Ewan Downie and Anna Porubcansky, and Producer Corinne Salisbury, with additional advice from our Board of Trustees.

We will let you know by Thursday 23 April whether you have been invited to attend an interview. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed the week beginning 4 and 11 May. Candidates will be informed of our final decision by Monday 18 May.

Kickstart your career in theatre and gain hands-on experience supporting workshops, events, and youth programmes at one of the UK’s leading children’s theatres.

The Egg is a theatre for curious and young minds, where we explore the joy of being human through shared theatrical experiences. The Egg, part of Theatre Royal Bath, is one of the country’s most established theatres dedicated to children and young people. Since opening in 2005, it has presented over 900 plays, programming 60 different professional productions each year for audiences aged 0-18, hosting hundreds of theatre companies and introducing thousands of young people to live theatre.

This opportunity is part of The Egg’s Pipeline Programme: OPEN Egg Awards, which will support six early-career theatre creatives (two per year across three years) through a paid training opportunity. This is a structured, paid training opportunity designed for someone at the start of their career in theatre, creative learning or arts education. They will receive mentoring from experienced practitioners, take increasing responsibility across the year and build practical skills that prepare them for future roles in theatre, facilitation and participation. 

What you'll be doing

You will assist with the day-to-day running of the theatre school, and support our team in the delivery of a mixture of formal and informal theatre training for young people aged 5-18 years and support the Young Board associates and Youth Council/committee participants. Throughout the year, you will work alongside professional theatre-makers, producers and learning specialists, building your networks and gaining insight into how a busy producing theatre operates behind the scenes. This engagement is funded by The Garek Trust and is an in-person role based at The Egg in Bath. Applicants must be based in or able to reliably commute to Bath for the full duration of the one-year placement.

 

Key activities

• Provide administrative support for the running of the department, including maintaining registers, following up on attendance records, room bookings and schedules.
• Assist the in-person delivery of week time evening groups as part of our Theatre School offer.
• Support practitioners in the leading of sessions, managing the readiness of the workshop space and materials, and offering pastoral support to participants during the sessions.
• Answer enquiries from parents, teachers, and participants via email, phone or social media.
• Support the participation programme producer in producing the annual Theatre School festival shows, and other theatre school events including; end of term sharing, open mic events, summer schools, etc.
• Arrange and conduct new member inductions and building tours for new Theatre School members and visiting parents/guardians.
• Create and upload content to various social media channels, as well as compile and distribute regular newsletters. Liaise with the general manager to ensure the Theatre School website is up-to-date, and add additional content to the website as needed.
• Research and produce a sharing for Theatre School with the support of your line manager.

What you will learn

• Full training will be provided for this role, with the opportunity to develop your own theatre facilitation skills.
• In addition, you’ll gain experience in undertaking office-based tasks, such as; general administration, logistical problem-solving and scheduling.
• You will gain an insight into all elements of a working theatre which could include training in our box office systems and operational working practices.

Where possible, we will support the successful candidate in their creative goals and career ambitions, by offering insight into the roles that exist within a theatre-training environment or working theatre building, supporting you to expand your professional network within the theatre and creative learning sector. 
 

What we are looking for

Essential 

• Willingness to learn
• Strong communication skills
• A keen interest in storytelling
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Word & Excel
• Good telephone manner
• Strong interpersonal skills and a good manner with both the general public and young people
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
• Positive outlook
• Adaptable and flexible

Desirable

• Interest in arts education/participatory arts
• Experience in working with children and young people (this could include babysitting or family members)
• Interest in developing leadership qualities

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

Applications are now open for work placements in the Scenic Art department at the National Theatre.

These two-week placements are for those studying, or recently graduated from, a Scenic Art or other relevant higher education course and looking for work experience in this field. Please note:

Placements will take place between April 2026 and March 2027.
Placements are not paid, but travel and food expenses will be covered.
This is an opportunity for people aged 18+.

As part of your application, please upload a CV, covering letter explaining why you are applying for this placement, and a short portfolio of your work. If you have any questions or if you would like to submit an application via an alternative format, please contact one of the Skills Centre team at skillscentre@nationaltheatre.org.uk who can offer guidance on how to do this.

Step behind the stage with this immersive six-month traineeship, gaining hands-on production experience and learning how world-class innovative shows are brought to life.

The Royal Court Theatre is internationally-recognised as the UK’s leading theatre for new work, with a 70-year commitment to developing and championing talent on and off stage. Each year it nurtures hundreds of emerging practitioners through structured development, placements and learning programmes – supporting them all the way through to professional debuts and major productions. 

Its mission is defined by taking risks on stages – inspiring audiences, artists and communities, and empowering new and diverse voices to drive forward national culture and public conversation. Every year Royal Court reaches over 100,000 people between its two theatres, touring productions and youth and community projects. Coming at an exciting time during its 70th Anniversary, this traineeship ensures both practical learning and a real dose of inspiration and excitement for someone new to the industry.

This production traineeship provides a supported, developmental role in our busy world-class backstage theatre teams – including opportunities to build to professional credits, and gain insights into future career pathways in theatre. Throughout the traineeship, the successful candidate will undertake supervised, developmental tasks that build confidence in rehearsal support, technical periods and performances, giving direct insight and hands-on experience into how plays are developed, rehearsed and staged in a world-leading contemporary theatre. There will also be opportunities to work alongside globally renowned artists, brand new writers and youth participants. The six-month traineeship will follow a structured timeline to support learning and development, potentially as follows:

• Months 1-2: Learning through practice, shadowing, and supervised contributions at the heart of our teams
• Months 3-4: Taking on more guided responsibilities and ownership of smaller, defined tasks on each production
• Month 5: Opportunities for short tailored placements across other departments of interest to the trainee, potentially including our producing, venue management, operations and marketing & communications teams
• Month 6: Taking on stage management responsibilities for festival presentations and readings in our September 2026 Open Submissions Festival in a supported environment, securing professional credits as an outcome

Key activities

• Supporting rehearsals, including setting up and maintaining rehearsal rooms, props and equipment
• Sourcing and adapting props
• Creating and updating relevant production paperwork
• Attending key production meetings and assisting with follow-up tasks
• Supporting deputy stage managers in managing rehearsal rooms, including wellbeing and pastoral care for rehearsal companies
• Observing and assisting fit-ups, set builds, and technical rehearsals
• Shadowing and supporting stage managers during technical rehearsals and running shows
• Helping backstage before and during performances, including company check-ins and wellbeing support
• Connecting with wider departments through optional placements across the organisation based on the candidate’s interests

What you will gain

• A clear understanding of professional production and stage management workflows, and the careers in these fields
• Enhanced confidence in rehearsal-room support, from wellbeing and inclusion for new and diverse artists to professional standards expected of world-leading talent
• First-hand experience of technical and performance periods
• Insight into the artistic and logistical processes of producing new theatre, and wider career pathways and opportunities across the UK theatre sector
• Clear, demonstrable evidence of work in a professional theatre environment and specific credits for your CV
• Build a meaningful professional network via introductions to creative teams, freelancers and partner organisations

What we are looking for

• No formal training is required but some experience or transferable skills that relate to stage management, theatre or backstage theatre are desirable
• A passion and genuine interest for theatre, stage management and backstage theatre, with an interest in exploring future pathways and careers within these
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• A positive flexible approach to working, with the possibility of some evening and weekends as required

Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Backstage Roadshow will take a series of FREE backstage skills workshops directly into UK state schools, introducing children and young people to the variety of creative pathways and career opportunities that exist within theatre, live events, television and film.

Led by industry professionals and designed by the School’s Production Arts staff, the Backstage Roadshow will take professional equipment into schools to provide a crucial insight into one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors and inspire young people to train and work in the creative industries.

Our team will also be offering full technical support to two primary school productions each year, bringing our lighting, sound, and stage management equipment, along with staff to help run your show.

How it works

The Backstage Roadshow will run for the Academic Years of 2024/25 and 2025/26, with support offered for one Primary School production in December and one in June or July.

What do we bring to your school?

• One lead facilitator and one workshop assistant to run each session. 
• Workshops designed for up to eight students per session, lasting 2-3 hours.
• For multiple workshops, one Project Manager to co-ordinate our staff.
• All equipment needed for each session.
• Transport of equipment to and from your venue.
• All of our staff complete an Enhanced DBS check.
• Public Liability, Employers Liability, and Professional Indemnity Insurance of up to £10,000,000.
• Full risk assessments for all activities (supplied upon request).

For workshops, please complete your expression of interest via this form.

Shortlisted schools will be contacted for an online meeting to discuss the options, prior to a site-visit being arranged ahead of any firm offer for the Backstage Roadshow to visit.

Primary schools, please register here.

We are looking to take on a trainee stage manager to assist with our spring/ summer 2026 theatre production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is a hands-on role, requiring attendance at rehearsals (in Brixham) and shows (South Devon and up to Midlands). At the end the trainee may be invited to stay on with us, or not as they choose. Laura, the show director and theatre company founder will be mentoring.

The trainee will recieve photos of them "in action" at rehearsals and shows, free tea and coffee at all shows/ rehearsals, and at the end of the show run, a written reference for future work or study use.  Travel to Midlands performance(s) is provided.  Rehearsals begin Feb 2026, show run finishes duing August 2026

The trainee should be based in the South Devon area. 

With us, the stage manager will be trained with the following responsibilities:

• Use a ground plan to mark up the rehearsal room
• Attend production discussion (may be in person or online)
• Managing the furniture and props used in a production
• Supervise the ‘get in’ and ‘get out’
• Create a prompt script compiled with notes on Actors’ cues and requirements for props, lighting and sound
• Help to create a risk assessment to ensure the safety of the full company
• Manage the backstage and onstage area during performances
• Call cast for rehearsals and performances
• Maintain props, furniture and set during the run
• Liaise with resident staff (when touring)
• Helping ensure that rehearsal and performance venues are left spotless

Applicants Personal Qualities: 

• Aged over 18 (to the skys the limit)
• Reliable, able to attend rehearsals and shows.
• Able and willing to work with different people regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, religion etc, in a friendly, safe and supportive team creating high quality shows.
• Being zero tolerance to bullying, gaslighting or inappropriate behaviour
  Being clean and tidy
• Keeping any production or personal details confidential as required.

 

Masterclass is offering a paid, three-month internship for an aspiring Theatre Technician, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This is a hands-on opportunity for those interested in electrics and / or carpentry to gain backstage experience in a professional theatre.

You’ll work full-time alongside experienced in-house electrical and carpentry teams, supported by Masterclass. During this 13-week placement, you’ll develop essential skills in lighting, rigging and carpentry, with the flexibility to focus on your interests.

This internship is for those at the start of their career or looking for a first step into theatre. Prior theatre experience is not required, but candidates must have basic skills in carpentry, electrics or sound, and a strong interest in theatre and live events.

Ideal candidates will:

• Have a strong interest in theatre
• Be curious, enthusiastic and hardworking
• Have relevant qualifications or experience in carpentry, electrics, or sound
• Be eager to learn and contribute to a busy team
• Possess good communication and organisational skills
• Work well under pressure and solve problems effectively
• Not have professional experience working backstage on a large-scale commercial production

Eligibility:

• Age 18+
• Available for the full placement
• Have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the placement
• Be a Masterclass member (free to join)

 

The Cultural Learning and Participation Officer Apprenticeship provides hands-on experience, mixing practical and administrative work with college learning underpinning your experiences.

Over the course of the Apprenticeship you will gain professional experience in arts administration, practical workshop delivery, project management and leadership, and will receive on-going mentoring and coaching from the Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) Team and Chichester College staff. You will predominately support the Children and Young People strand of the LEAP programme. 

You will work towards completing a formal apprenticeship in Cultural Learning and Participation, which is celebrated and monitored throughout the role in a portfolio of work, culminating in an End-Point Assessment.

These pathways are tailored for emerging Directors, Choreographers, Musical Directors, Designers, Lighting Designers, Stage Managers, Wardrobe Assistants and Technicians aged 16 to 23 who are in training or recently graduated from Higher Education.

Applications are open for 2025. There is £25 application fee which gives access to preparatory online sessions, offering skill building and group mentorship. Following these sessions you will have the opportunity to apply for a specific role on a production.