National Apprenticeship Week is a great time to highlight one of the most valuable opportunities available to people starting their careers in the arts: theatre apprenticeships. These apprenticeships provide hands-on, on-the-job training, offering an excellent way to develop skills for life while gaining real-world experience in the theatre industry.
In this blog, Get Into Theatre explores what theatre apprenticeships entail, the benefits of starting an apprenticeship in the arts, and how they can help you build the skills you need to succeed in this dynamic sector.
A theatre apprenticeship is a structured training programme that blends work and study. As an apprentice, you’ll get the opportunity to work in a theatre setting while attending classes to develop the specific technical or creative skills required in your chosen field. Theatre apprenticeships are primarily focused on offstage roles, where you can learn everything from set design and lighting to stage management and production coordination. It’s the perfect way to build skills for life in the industry while also making valuable industry connections.
The length of an apprenticeship can vary depending on the organisation or programme. However, most apprenticeships last between one and two years. This period allows apprentices to develop a strong understanding of their field while working alongside experienced professionals in the theatre.
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Yes! One of the significant advantages of a theatre apprenticeship is that it’s a paid opportunity. Most apprenticeships offer a wage that meets or exceeds the National Minimum Wage for the hours worked. This means you can gain valuable training while also earning an income—a perfect option for those looking to kickstart their career in theatre without incurring student debt.
The majority of your learning will take place hands-on, in a real working environment. You'll be immersed in the daily life of a theatre, working with experienced professionals who will mentor you. Some apprenticeship programmes may also involve formal classes where you'll gain theoretical knowledge, which can be applied directly to your role. As you gain practical experience, you'll develop skills for life—skills such as communication, time management, problem-solving, and teamwork—all of which are essential for a career in theatre.
It’s important to note that apprenticeships in theatre are not typical 9-to-5 roles. Many companies expect apprentices to work evenings, weekends, and unsocial hours, as that reflects the nature of the theatre industry. Be prepared to adapt to irregular working hours, which can be both rewarding and challenging.
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One of the most attractive features of theatre apprenticeships is that you don’t necessarily need a degree or prior work experience to apply. Many organisations specifically look for candidates who have a passion for theatre but might not have formal qualifications or hands-on experience yet. If you are eager to learn and ready to dive into the industry, a theatre apprenticeship can provide you with the skills for life you need, regardless of your previous background.
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The qualifications you can gain from an apprenticeship in theatre depend on your level of study, but they can range from basic qualifications to more advanced degrees. Here are the typical levels of qualifications you may receive through an apprenticeship:
These qualifications help boost your employability in the theatre industry and beyond, providing you with skills for life that can be applied across various sectors.
The opportunities after completing a theatre apprenticeship are plentiful. Some apprentices are offered permanent roles within the theatre or company they worked with during their apprenticeship. Others may choose to apply their newfound skills for life and experience to other theatres and companies. Either way, the apprenticeship provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to pursue a long-term career in theatre.
Theatre apprenticeships offer much more than just technical training. By immersing yourself in a real-world theatre environment, you can learn how to adapt to the fast-paced and ever-changing demands of the industry. The skills you gain—from creative thinking and collaboration to resilience and problem-solving—are transferable to many careers outside of theatre too.
If you’re ready to begin your journey in the theatre industry, an apprenticeship is a fantastic way to build a strong foundation and develop the skills that will shape your career for years to come.
If you’re ready to apply for a theatre apprenticeship, start your search on the Get Into Theatre website now! There are plenty of opportunities available across the UK. Whether you’re interested in production, costume, lighting, or stage management, theatre apprenticeships can help you get the hands-on experience and qualifications needed to succeed.
By starting an apprenticeship, you’re investing in skills that will not only help you succeed in theatre but also in a wide variety of careers.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/2017/what-apprenticeships-are-available-in-theatre/
https://www.atgtickets.com/technicalapprenticeships/
http://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/technical-theatre-apprenticeship-2/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships/what-is-an-apprenticeship
Photo: Royal Opera House
Published: 04 March 2019
The cost of undergraduate training is expensive at up to £9,250 per year, along with the added cost of living, leaving many people owing up to £50,000 in student loans. So, choosing the right institute and course for you is important. So university or drama school? Here are some comparisons between the two to help with your decision.
Applying for a university is usually done through UCAS and you will need a certain set of grades to gain a place on your chosen course. Some universities will interview candidates, but most will select based on your grades and personal statement.
Applying for a drama school is different depending on the school; it may be through direct application, UCAS Conservatoires or the main UCAS scheme. Drama schools will likely hold auditions or interviews and focus more on talent and potential than grades. Acting courses at drama schools are the most difficult courses to get into as they can attract thousands of applications for a relatively small number of places.
Universities allow students to take care of their own time management, with a few lectures/classes a week along with research and writing expected to be done in your own time. There is also little to no consequence if you do not attend the contact hours as you are responsible for your own time keeping. This is great experience for self-discipline and time management.
A drama school will have a much more intensive time structure where you will spend most of your time in classes 9am - 5pm, if not longer. The contact hours set are compulsory and there is likely to be severe consequences for missing or being late for a class.
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Universities will tend to offer more of a broad course that will teach a range of skills such as Theatre Arts. This will give students a good insight into different areas within the theatre that you can work in. However, due to it being so broad you won’t receive the same level of detail and teaching as if you were to study only one field. However, there are a small handful of universities who do offer more specific courses.
A drama school will give in-depth and intensive training into a specific area. You will not be taught on the details of the other roles within theatre and only focus heavily on your particular field of study. Due to the small class sizes you will tend to have more one-on-one time with your tutors compared to at a university.
Universities often offer the chance at the end of the course for a public performance where students have a chance to showcase their talent whether on stage or offstage. However the attendance by industry professionals can be quite low at most universities. Personal invitations by a student to professionals can help boost the attendance.
Top drama schools attract a lot of industry professionals to their showcases. Many will actively look out for when the showcases are in order to go along, rather than needing to be persuaded by a personal invitation.
There are more and more opportunities at drama school to train in a postgraduate degree. Therefore, one option is to study a non-theatre related undergraduate degree at university and then go on to train in a postgraduate degree at a drama school. However, there are fewer funding opportunities and financial support for a second degree, so this option may not be readily available for everyone.
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Due to the range of subjects studied at universities you are more likely to come across and/or live with people who are studying different courses to you. You also may have the opportunity to work outside your contact hours and join societies and clubs that don’t necessarily have a link to your course which can offer a wealth of experience. You are more likely to be more independent at university, which can be seen as a good way to set you up for life after studying.
At drama school, due to the specialist studies at the institute, you will only come across and/or live with people who also study at your school. This can be helpful as they will understand your day-to-day life and you will be going through a similar experience, however it can also be seen as a ‘bubble’, which is unlike life outside of drama school.
Take a look at what past students have gone on to do after graduating from a particular university or drama school and see what their progression has been within the industry. It can help give you an idea of how well equipped the course makes you for life after training. Do their careers match the kind that you aspire to?
There are many ways for an institution and a course to be accredited for both universities and drama schools. Take a look at our blog on accreditation here.
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https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/2017/university-vs-drama-school-right/
https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/2017/how-university-theatre-courses-differ-from-drama-schools/
https://actinginlondon.co.uk/drama-school-vs-university-for-acting/
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jul/15/highereducation.uk1
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2007/competition-fiercer-for-drama-schools-than-for-oxbridge/
Published: 04 March 2019
Updated: Sept 24
There are many roles in theatre that don’t require any qualifications, where you can work your way up. However, if you are pursuing a career in theatre that requires a certain level of skill or safety qualifications – such as working with electrics or at height – this might mean you need qualifications, although not necessarily at degree level.
Take a look at the Careers in theatre blog for a full list of all jobs that are available in theatre. They are split into four sections; Creative Team, Production Team, Customer Service and Administration.
Here are some examples of roles in theatre that you can go straight into without a degree. You can use these as a starting point to gain that vital experience for you to pursue your chosen career.
You can start yourself up straight away as a freelance Writer, Director or Performer and can approach small scale/fringe theatres to gain and build up your experience. This can then lead to further work or open up your opportunities to approach larger scale theatres or productions.
Alternatively, there can be opportunities to be an assistant for these roles. This will also give you great experience and also the chance to work alongside other professionals and learn from them.
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Starting as Stage Crew is great experience to gain knowledge and understanding of backstage roles to pursue a career in stage management, lighting or sound.
To pursue a career in the wardrobe department you can look at becoming a Wardrobe Assistant or Wigs Assistant.
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Front of house, Ushers and Box Office Assistants are perfect roles at entry level. You’ll gain strong experience in customer service for you to pursue a career in this side of the theatre.
Sometimes Writers, Directors and Performers take on these roles as work in between their contracts.
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Starting off in an Assistant or administration role for these departments will allow you to work alongside managers and give you the experience in an office environment to pursue those careers further.
Photo: LAMDA
Published: 04 March 2019
