From the buzz of show days to the behind-the-scenes magic: gain hands-on experience across a wide range of technical activities both on and off stage.
ABOUT US:
With a mission to enrich the cultural life of our region, Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the most popular theatre complexes in the UK. Varied productions in our 1,850-seat auditorium (dating from 1899), and in our 200-seat Patrick Studio ensure we play a key role in the region’s world-class cultural scene. With c.400 live performances annually in our main house, we present nothing but the best in touring musical theatre, ballet, dance, opera, pantomime, drama, and comedy. Our Patrick Studio welcomes a range of smaller-scale productions and is an important base for dance and for the development of new artistic work.
Our Tech Team is welcoming, inclusive, and committed to passing on knowledge and skills, willing to teach and train. Plus, we get to work on some of the largest UK touring shows. This year we had 2 of our amazing apprentices graduate, and both are now working in Technical Theatre roles.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
As an apprentice in the vibrant world of theatre, the post-holder will play an active role in supporting the technical team to deliver high-quality theatre productions. From the buzz of show days to the behind-the-scenes magic, they will gain hands-on experience across a wide range of technical activities both on and off stage, including get-ins and get-outs, show running, equipment maintenance, and general backstage operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to learn the full scope of technical theatre while contributing to the smooth and successful running of live performances.
ABOUT YOU:
We are looking for someone with a real passion and interest in technical theatre. Previous experience would be useful, but it's more important that you are proactive, motivated, and eager to learn.
You must be over 18 (or will be by 21 September) and have passed GCSE English and Maths. You cannot have a degree-level qualification as a Creative Venue Technician or in Technical Theatre, but an adjacent subject such as Music Production would be fine.
You must also have:
Recognising under-representation in our workforce of the global majority, and people with disabilities, we particularly welcome applicants from those backgrounds.
OUR APPRENTICES:
Birmingham Hippodrome are very proud of our apprenticeships tradition, particularly in our Technical department, and won an Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award in 2025. Our previous Technical Apprentices have:
Royal Court Theatre are looking to work with early-career directors with a background in directing and/or facilitating, with particular interest in directing new writing and developing their wider skills and abilities towards future freelance careers and artistic leadership roles. The Royal Court Trainee Director scheme has had an impressive history supporting the next generation of brilliant directors and artistic leaders, with alumni including Rufus Norris, Roy Alexander Weise, Lyndsey Turner and Milli Bhatia. We can’t wait to see who’s next.
They are currently hiring two Trainee Directors with a six month shared overlap. One position will start in January 2027; the second in June 2027; each for one year.
The successful candidate will have:
Mountview’s one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Stage and Production Management is designed for those looking to enter the profession with limited theatre experience, consolidate existing training, or progress to the next stage of their career.
The course particularly welcomes career-changers and graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who have developed an interest in stage and production management through university drama societies, amateur theatre, or other practical performance-making experiences. It is also well-suited to applicants who have already undertaken relevant training or built-up industry experience and are seeking further professional practice, a recognised postgraduate qualification, or the opportunity to strengthen and refine their skills within a conservatoire-style environment.
Students work in a fast‑paced, professional production setting, engaging with a broad range of productions while developing essential practical, creative, organisational and critical thinking skills. The programme balances hands-on production work with theoretical and professional development, preparing students for a sustainable career in the creative arts.
The Diploma offers a clear route to increased employability and professional progression. For those already working in the industry, it provides the opportunity to deepen expertise, expand professional networks, and move forward with confidence into more advanced roles.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
This is a one-year full-time vocational course and is ideal for students who wish to develop their experience and skills in management, theatre production arts or technical theatre through practical work in professional theatre environments.
The course is delivered through:
The course is taught by Mountview’s resident team of tutors, alongside industry professionals who work alongside the students on productions. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from Punchdrunk, Hamilton, The Globe and National Theatre.
This full-time vocational course provides students with an artistically safe and supportive environment to develop their creative instincts while also preparing them for future training and career opportunities within the performing arts
The Certificate of Higher Education course is framed by a focus on discovery. You’ll be trained to develop your own personal skill strengths, cultivate independent growth, expand your artistic vocabulary and grow as a creative artist.
You’ll also gain an understanding of different vocational routes and will be given career tutorials to explore your next steps, alongside focussed audition preparation and 1:1 coaching on auditions.
A CertHE course is a great option for students from a wide range of backgrounds, whether you want to develop your skills before progressing to a three-year training option or as a standalone course before entering the industry directly.
The CertHE Acting course runs in several locations in partnership with leading arts venues, giving students the opportunity to study in some of the most creatively vibrant and exciting locations within the UK.
All course locations are led by Mountview staff and will cover the same syllabus.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Spanning over two terms of study, the CertHE course offers a fast-paced, vocational training environment.
Throughout the course students will investigate and develop their existing practical skills in Acting, as well as having the opportunity to work in a rehearsal setting and ultimately present a shared performance.
Students will develop acting, movement and associated skills and the training will also include:
This full-time vocational course provides you with an artistically safe and supportive environment, to develop your creative instincts and prepare for future training and career opportunities within the performing arts.
Gain an understanding of different vocational routes and benefit from career tutorials to explore your next steps, alongside focussed audition preparation and 1:1 coaching on auditions.
The Certificate of Higher Education course is framed by a focus on discovery. You’ll be trained to develop your own personal skill strengths, cultivate independent growth, expand your artistic vocabulary and grow as a creative artist.
A CertHE course is a great option for students from a wide range of backgrounds, whether you want to develop your skills before progressing to a 3-year training option or as a standalone course before entering the industry.
The CertHE Musical Theatre course runs in several locations in partnership with leading arts venues, giving students the opportunity to study in some of the most creatively vibrant & exciting locations within the UK.
All course locations are led by Mountview staff and will cover the same syllabus.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Spanning over two terms of study, the CertHE course offers a fast-paced, vocational training environment.
Throughout the course students will investigate and develop their existing practical skills in Musical Theatre, as well as having the opportunity to work in a rehearsal setting and ultimately present a shared performance.
Students will develop acting, singing, dance, artistic agency and associated skills, including:
Actor-musicians are increasingly in-demand performers who combine first-rate acting ability with a high level of musicianship.
Mountview’s Actor Musicianship course develops these dual skills to the highest level, enabling graduates to combine them in their performance.
Whilst a high level of prior musical experience is a pre-requisite, it is not necessary to have achieved formal music qualifications before applying.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Study takes place over three 12-week terms a year for three years. It is an actor training programme with specialised music elements. Students work in small classes and receive over 25 hours of direct teaching time each week, including one-to-one singing and instrumental lessons.
The course is delivered through classes, projects, workshops and performance opportunities. During the course students engage in a range of performance projects, working on Shakespeare, contemporary plays, and musicals as well as devising original work. The first half of each term is devoted to skills classes whilst in the second half of each term these skills are applied to performance projects.
In the second year, skills are further explored in collaboration classes which include peer integration and team teaching to enhance your creativity and help you to make connections between subjects.
Additionally, there is time given to tailored ‘surgeries’ to focus on detail and help develop independence and confidence in each individual’s practice.
Mountview is currently the only UK drama school to offer Directing, Dramatic Writing and Producing as three distinct, specialised pathways within a single, unified Creative Practice MA framework. The course is designed for multi-hyphenate practitioners who are excited by collaboration and meeting the demands of the twenty-first century creative industries.
By bringing directors, writers and producers into one ecosystem, the course mirrors the professional world by fostering creative partnerships through shared engagement with modes of collaboration, creative enterprise, dramatic structures and critical contexts.
Students on the Dramatic Writing pathway develop an in-depth knowledge of dramatic structures and the core competencies for writing across different forms and styles. The course develops an understanding and critical awareness of current practice through engagement with industry practitioners and academics. You will be mentored by award-winning playwright Roy Williams OBE (Death of England National Theatre, Sucker Punch Royal Court), who oversees aspects of the course as Distinguished Visiting Artist.
The course concludes with the opportunity to put your learning into practice through the staging of a public facing, fully-realised festival of new work. VIEW Festival allows students to develop their pathway specific skills while also collaborating closely with the Producing, Directing and Performance students.
Our MA Creative Practice graduates leave with an established network of industry contacts and prepared for high-impact careers as Playwrights, Screenwriters, Dramaturgs, Directors, Creative Leaders, Theatre Makers, Artistic Directors, Commercial and Independent Producers and Venue Leaders.
STAFF AND PRACTITIONERS
The Creative Practice teaching team is led by Hamish Pirie and Dawn Ingleson as Joint Course Leaders, alongside Roy Williams as Distinguished Visiting Artist. Dawn worked extensively at the National Theatre as a creative producer and has also taught at LSBU, while Hamish’s directing credits include work at the Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, Paines Plough and Traverse Theatre. Roy is a multi-award winning writer whose credits include Death of England: The Plays (National Theatre), The Lonely Londoners (Kiln and Jermyn Street Theatre) and Sucker Punch (Royal Court, Olivier Award nomination).
In addition to working alongside the core teaching team, MA Creative Practice students also benefit from industry masterclasses specific to their pathway, led by the world’s most prestigious creative powerhouses. Recent MA Creative Practice sessions have featured:
Mountview produces over 25 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving students on the FdA Stage Management course a vast array of learning experiences.
Stage managers are the glue that holds a production together. Their many responsibilities include running communication across all creative and technical departments, acting as a right hand to the director, overseeing sets, props, lights, and sound, and calling all technical cues during performances.
Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least 8 large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Stage Management students with extensive experience of the musical format.
Mountview also offers a 1-year BA (Hons) Top-Up in Stage Management, which offers a greater depth of study to those with previous experience.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
The Stage Management Foundation Degree is a full-time, two-year course designed to equip students with the core skills and professional experience needed to launch a successful career.
With 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks each year, the course offers a blend of practical training, real-world experience, and industry engagement. Students are taught by Mountview’s resident team of tutors, alongside visiting professionals. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from Punchdrunk, Hamilton, The Globe, the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre.
From the second term of the first year, students begin working on Mountview’s public productions in our main theatre spaces. These productions are delivered to professional standards, providing students with the opportunity to collaborate closely with professional directors, choreographers, designers and technical teams from across the industry.
Throughout the course, students receive in-depth skills training and take part in practical projects and specialist masterclasses designed to consolidate their learning. Career guidance and individual support are embedded in the programme to ensure that graduates are well-prepared to enter the industry with confidence.
In addition to in-house productions, students will undertake work placements with external organisations, gaining valuable hands-on experience and building a strong network of professional contacts. Previous placements have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Shakespeare’s Globe, Wilton’s Music Hall, the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Cabaret and the Barbican.
Please note that involvement in Mountview’s productions includes evening and weekend work, reflecting the schedule and demands of a professional theatre environment.
Mountview produces over 25 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving students on the FdA Technical Production course a vast array of learning experiences.
Our Technical Production training is primarily focussed on sound and lighting, incorporating video and technical stagecraft. Course content includes lighting and sound studio skills, the preparation and management of technical equipment, lighting and sound system design, how to programme and operate desks, video mapping and design, as well as core technical and maintenance skills.
Training includes:
Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least 8 large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Technical Production students with extensive experience of the musical format.
Mountview also offers a one-year BA (Hons) Top-Up in Technical Production, in which students with previous experience can select a specialism and develop a greater depth of understanding.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Covering the areas of lighting, sound and video, the Technical Production Foundation Degree is a full-time, two-year course designed to equip students with the core skills and professional experience needed to launch a successful career.
With 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks each year, the course offers a blend of practical training, real-world experience, and industry engagement. Students are taught by Mountview’s resident team of tutors, alongside visiting professionals. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from Robe, DPA, Vectorworks, Operation Mincemeat and the National Theatre.
From the first term, students begin working on Mountview’s public productions in our main theatre spaces. These productions are delivered to professional standards, providing students with the opportunity to collaborate closely with professional directors, designers and technical practitioners from across the industry.
Throughout the course, students receive in-depth skills training and take part in practical projects and specialist masterclasses designed to consolidate their learning. Career guidance and individual support are embedded in the programme to ensure that graduates are well-prepared to enter the industry with confidence.
In addition to in-house productions, students will undertake work placements with external organisations, gaining valuable hands-on experience and building a strong network of professional contacts. Previous placements have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Palladium, the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Cabaret and the Barbican.
The BA (Hons) Top-Up is open to Mountview students currently studying on the FdA course, as well as non-Mountview graduates with relevant qualifications and experience from another technical training provider.
Mountview also offers a two-year Foundation degree (FdA) which provides fast-track training,
Mountview produces over 25 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving Stage Management students a vast array of learning experiences.
Students take on practical show roles in Mountview’s in-house productions, with responsibilities including:
Stage managers are the glue that holds a production together. Their many responsibilities include running communication across all creative and technical departments, acting as a right hand to the director, overseeing sets, props, lights, and sound, and calling all technical cues during performances.
Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least 8 large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Stage Management students with extensive experience of the musical format.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
The BA (Hons) Top-Up course is designed for students who have completed a foundation degree or equivalent in a technical production discipline. With at least 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks, the course offers intensive, hands-on training in a professional environment.
From the start, students will take on senior technical roles in Mountview’s public productions, working closely with professional directors, choreographers, designers and technicians. Students will gain experience in senior Stage Management roles, while continuing to develop a broad range of technical skills. All learning is rooted in practical experience, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and adaptability.
Alongside production work, students complete an extended research project in their chosen area of interest, submitted at the end of the course.
