Navigating a route into the theatre industry can be difficult, let alone for parents, guardians and carers who want to support their young person and don’t know where to start. Or, who have concerns about the industry itself. 

We’ve compiled a list of the FAQs often asked by caregivers when trying to offer advice to their child, in the hope that you have a few more facts and understanding about the industry to guide you and ease your concerns:  

Do roles in theatre offer a stable career path? 

There are many roles in theatre that are freelance, have short-term contracts or are casual, which is often what causes worry about job stability. However, many of these roles are protected by various unions (Equity, BECTU/UK Theatre SOLT, etc. You can find more about Unions here). From rates of pay, holidays and hours, these bodies ensure the rights of workers are safeguarded. There are also many venue or company based roles that are full-time/part-time and permanent, with all the benefits of the usual PAYE roles you may see in other industries (sometimes with the added bonus of free tickets to events!)

Visit our Complete List of Jobs in the Theatre Industry to get a flavour on the types of roles that could be venue or company based and those that could be freelance and supported by unions. Or, How to Become a Freelancer to see how you can support your young person in the early stages of working this way. 

Are roles in theatre paid well?

Like all industries, rates of pay and wage brackets vary massively dependant on the role, the organisation, the location, your experience and the responsibility. Unions such as Equity, BECTU, Writer’s Guild etc, offer weekly pay recommendations for freelance roles. Equity’s recommended minimum rate for Actors, Stage Managers and Choreographers will be £630.90 in the 26/27 financial year. Artistic or Executive Directors of large-scale and national venues can make upwards of £100k+ per year. Visit our Complete List of Jobs in the Theatre Industry which includes an up-to-date pay rate for each role, where possible. 

Is there any career progression in theatre? 

Being freelance, touring and working with different companies can allow for more variation and career development in shorter spaces of time, compared to industries with more linear career pathways. Transferable skills in theatre roles can often lend themselves to varying roles across the sector and, should someone wish to, they can follow their developing interests. People working in the industry can start in casual roles (Front of House, Stage Crew, etc) to allow them the space and time to develop and explore which path they would like to take. Nevertheless, there are also more traditional progression pathways within departments that could start as an apprenticeship and lead to being the head of that department, such as Head of Wigs or Head of Lighting. 

If you don’t need any qualifications for a lot of roles in theatre, are artistic subjects a waste of their education?

Although a lot of roles in theatre do not require certain GCSEs, A Levels or further education qualifications specific to the arts, that's not to say that studying drama, music or art would not be beneficial to your young person or their career journey. The transferable skills and wellness benefits linked to arts-based subjects are massive. Having a firm understanding in a subject area is not a necessity but could ensure a young person has the foundations, shared language and confidence to springboard into the theatre industry. Young people still in education can also gain experience through youth theatres, workshops or various other opportunities, in addition to their studies. You can find opportunities in your area here. 

Will I need to make financial sacrifices to support my young person in their ambitions? 

Get Into Theatre lists thousands of up-to-date theatre opportunities, many of which are free, have bursary assistance, grants, travel subsistence or pay the placement holder themselves (such as apprenticeships or funding). You can explore these opportunities here. Gaining experience or supporting your young person on their career journey into theatre does not have to rely on finances.

Are you a parent or guardian and have a question you’d like to see answered in our FAQs for parents? Send them to help@getintotheatre.org 
You can also read our blog on What advice can I give my child who wants to work in theatre?

Added 4th Sept 2024

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