We will soon be launching Young Vic Young Disruptors - a new programme for young people interested in producing and a career in theatre.

Young Vic Young Disruptors is a 3 month programme for 18-25 year olds living in London to learn new producing skills and programme their own event at the Young Vic.

Chosen participants will take part in weekly sessions at the Young Vic, learning fundamental and valuable skills in theatre producing. Using these new skills, they will then plan and run their own public-facing creative event in response to our Main House show dissent by debbie tucker green.

Key dates:

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

This Introduction Webinar will give you an overview of Theatre Green Book: what it is, the background to its creation, what tools and resources are available, and how you can get started on your journey towards greener theatre making.

Hosted by Theatre Green Book Producer Laura Sedgwick, this webinar is free, and open to anyone in the performing arts sector. Theatre Green Book is for students, freelancers, and anyone working for an organisation making theatre, dance, opera, circus, live art, outdoor performances or anything inbetween. The webinars will be held in English, and are open to anyone from across Europe and internationally.

Whether you are completely new to Theatre Green Book, or have used it previously and would like a refresher, please do come along. There will be time for questions, and we love to find out more about everyone who is making environmentally mindful performance.

Key information:

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Key information:

The ABTT is offering a one-day Automation Foundation CPD Course designed for both individuals and full venue technical teams. Open to members and non-members alike, this course is ideal for anyone looking to work alongside or directly with automated systems, providing a shared understanding of the what, how, and why of entertainment automation.

What does this course cover?

What will you or your team gain?

Upon completion, participants will demonstrate a solid understanding of essential automation components, live-event applications, and team dynamics. Completing this foundation module also unlocks access to the ABTT Silver Award for Automation training.

Booking for a Team or Venue?

They regularly welcome full technical departments and venue crews on this course. If you are an employer looking to upskill a larger team or discuss tailored group options, please get in touch with the ABTT directly to explore training solutions for your organization.

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Key information:

What is the Bronze Award for Theatre Technicians?

The Bronze Award is a 5 day programme which gives candidates knowledge and understanding of best practice, whether they are working in regional  rep, touring, multiart form studios, community theatre, the West End or as a freelancer. The Bronze Award delivers the first vocational step for professional development for the theatre technician and also opens opportunities to progress to other ABTT Awards.

Who can do the Award?

Both members and non-members are eligible, though ABTT members receive a discount. The ABTT Bronze Award is suitable for anyone with an interest in technical theatre, whether in a professional or amateur capacity. While no formal prior qualifications are required, this award is designed for those with a basic working familiarity with a theatre environment. It provides essential tools and knowledge to help newcomers and early-career team members safely and effectively work backstage.

How is the Award structured?

The Bronze Award consists of five 1-day courses, followed by the Bronze Award Assessment. Candidates who achieve a pass, merit, or distinction in the assessment will receive a Bronze Award Certificate and become eligible to apply for ABTT Silver Awards. Candidates who are unsuccessful this time or are unable to complete all 5 days of the programme are encouraged to continue working towards achieving the full Award certification by completing any outstanding training and the Award Assessment within 2 calendar years. Certificates of completion are available in the meantime, to recognise training days that have already been attended.

You can also book each 1-day course individually – click the Opportunity Info link for availability.

What do the Courses cover?

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Key information:

What is the Stage Pyrotechnics Safety Awareness Course?

The ABTT Stage Pyrotechnics Safety Awareness Course is a theatrical based, workshop style, training day. The course provides operational safety information from industry experienced tutors via ‘hands-on’ exercises and ‘live firing’ demonstrations. The course focuses on the  safety implications associated with the use of popular, publicly available, Stage Pyrotechnic devices. Please note the course is only open to 18 year old candidates and above due to using explosives.

Who can do the course?

These Individual Certificated Courses are open to ABTT Members and non-members alike and are ideal for lighting/sound professionals, community theatre technicians, stage managers, students, venue managers, insurers, fire/security officers, indeed, anyone in the  entertainment industry who has an interest or finds themselves associated with Stage Pyrotechnics.

What does the course cover?

What will I be able to do at the end of the course?

The course will provide candidates with an opportunity to keep ‘up to date’ with ‘considered best practice’ and familiarise themselves more readily with new and current regulations, alongside forthcoming UK/EU legislation. The course will also serve as an ideal refresher for  Technicians who have to produce certificates of awareness, to keep themselves ‘In date’.

The training is facilitated by Just FX for the ABTT and the Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians (ASP) and all candidates will receive a comprehensive set of notes and, subject to satisfactory completion of the course, receive a certificate, signed by the tutors, and have automatic inclusion on the National ASP competency registers.

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

If you’re making performance work and don’t know how to take it to the next level, then a Scratch Night might be just what you need. These Made in Cornwall Scratch Nights are a collaboration between some of Cornwall’s cultural institutions, which means performers get some of the region’s leading brains, experience and creativity in a room together.

Made in Cornwall want to establish a vibrant Scratch culture in Cornwall. A safe space for exploration and a fertile ground for discussion about new work within the artistic community. A Scratch Night is about being brave and testing your idea in front of a friendly, creative and constructive audience who will then give you feedback.   

Scratch Nights are hosted all around creative venues in Cornwall, including on the Cornwall Playhouse stage. Please see below for information on the upcoming Scratch Night, and they hope to see you there!

Stay tuned for the new season of Scratch nights...

Think you’re ready to test out your idea? 

Please apply to the organisations hosting the Scratch Night you want to get involved in (detailed below). You will be able to perform in front of an audience who will discuss the work with each other and provide feedback on your developing piece. A small bursary may be available to cover expenses.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

The Introduction to Directing short course at Birkbeck, University of London equips you with the skills and knowledge required to practise as a professional director or independent theatre artist in today’s industry.

Led by leading practitioners, you will understand the role of a professional director and the relationships with key collaborators such as actors, writers, designers and the industry. You will gain a greater understanding of the relevant theory and methodology, supported by practical sessions to enhance your knowledge.

The course will cover:

Practical sessions will include:

This Introduction to Directing course at Birkbeck is well suited to emerging or aspiring directors. It closes with a panel discussion with an artistic director and freelancers to provide you with insights on your potential career paths. The course also offers a great taster for those wishing to study on the MFA Theatre Directing course in the future.

As a learner on this course, you will study alongside fellow professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge in the subject area, giving you the opportunity to make connections with like-minded colleagues and network.

You will receive a Birkbeck certificate of participation upon completion of the course.

This course is non-credit bearing, so carries no credit points.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Introducing The Youth Theatre Together Map!

Click the Opportunity Info link below to find a youth theatre near you. Search by adding a location, organisation name, age range, activity or region into the search bars.

Through in-house productions, industry based placements and hands-on training, you’ll learn all relevant skills relating to the work of the production technician in theatre, events, and other areas of the entertainment industry.

Course overview

With technology at its core, this course offers practical, hands-on training in a variety of high-end lighting, sound, and video systems – skills that are in high demand for the theatre, events, film and television industries in Wales and across the rest of the UK.

You’ll have classes given by leading professionals operating at the top of their field, alongside several production placements, both based at the College and with our industry partners here in Wales.

With your placements, developing your expertise for a technical career in the creative industries is only one part of it. These experiences will also help you to build communication and team working skills that are essential to thriving in collaborative environments.

After graduation, you could take on roles such as a production electrician, lighting technician or programmer, sound and system engineer, video operator or programmer, among many more.

Why study this course?

  • All but two of the modules are designed to replicate the experience of work-based learning. You’ll work with state-of-the-art entertainment industry technology such as, but not limited to, automated lighting and consoles, digital sound systems, video projection and production electrics.
  • You’ll train with a team of staff who are highly skilled industry professionals. They offer you not only first-rate teaching in current best practices, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  • For your placements within the second year at the College, you’ll have a lead production role, under the supervision and guidance of a senior technician, working with the various technical teams (video, lighting, sound) during the fit up of Richard Burton Theatre Company productions.
  • Throughout your training, you’ll work alongside staff from the design and stage-management departments and interact with students from across the College’s performing arts courses. These collaborations will help you to develop an understanding of and empathy of the other fields of practice within the creative arts.
  • Your external placement will take place with one of our leading industry partners, such as the Welsh National Opera, Stage Sound Services, Figure of Eight Events or Sherman Theatre. This opportunity not only gives you practical, real-world experience, but it also allows you to meet and create a network of contacts within the industry.
  • For up to three years after you complete your course, you have the option to ‘top up’ your qualification. You can do this by completing an additional year of study to gain a level 6 qualification as part of our BA (Hons) Stage Management and Technical Theatre.
  • You’ll have talks from, and get to meet, industry professionals from a range of different disciplines, who are regularly invited to speak here at the College – giving you a chance to widen your professional network in readiness for your life after graduation.
  • You’ll take part in visits to local theatre companies, giving you a feel for what the industry is really like. On occasion, when major productions visit Cardiff, we’ll try to arrange visits to the production and organise a tour or talk for your cohort.

Through work experience and hands-on training, you’ll learn how to plan, draught, construct and install sets to a professional standard whilst working on our numerous public productions.

Course overview

Work placements and hands-on training in our workshops are at the centre of this specialist course that focuses on building sets for theatrical productions.

From day one in our state-of-the-art workshops at Llanishen Studios, you’ll learn fundamental construction techniques in carpentry, metalwork and welding. But you’ll also delve into using digital tools that are essential in set construction, such as SketchUp and Auto Cad, and computer numerical control (CNC) equipment.

Following your workshop training, you’ll then become more familiar with the theatre environment, learning basic skills in access equipment, rigging and flying systems. You’ll also gain greater insight into the roles and duties of relevant team members and become involved in the load-in and fit-up of productions here at the College.

The bulk of this course, which is the only one of its kind in the UK, consists of work placements – some of which will be held at the College. The others will take place externally with our professional partners, which are some of the largest and most prestigious companies from the TV, film and theatrical industries in Wales and the UK.

In our welcoming creative environment, you’ll build all the professional, practical and technical skills you need to secure a construction technician role after graduation – a position that’s highly in demand.

Why study this course?

  • Your skills will be in demand – there’s currently a shortage of suitably qualified entry-level technicians in the stage and screen industries.
  • You’ll be guided by expert practitioners who are currently working in today’s industry. They offer you not only first-rate teaching, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  • Your cohort is small – so you’ll receive a very high level of individual support and attention during your course.
  • We’ve partnered with some of the largest companies in the UK, who offer our students professional work placements, these include Welsh National Opera, Cardiff Theatrical Services, Bay Productions, Wild Creations, and Bad Wolf.
  • You’ll take on increasingly high levels of responsibility for creating and installing stage sets for our in-house productions, including opera and musical theatre. You’ll take on the role of construction leader in at least one of your placements. As part of this work, you’ll follow the design process, work with the designer to produce the required construction drawings, lead the construction and the final fit-up of the set.
  • You’ll be based at our large and superbly equipped workshops at Llanishen Studios, which are the largest and best equipped of any competitive conservatoire.
  • At the end of the two-year course, you'll have the option to ‘top-up’ your qualification and receive a BA (Hons) in Design for Performance by completing an additional year of study specialising in scenic construction.
  • Alongside your placements, you’ll have evening classes at the College to help you develop commercial and financial awareness, as well as project management communications and leadership skills.
  • Collaboration runs through everything we do here. You’ll train alongside other design and stage-management students, as well as those studying our performing arts courses. This kind of work helps you to develop an understanding and empathy of other creative arts disciplines – but it also helps you to build partnerships that can last long after you graduate.
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