Experience Opportunity

Paid Theatre Operations Internship - Nederlander Theatres

We are inviting applications for a three-month fixed-term placement at the Aldwych and Dominion Theatres.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone interested in gaining a comprehensive view of how West End theatres operate. The intern will work full-time (40 hours per week) and will be mentored by various teams, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as Box Office operations, Front of House customer service, theatre management, and marketing.

During this placement, the successful candidate will learn about:

Theatre Operations

  • Assist in daily administrative duties and operational planning tasks.
  • Communicate with staff, producers, and customers; respond to enquiries and feedback efficiently.
  • Support HR processes, meeting setup, and maintain office supplies.
  • Gain knowledge in show programming and negotiating terms with producers.

Front of House

  • Ensure audiences have an excellent experience through customer service.
  • Check tickets, assist in seating, and maximize sales at bars and kiosks.
  • Collaborate with the Front of House management for show setup, staff inductions, and nightly reports.

Sales and Ticketing

  • Learn the sales and ticketing processes within the Box Office.
  • Use the ticketing system to sell tickets and respond to customer requests, including those with access needs, while providing high-quality service.

Marketing

  • Understand branding and audience communication with the marketing team.
  • Assist in creating e-newsletters, responding to social media inquiries, and planning dynamic content for the theatre’s channels.

Venue Hire

  • Support the Events department in running venue hires, ensuring excellent customer service.
  • Handle client enquiries and convert them into bookings; assist with event setup, including furniture and refreshments.
  • Learn about the programming process for one-off shows, including booking and legal contracts.

Finance

  • Discover the finance and accounting department's function.
  • Assist with daily tasks, learning about purchase ledgers, archiving, financial reports, and budgets.

Stage Door

  • Learn the roles of the Stage Door team, welcoming staff and guests.
  • Understand how the Stage Door and security maintain safety and provide customer service.

Property Services

  • Assist with maintenance activities, prioritize requests, and engage in reactive work (e.g., painting and renewing fixtures).
  • Understand health and safety requirements and risk management practices.

Other

  • Comply with all Company Policies, including HR, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, Sustainability, and Health and Safety Policies.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This placement is suitable for individuals aged 18 and over and does not require formal theatre training. However, we welcome candidates with a keen interest in live entertainment.

Essential Skills and Qualities

  • Reliability and Punctuality: Consistently show up on time and fulfil commitments.
  • Teamwork and Initiative: Work effectively within a team while also demonstrating the ability to take initiative.
  • Positive Attitude: Maintain a friendly and upbeat demeanour in various situations.
  • Eagerness to Learn: Show a strong desire to gain knowledge and experience.
  • Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and effectively across different contexts while managing multiple tasks.
  • Attention to Detail: Demonstrate a keen eye for detail in all tasks.
  • Interest in Live Entertainment: Have a genuine enthusiasm for and interest in the theatre and live events.
  • Not have prior professional experience working on large-scale productions.

Desirable Skills

  • Administrative Skills: Possess strong organisational and administrative abilities.
  • Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency: Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

The nature of this opportunity, and the funding to support it, means that we have a strong preference for candidates under the age of 25, and who are resident in the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. We will, however, consider all candidates.

To check your borough, click here.

Candidates must:

  • Be aged 18+ when the internship begins
  • Be available for the full duration of the internship
  • Have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the internship.
  • Be a Masterclass member. Masterclass membership is completely free and open to anyone aged 16-30. Click here to sign up.

Masterclass and Nederlander Theatres are committed to building a theatre workforce that demonstrates equality, diversity and inclusion. As such, our recruitment focuses on providing opportunities to those currently underrepresented in our workforce, and across the entertainment industry. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from candidates from the global majority, who come from a working class background or who have faced specific obstacles to progression. (This role will be based in a venue without step-free access, but reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure that the successful candidate can operate effectively.)

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete this application form.

You can download the questions to prepare in advance here.

OR, if this process is not accessible to you, please send a video or audio file (maximum 3 minutes) explaining your interest in working in theatre, your experiences to date, and how you would benefit from the placement, to info@masterclass.org.uk with the subject heading: INTERNSHIP - NEDERLANDER

KEY INFORMATION

Application Deadline: 9.00am, Monday 2 December 2024

Interviews: First interviews will be held in mid-December; Second interviews will be held in early January

Start Date: Monday 3 February 2025

End Date: Friday 2 May 2025

Location: Aldwych & Dominion Theatres

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Salary: £13.15 per hour

If you have any questions, please contact the Masterclass office by email: info@masterclass.org.uk

Read me aloud