Applications are now open for work placements in the Scenic Art department at the National Theatre.

These two-week placements are for those studying, or recently graduated from, a Scenic Art or other relevant higher education course and looking for work experience in this field. Please note:

Placements will take place between April 2026 and March 2027.
Placements are not paid, but travel and food expenses will be covered.
This is an opportunity for people aged 18+.

As part of your application, please upload a CV, covering letter explaining why you are applying for this placement, and a short portfolio of your work. If you have any questions or if you would like to submit an application via an alternative format, please contact one of the Skills Centre team at skillscentre@nationaltheatre.org.uk who can offer guidance on how to do this.

Become a Kiln Neighbour and take part in the Kilburn High Road Festival!

As a Neighbour, you’ll take part in fortnightly evening session at Kiln, including:

• Practical skills and upskilling workshops
• Theatre workshops, exploring what goes on behind the scenes at a theatre
• Tickets to Kiln shows
• Social events, building a group of like-minded, friendly people.

You’ll also be part a part of the Kilburn High Road Festival in August 2026, with roles including:

• Attending music, theatre and art events
• Talking to audiences and giving out brochures
• Being the festival’s friendly face
• Spreading the word about the festival

This 16-day festival is the finale of The Kilburn High Road Project, celebrating the diverse heritage and stories of Kilburn.

How to become a Neighbour

Info Session: 6pm, 11 February 2026, Kiln Theatre.
Just drop-in, or contact us to confirm your attendance.

Step behind the stage with this immersive six-month traineeship, gaining hands-on production experience and learning how world-class innovative shows are brought to life.

The Royal Court Theatre is internationally-recognised as the UK’s leading theatre for new work, with a 70-year commitment to developing and championing talent on and off stage. Each year it nurtures hundreds of emerging practitioners through structured development, placements and learning programmes – supporting them all the way through to professional debuts and major productions. 

Its mission is defined by taking risks on stages – inspiring audiences, artists and communities, and empowering new and diverse voices to drive forward national culture and public conversation. Every year Royal Court reaches over 100,000 people between its two theatres, touring productions and youth and community projects. Coming at an exciting time during its 70th Anniversary, this traineeship ensures both practical learning and a real dose of inspiration and excitement for someone new to the industry.

This production traineeship provides a supported, developmental role in our busy world-class backstage theatre teams – including opportunities to build to professional credits, and gain insights into future career pathways in theatre. Throughout the traineeship, the successful candidate will undertake supervised, developmental tasks that build confidence in rehearsal support, technical periods and performances, giving direct insight and hands-on experience into how plays are developed, rehearsed and staged in a world-leading contemporary theatre. There will also be opportunities to work alongside globally renowned artists, brand new writers and youth participants. The six-month traineeship will follow a structured timeline to support learning and development, potentially as follows:

• Months 1-2: Learning through practice, shadowing, and supervised contributions at the heart of our teams
• Months 3-4: Taking on more guided responsibilities and ownership of smaller, defined tasks on each production
• Month 5: Opportunities for short tailored placements across other departments of interest to the trainee, potentially including our producing, venue management, operations and marketing & communications teams
• Month 6: Taking on stage management responsibilities for festival presentations and readings in our September 2026 Open Submissions Festival in a supported environment, securing professional credits as an outcome

Key activities

• Supporting rehearsals, including setting up and maintaining rehearsal rooms, props and equipment
• Sourcing and adapting props
• Creating and updating relevant production paperwork
• Attending key production meetings and assisting with follow-up tasks
• Supporting deputy stage managers in managing rehearsal rooms, including wellbeing and pastoral care for rehearsal companies
• Observing and assisting fit-ups, set builds, and technical rehearsals
• Shadowing and supporting stage managers during technical rehearsals and running shows
• Helping backstage before and during performances, including company check-ins and wellbeing support
• Connecting with wider departments through optional placements across the organisation based on the candidate’s interests

What you will gain

• A clear understanding of professional production and stage management workflows, and the careers in these fields
• Enhanced confidence in rehearsal-room support, from wellbeing and inclusion for new and diverse artists to professional standards expected of world-leading talent
• First-hand experience of technical and performance periods
• Insight into the artistic and logistical processes of producing new theatre, and wider career pathways and opportunities across the UK theatre sector
• Clear, demonstrable evidence of work in a professional theatre environment and specific credits for your CV
• Build a meaningful professional network via introductions to creative teams, freelancers and partner organisations

What we are looking for

• No formal training is required but some experience or transferable skills that relate to stage management, theatre or backstage theatre are desirable
• A passion and genuine interest for theatre, stage management and backstage theatre, with an interest in exploring future pathways and careers within these
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• A positive flexible approach to working, with the possibility of some evening and weekends as required

Get insight into a how a working theatre runs, learn about different careers within the industry, and gain valuable hands-on experience with a placement at Tobacco Factory Theatres. 

Guided by our experienced facilitators, students can expect: 

• Talks, Q&As and workshops with different theatre departments – including Producing, Marketing, Box Office, Front of House, Fundraising and Get Involved 
• Exercises and projects to try out what you’ve learnt  
• Varied practical tasks that give you a taste of day-to-day theatre operations 
• Collaborative work as part of a group of 15 placement students  
• Supportive and friendly professional colleagues who will guide you through the week 

When is work experience week? 

Work experience week will run from Monday 29th June – Friday 3rd July 2026, 10am-4pm. Placement students must be available for the full week. 

Unfortunately we aren’t able to offer alternative dates. If your school has scheduled work experience for a different week, please speak with them about the possibility of completing your placement at a different time. 

How to apply 

Head to Tobacco Factory Theatre's website and fill out the Google Form.

Application deadline: 5pm on Friday 28th February 2026 

Please note: To ensure this is a welcoming, fair and accessible opportunity for everyone, placements will be selected by lottery. 15 applicants will be randomly selected to take part in work experience week.  

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by Thursday 5th March 2026. 

Summary

Are you interested in FREE training and a PAID work placement in exciting London theatres?

More Details

Are you interested in FREE training and a PAID work placement in exciting London theatres?

Role title: CHANGE THE SCRIPT : West End Technical Trainee (Westminster)

Description of the role: Change the Script is an award winning (UK Theatre Award for workforce 2023), unique and exciting training and employment programme in London’s West End, providing unemployed Westminster with the opportunity to achieve recognised accreditations and paid work experience – in partnership with Westminster City Council.

Participants will undertake three weeks of free interactive pre-employment training and other practical certifications and then spend 49 days putting that learning into practice across multiple ATG Entertainment world-class theatre settings.

The training will be tailored to prepare participants for a successful work placement in the often hidden ‘off stage’ roles in a theatre.

This opportunity is exclusively for Westminster residents currently out of work or seeking employment.

Successful completion of the programme could lead to securing sustainable employment or an apprenticeship in a trade or a technical theatre-based support role.

Timings:

Application Deadline: Monday 23rd Feb 2026; 23:59

• Pre-employment training pre-registration in person
• Pre-employment training– 3 weeks in March 2026
• Paid work experience – 7th April 2026 – 16th June 026 (excl. bank holidays)

Salary: 49 days of paid work experience paid at £13.15 PAYE per hour plus a brand-new pair of safety boots (please provide your size as part of the application process).

Hours: 8.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday (including one hour of unpaid break time, hours may vary on placement).

Application process: Please register your interest online

The process is intended to be as simple as possible so a full CV is not required, you just need to tell us a bit about yourself, your transferable skills and why you would like to take part in the programme.

If you do not have access to a computer you can still apply or just find out more about the programme by coming to one of our upcoming recruitment afternoons. You can find out more about these by calling ATG Creative Learning on 07830817239 or emailing westendclcp@atgentertainment.com

The ‘Change the Script’ programme is a fantastic way to get free accredited training, an appreciation for the world of construction and access to the arts industry on your doorstep, all while being paid.

The National Theatre are currently recruiting for a Wigs, Hair and Makeup (WHAM) Apprentice to join their in-house team on a 27-month fixed-term contract.

The Wigs, Hair and Make-up Department at the National Theatre makes and applies all wigs, facial hair, special effects Makeup and blood effects used at the NT. They also undertake all barbering and hair processing requirements during the run of shows. They are thus closely involved with directors and designers, supporting them and realising their design concepts.

You will also learn about the vital role collaboration and communication play in the creative design process and how to work closely with people in a time-pressured and dynamic environment. This apprenticeship is for those with a passion for theatre who haven’t yet had experience of working in professional theatre.

Salary: £30,784 per annum, pro rata (£592 per week) based on London Living Wage.

How to apply:

• Complete the application form on their website.

A 12-month paid career development opportunity for emerging creative professionals ages 18–25.

Creative Industry Placement is a 12-month career development opportunity that provides professional pathways into the creative industries, with a strong focus on supporting underrepresented talent. This placement offers five creative participants ages 18-25 with hands-on experience working in an arts organisation, building insight into how a creative business is run. Roles will range from day-to-day management through to programming and operations.

This placement is designed for those:

• Who are interested in learning about creative industries and want to forge pathways into the cultural sector.
• Who want to develop networks, transferable skills, build a dynamic and creative portfolio.
• Who want to nurture professional skills, creative confidence, and workplace readiness.

Placement runs from April 2026 – April 2027.

How to apply:

• Complete the application form on their website.

Have you ever wondered how the lights, sound and technical effects come togethter to make each moment unforgettable?

As an Apprentice at LW Theatres, you'll work towards a Level 3 Creative Venue Technician Apprenticeship while gaining valuable skills working on some of the biggest shows in the world!

You'll gain hands-on experience across a range of technical departments, including stage flying systems, props, scenery, lighting, sound, and automation. As you progress through the apprenticeship, you'll also have the opportunity to specialise in the area that interests you most.

The apprenticeship is designed to run over a two-year period, allowing you to steadily build knowledge, experience, and professional capability.

Start Date: September 2026

End Date: August 2028

Contracted Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: £26, 511.94 per annum

How to apply:

• Visit the linked opportunity, and send your CV to the LW Theatres team.

Shaftesbury Theatre

The ABTT Theatre Show will once again take place at the stunning Alexandra Palace on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June.

The ABTT Theatre Show 2026 is the exhibition where the broadest collection of specialist suppliers supporting live performance technology, production and education gather to connect with others in the world of theatre, performance, events, festivals, music and more.

The ABTT Theatre Show draws exhibitors and visitors from all over the world whether they be interested in lighting, audio visual, scenography, rigging, set construction, sound, costume, seating, staging, wigs, make-up, pyrotechnics or anything else employed in a performance. A range of activities will be presented over the two days, including a variety of meetings, debates and seminars and providing spaces for all their sister Associations and organisations to meet in person.

How to book:

• Complete the registration form on their website.
• If you wish to attend as part of an educational trip, please email admin@abtt.org.uk