We're creating new roles and opportunities at the Octagon as we reshape our team to match our ambitions. The Creative Associate will collaboratively shape our programme and develop new work. We're looking for an established theatre maker to join our team on a two year contract.
* Provide collaborative creative development across the Octagon's work. This includes artist support, dramaturgy and community engagement in creative practices and managing relationships with artists and partners to further our programme.
* Identify, deliver and be accountable for creative programming and project opportunities that meet our objectives.
* Provide creative leadership to organisational events such as 60th anniversary celebrations, donor and audience engagement events.
* Experience of creating theatre productions including at the mid-scale, with a strong understanding of theatre and the process of developing new work.
* Experience of dramaturgy and creative support including experience in reading and developing scripts, bringing new work and plays to the stage, and working with a wide range of creatives.
* Collaboration skills, working with a wide range of artists, communities and partners.
* Organisation skills, able to be self-sufficient when needed, and in managing people, budgets and logistics.
* Creative development skills, able to design and lead creative research and development, including feedback for artists.
* Community engagement skills, able to engage a range of non-professionals and young people in theatre and creative processes and to co-design projects with participants.
* Support the development of new work as well as revivals across all stage, from early ideas to script development and R&D.
* Provide dramaturgical insight and feedback to writers and creatives.
* Build and maintain relationships with actors, creatives and agents.
* Identify and support emerging and established artists, particularly those underrepresented in the sector.
* Contribute to the artistic identify of the Octagon by championing work that reflects contemporary life in Bolton, the North West, and the UK.
* Help design and deliver artist development programmes.
* Contribute to programming, commissioning, casting and long-term artistic planning.
* Work closely with Creative Engagement to ensure projects are rooted in community insights and inclusive practice.
* Support the development of work with and by communities, and nurture community creative relationships.
The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Directors’ Programme offers two emerging theatre directors the opportunity to develop their practice and understanding of mid-scale theatre over a year-long attachment.
The programme supports directors through professional masterclasses, paid R&D work, production observation, and development opportunities across the organisation.
Selected directors will receive:
Where appropriate, participants will also be signposted to further paid work and development opportunities.
The programme is aimed at emerging directors with a clear commitment to theatre directing who can demonstrate:
Experience may come from directing, acting, dramaturgy, or related roles. Formal directing training is not required.
Applications are made via an online form, with shortlisted candidates invited to interview. Applicants must also provide a CV and confirm availability for YEP Writers’ Showcase activity. Equal opportunities information is collected separately.
For years, the idea of “making it” in theatre has followed a familiar script: go to university or attend drama school, earn a degree and then maybe you’ll land a job.
But that’s only one version of the story.
The truth is, theatre has never had a single entry route. Many people build careers through practical experience, training on the job, and creating their own opportunities, and crucially, this doesn’t just happen in London.
Apprenticeships are one of the most accessible and structured ways to begin a career in theatre. They combine paid work with hands-on training, allowing you to learn directly from industry professionals.
Major organisations like the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet and Opera, and the Royal Shakespeare Company offer established apprenticeship schemes in areas such as technical theatre, stage management, and costume.
Outside of London, opportunities are just as valuable. Theatr Clwyd and Leeds Playhouse, for example, run programmes that focus on developing local talent and opening doors into the industry.
Apprenticeships offer:
Paid internships in theatre do exist, but they can be harder to find and are often highly competitive. They’re usually offered through specific programmes rather than widely advertised roles.
Masterclass, the Birmingham Hippodrome and Creative Access, for instance, partner with producers and theatres to provide internships that give insight into how the industry operates behind the scenes.
While not as accessible as apprenticeships, internships can still:
Not everyone wants, or needs, to commit to full-time training. Short courses offer a flexible way to develop your skills, whether that’s acting, directing, writing, or technical theatre.
Institutions like the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama offer part-time courses, but similar opportunities can often be found at regional theatres and arts centres across the UK.
These courses allow you to:
It’s easy to think of theatre as London-centric, but the UK has a rich network of regional venues creating high-quality work and supporting emerging talent.
Organisations like the Bristol Old Vic, Royal Exchange Theatre, Northern Stage, Birmingham Hippodrome, and the National Theatre of Scotland all offer development programmes, workshops, and early-career opportunities.
Starting outside London can often mean:
One of the most powerful ways into theatre is to stop waiting for permission.
Write a play. Organise a scratch night. Collaborate with other creatives. Platforms like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have launched countless careers built on self-created work.
Creating your own opportunities shows initiative and gives you something tangible to build on.
There’s no single way into theatre, and that’s what makes it such an exciting industry to be part of. Whether you choose an apprenticeship, apply for internships, take short courses, or start creating your own work, each path offers something different.
What matters is finding the route that works for you, your circumstances, your interests, and the way you learn best. Theatre needs a range of voices and experiences, and there’s space for more than one way in.
There isn't one fixed pathway. Find the route that suits you, and start there.
In this course, we look to the future. Theatre can take place in front of large audiences in dedicated performance venues, but it can also happen all around us – on the street, in community centres, in prisons and schools. When done well, theatre can have a transformative impact on individuals, communities and society. And you can be part of that.
Focussing on the emerging trends and innovations of 21st-century theatre and performance, we will teach you the building blocks of performance making, whilst supporting your ability to develop highly creative, challenging and impactful work.
You will engage in collaborative group performances throughout the course, allowing you to specialise in what you enjoy the most. You might choose to focus on acting, building your confidence on stage, perfecting your characterisation and portraying that character through performance. You could opt to work in pre-production, playwriting or script writing, or even scenography, designing sets and scenes that bring your production to life.
Head to the link to read more!
With school holidays offering many young people the opportunity to take part in creative activities, it’s often a time when interests grow, and future ambitions begin to take shape.
Whether a young person is already engaged in the arts or just starting to explore, there are many different pathways into a career in the creative industries. However, for many families, these routes can feel unclear or uncertain.
Recent research from Netflix and the National Youth Theatre found that 89% of parents from working-class backgrounds would be unlikely to encourage their child to pursue a career in the creative industries. Building understanding and confidence among parents and carers is an important step in helping more young people feel supported in exploring these opportunities.
Parents Unscripted is a new series from Discover! Creative Careers, created in collaboration with organisations across the creative industries. The series shares the perspectives of parents whose children now work in the sector, offering honest reflections on their journeys.
We’re proud to have collaborated on one of the films in the series, developed alongside Discover! Creative Careers and the National Theatre. In this film, Angela Jumbo, mother of actor and playwright Cush Jumbo, reflects on her child’s journey into the industry and shares her perspective as a parent.
You can watch the other films in the series here!
We know that when parents and carers feel more confident about creative careers, it can make a real difference to a young person’s ability to pursue them.
By sharing these stories, Parents Unscripted aims to open up conversations, challenge misconceptions, and highlight the many routes available across the creative industries.
We encourage teachers, industry professionals and partners to share these films with their networks, whether through newsletters, social media, or conversations with young people and their families.
Helping more families understand the opportunities available in the creative industries is a vital step in supporting the next generation of talent.
Find out more about Discover! Creative Careers here.
Find out more about the National Theatre Skills Centre here.
Storyhouse
A paid summer work and cultural exchange opportunity for creatives aged 18+.
Camp America offers a paid summer opportunity to live and work at an American summer camp for 9–12 weeks, with performing arts and creative roles available across camps in the USA. This is more than just work experience - it’s a chance to use your creative skills while living the full summer camp life!
Creatives from all backgrounds are placed in roles where they can teach, lead and inspire young people through acting, singing, dance, music, technical theatre and production, while also being part of a wider camp community. Alongside your role, you’ll take part in classic camp activities, build international friendships and experience everyday life in the USA. While we work with specialist theatre and performing arts camps, performing arts roles are available across many different camps, not just specialist ones.
This opportunity is ideal for those who:
Camps generally run from mid-Jun to mid-August – but this can vary by camp and location.
