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!
Gain practical insights into the business of theatre through this series of digestible digital sessions. Turn your passion into your profession.
Fundamentals:ONLINE is a series of online webinars for all young theatre-makers looking to upskill and learn more about the practical ‘business of theatre’ from a host of industry professionals.
Whether you are looking to lay the groundwork and grow your understanding of how to establish a career in the arts or gain some valuable insights from people who have already done so, these webinars will explore key areas important to any emerging artist creating grassroots theatre and trying to make their way.
Session Topics:
Key Information:
For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
Are you passionate about theatre and curious about what it takes to work in the industry? Join Edinburgh Playhouse for an exciting week-long programme designed for young people aged 14–18 who want to explore the many career opportunities available both on and off the stage.
Learn directly from industry professionals about a wide range of theatre careers, including:
Participants will enjoy a combination of practical workshops, industry talks, Q&A sessions, live theatre experiences, and hands-on work experience. Taking place alongside Jersey Boys, this unique opportunity includes a chance to watch the production and hear from members of the team working behind the scenes to bring the show to life.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME:
The aim of this week is to inspire the next generation of theatre-makers and artists by showcasing the many pathways into the industry. From the talent seen on stage to the skilled professionals working behind the scenes, participants will gain a deeper understanding of what goes into creating productions and running a successful theatre.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE:
Times: Approximately 10:30am–4:00pm each day, with later finishes on show days. Thursdays and Saturdays are likely to finish around 5:00pm. Schedule will be sent out to participants at least 1 week in advance
Please note: the schedule is subject to change.
Cost: £225.00 per participant
Bursary places and payment plans are available. Please get in touch to discuss your options.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This is a ATG Inspire event. Tickets for ATG Inspire events are non-transferable and non-refundable. Please note that there is no wheelchair or lift access to these workshops. If you have any access requirements, please get in touch and we will be happy to discuss how we can support you edinburghinspire@atgentertainment.com
An immersive, theatre-based professional development workshop designed to build confidence, communication and presentation skills, all on the world famous Edinburgh Playhouse stage!
Presenting yourself can come in various ways, such as how you show up to a work space, a meeting, a presentation pitch, networking event and even an interview.
In this workshop, participants will route themselves in acting techniques used by Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Judi Dench as well as exploring presentation styles through scripts seen live on our stage. You will learn how best to present yourself for various scenarios and how to feel confident doing so. This workshop will show you how you can transfer this learning to your own working environment.
Who should come?
This workshop is designed for people who are nervous around presenting themselves and want to build confidence presenting in the workspace. This is for businesses who are looking for a fresh, engaging approach to professional development, this is an opportunity to equip your team with skills they can apply immediately.
What you will learn
- Presenting with confidence and clarity
- How to engage your audience
- Improving body language and presence
- Strengthening communication
- Analysis and feedback skills
- Techniques to developing the voice
- Greater awareness of how you present yourself
- You will also receive resources to aid your learning further
Date: Thursday 22 Oct 2026
Cost: £75.00 (including refreshments)
For more information on how to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!
The Open Fund for Individuals is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding programmes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The overall annual budget for this fund is £5 million.
The fund is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes.
We will ask you to tell us the start and end date for this activity and to describe the outcomes, benefits and impacts that you wish to achieve.
Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland who are at least 18 years old are eligible to apply. You must have a UK bank account in your name.
If you are not a self-employed individual or a sole trader, you may be eligible for the National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations.
Please read the guidance for full information on eligibility.
You can apply for between £500 and £50,000.
As standard, if your application request is between £500 and £20,000 you will hear the outcome in 10 weeks. If your application request is between £20,001 and £50,000 you will hear the outcome in 14 weeks.
Please see above for details of our 25/26 Christmas closure and the effects it will have on our processing timelines.
Join the Edinburgh Fringe Society for £5 per year to have a hand in shaping the festival's future!
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is the organisation that underpins the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Its core aims are to support participants, assist Fringe audiences and celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world.
As an open membership organisation, we're always looking for new and diverse voices to join the conversation and help shape the future of the Society.
Membership costs £5 a year to cover administration costs and members are responsible for electing the Board of Directors, adopting the accounts and appointing the auditors each year. By choosing to become a member of the Fringe Society, you play a significant role in one of the world’s most incredible arts festivals.
Membership to the Fringe Society is annual and runs for 12 months from the point at which you join. Before your membership expires we will remind you to renew your membership so you can continue to make a contribution to the Society.
The founding principle at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – to be an open-access arts event that welcomes anyone with a story to tell and a venue to host them – still guides the work of the Society today.
It’s our policy that no single individual or committee determines who can or cannot perform on the Fringe.
The Society was formed in 1958, in recognition of the fact that more and more performers were coming to Edinburgh despite not being included in the Edinburgh International Festival programme. Its earliest tasks included providing information to artists, publishing the Fringe Programme and creating a central box office. In 1969 the Society was incorporated as a limited company and its constitution published.
Unlike many other festivals, our constitution celebrates the fact that the Society does not vet the Fringe Programme. That means we have no artistic director and that the programme is shaped by the initiative and vision of performers willing to showcase their work here.
For more information and to become a member, click the Opportunity Info link below!
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.
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.
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.
