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.
Masterclass is offering a paid, three-month internship for an aspiring Theatre Technician, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This is a hands-on opportunity for those interested in electrics and / or carpentry to gain backstage experience in a professional theatre.
You’ll work full-time alongside experienced in-house electrical and carpentry teams, supported by Masterclass. During this 13-week placement, you’ll develop essential skills in lighting, rigging and carpentry, with the flexibility to focus on your interests.
Not sure what job this internship could lead to? Check out a full list of backstage careers here.
Key Information:
📅 Internship: 15 June 2026 – 13 September 2026.
🚀 Apply by: 9am, Monday 20 April
🎤 Interviews: Mid-May
💰 Salary: Paid at London Living Wage
📍Location: Based at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, SW1Y
✍️ Contract Type: Fixed Term
Who can apply?
This internship is for those at the start of their career or looking for a first step into theatre. Prior theatre experience is not required, but candidates must have basic skills in carpentry, electrics or sound, and a strong interest in theatre and live events.
ove theatre and want to learn more about what happens behind the scenes? Apply to join us for our very first Technical Summer Academy, running Mon 24 Aug - Fri 28 Aug. This will be a unique opportunity to explore the backstage world with our in‑house technical teams and visiting leading industry professionals, getting hands-on experience in stage, sound, lighting, projection, automation and rigging.
Across five hands‑on days, you’ll take part in practical workshops covering stage, sound, lighting, projection, automation and rigging, building real experience in the essential disciplines that bring productions to life.
The week culminates in a collaborative showcase in our brand‑new studio venue, The Nest, created with support from our technical team.
You’ll also get the rare chance to shadow our backstage teams on this year’s summer musical, My Fair Lady, learning how we deliver large‑scale productions.
If you’re interested in taking part in our Technical Summer Academy, please send a CV and covering letter (or video) to recruitment@cft.org.uk by 10pm on Sunday 19 April.
We are looking for 12 enthusiastic 18-30 year‑olds who are passionate about technical theatre. You don’t need qualifications or prior experience; just curiosity, commitment and the desire to explore a backstage career. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
If you have any questions about the application process or how the week will work, please email recruitment@cft.org.uk.
The course fee is £100, which will include lunch. Bursaries are available so cost should never be a barrier to applying.
Accommodation and travel expenses can be covered for those who are more than 45 miles from the theatre.
The UK’s essential exhibition for theatre technicians, suppliers and live performance professionals. The ABTT Theatre Show brings together the specialist companies, expertise and networks that power theatre, performance and live events — all under one roof.
Discover new products, strengthen relationships, attend free seminars, workshops and reconnect with the people who make theatre happen.
The ABTT Theatre Show provides THE essential meeting point for our community – supporting our suppliers, service providers and networks with the opportunity both to renew existing relationships and to forge exciting new connections. Part of encouraging this conversation, collaboration, mentoring and training is the range of range of activities is presented over the two days, including a variety of meetings, debates and seminars.
As well as the opportunity to meet with organisations and professionals from the industry, the event offers a range of seminars and workshops on a range of topics to give you the skills you need to take out into your professional life.
Head over to the opportunity link to grab your FREE ticket.
Come and get a real behind‑the‑scenes look at what it’s like to work backstage on an Emma Rice Company production. You’ll hear directly from our award‑winning technical team and get a sense of the skills and teamwork that go into bringing a show to life. Whether you’re curious about show calling, mixing sound, setting props, or touring, this workshop is a great way to find out more.
We’re looking for people at the start of their career. You don’t need experience in mixing or show calling, but you do need some experience backstage. You’ll be over the age of 18, will have had some training or some work backstage (including youth, community, or amateur productions) and you’ll be looking to take your next step into the theatre industry. We want to hear from emerging Stage Managers, Wardrobe, Sound, Lighting and AV Technicians, with an interest in touring. Or maybe you've got experience in film, TV or music production and are interested in expanding your skillset.
What’s included*:
(Subject to change*)
We encourage all participants to attend Malory Towers, either before or after the tech taster, to get the most out of the day.
9 places per workshop. Ages 18+
The Emma Rice Company is one of the UK’s leading ensemble theatre companies, and our production and backstage teams are vital, professional and playful part of the family. Our Training Programme runs workshops and courses to inspire the next generation of theatre makers.
At Emma Rice Company, we actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills, and stories to join us and influence our work. We know that people who are D/deaf disabled or neurodiverse, from the global majority and / or from a lower socio-economic background are under-represented in the theatre industry. Therefore, if someone identifies as having one or multiple of these protected characteristics, we are particularly interested in meeting them.
Please note as Emma Rice Company offers this workshop around the country, preference will be given to local people. We consider our taster as being an ideal way to connect with budding technical theatre specialists that we wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to meet.
Dates & Venues
Friday 8th May - Theatre Royal Bath
Wednesday 20th May - Brighton Festival
Friday 29th May - Leeds Playhouse
Friday 12th June - Manchester Home
Friday 29th June - Liverpool Playhouse
Friday 17th July - Yvonne Arnaud
Thursday 30th July - Alexandra Palace
Theatre Royal Bath - 10th April
Brighton Festival - 10th April
Leeds Playhouse - 16th May
Manchester Home - 30th April
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse - 5th May
Yvonne Arnaud - 4th June
Alexandra Palace - 17th June
Work experience offers practical, hands-on insight into the theatre industry, helping you build skills, confidence, and a clearer understanding of different career pathways. It’s an ideal first step when exploring a future in theatre. As an initial step, we recommend getting in contact with your local theatre to see if they offer any work experience opportunities.
While many people associate theatre careers with performing, there are a huge number of offstage roles that make productions possible. From stage management and lighting to marketing, producing, costume, sound, and technical theatre, work experience allows you to explore these departments and discover which areas interest you most. Taking part in work experience placements can provide a range of valuable benefits, including:
Understanding How Theatres Work:
Working within a theatre environment allows you to see how different departments collaborate to bring a production to life. This perspective is incredibly valuable if you're considering a career in the sector.
Developing Practical Theatre Skills:
Work experience often gives you the chance to assist with real tasks, whether that’s supporting technical teams, observing rehearsals, helping front-of-house teams, or working with marketing and administration departments.
Building Confidence and Professional Skills:
Being part of a professional environment helps you develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that are essential across the creative industries.
Making Connections in the Theatre Industry:
The theatre industry is highly collaborative. Work experience placements can introduce you to professionals working in the field and help you begin building a network within the industry.
Strengthening Future Applications:
Whether you're applying for drama school, university courses, apprenticeships, or entry-level roles, work experience demonstrates enthusiasm, initiative, and commitment to the sector.
Many theatres and arts organisations across the UK offer work experience placements, shadowing opportunities, and youth programmes. Availability and application processes vary, but the following organisations regularly provide opportunities for young people interested in theatre careers:
London
South of England
Midlands
North of England
North of England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
You may also want to check the websites of theatres local to you, as many venues offer placements throughout the year or during school holidays.
Work experience is one of the most valuable ways to begin exploring opportunities in theatre. It provides a clearer understanding of how productions are created and how different departments work together behind the scenes.
Whether your interests lie in technical theatre, production, stage management, marketing, or theatre administration, gaining offstage experience is an excellent way to start your journey in the industry.
Get Technical! offers the chance to hear from members of the production’s backstage and technical teams, watch live on-stage demonstrations and learn more about what goes into the making of the West End’s leading musical Moulin Rouge!
From wigs to wardrobe to sound to stage management, the event aims to motivate and inspire young people to consider a career in backstage positions in the performing arts industry. Attendees will be shown how the different technical departments work together to create the production and be given a sneak peek of some of the stage secrets and magic behind the show.
Backstage and technical team members will also share stories from their own career journeys and give tips for getting into the industry.
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.
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:
