Are you interested in stage management and how productions come together behind the scenes? Aged 16–21? Then apply for the National Theatre's free Introduction to Stage Management course in London!
What will you do on the Stage Management course?
The Introduction to Stage Management offers an exciting opportunity to:
This course is free to take part in.
Monday 24 August – Friday 28 August
10.30am – 5pm
Aged 13-17 and curious about how the magic of theatre really happens?
Apply for the National Theatre's free step ‘Behind the Curtain’ workshop to explore the work of the sound, stage management, and lighting teams in theatre, and discover the technical skills that bring a show to life.
What to expect from the backstage workshop?
Whether you love tech, teamwork, or just discovering something new, this workshop is the perfect first step into the creative world of backstage. No experience necessary.
11 August: 13—15-year-olds
12 August : 16—17-year-olds
Time: 10am – 4.30pm
These free workshops are developed in partnership with Backstage Niche and hosted by Mulberry UTC.
Learn it. Try it. Make it happen.
Elevate is a free nine-month development programme for socially engaged theatre-makers and artists interested in working creatively with communities.
Designed for people with some experience of community-based creative practice, the programme brings together a cohort of ten participants for monthly workshops, practice exchanges and peer support sessions. Participants will explore participatory theatre methods, develop their own ideas, build professional networks and learn from experienced practitioners.
The programme also offers mentoring, access to creative space, social enterprise training and opportunities for future collaboration and employment.
Applicants can apply in writing, audio or video format, outlining their experience, what they hope to gain from the programme, and the communities or ideas they are interested in exploring.
Please send your application to oliver@acta-bristol.com by Monday 13th July 10am.
Please email any queries regarding the scheme or application process to oliver@acta-bristol.com
Join us for our annual roundtable Q&A with Stage Management professionals moderated by Lloyd Trott.
The panel will discuss their varied careers and different stage management pathways from film production, live events, West End stage management and more.
RADA hosts Stage Management Journeys in honour of RADA Technical Theatre & Stage Management graduate and long-standing National Theatre Stage Manager, Trish Montemuro.
Your ticket will include a networking reception where Stage Management items from the National Theatre archive items will be on display, including Stage Management bibles, show reports, prompt scripts and programmes highlighting the work of Trish Montemuro and Richard Eyre.
After the event you will also have the opportunity to see the amazing work of our current Technical Theatre Arts students in the annual Costume and Production Exhibition.
With special thanks to Satoko Yamaga Macdonald.
Work In Theatre is an opportunity to explore, hear more about and take part in workshops about the hidden areas of theatre that people often do not know exist.
Through a variety of workshops, guest talks and practical opportunities, the group will explore areas of theatre which may include:
From Page to Stage – Directing
Audience & Outreach – Marketing
Running the Show – Stage Management
Technical Stagecraft
Character through Dress
Production Design Workshop and more!
Attendees will also see Wicked the Musical during the week on Wednesday 12th August 2026 at 2:30pm.
Bursary spaces available for those who may find price a barrier to accessing this workshop. Please email kitmiles@atgentertainment.com for more info on bursary and discounted spaces. For any further questions please email WestEndINSPIRE@atgentertainment.com
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.
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.
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.
Little Angel Theatre, awarded Fringe Theatre of the Year 2024 by The Stage, is seeking an Assistant Workshop Facilitator to support its Creative Learning team. Since opening in 1961, Little Angel Theatre has been dedicated to creating inspiring puppetry and storytelling experiences for young audiences. Rooted in Islington, the theatre works closely with its diverse local community to make arts engagement accessible and inclusive for all.
The Assistant Workshop Facilitator will support the development and delivery of participatory workshops, including puppetry, drama, and arts activities for children and families. Working alongside skilled facilitators, the role involves assisting with planning, preparation, participant engagement, and evaluation to ensure workshops are welcoming, creative, and well organised.
Required:
Desirable:
DBS:
