English Touring Opera are looking for Stage Management Placements to join their team for the Spring 2026 season rehearsal period. 

This opportunity will see you spend over five weeks with the Stage Management team, largely based in rehearsals, observing and contributing to the day-to-day running of the rehearsal process. You will also experience the technical rehearsal process for two new operas at the Hackney Empire, and you will be invited to attend the opening night performances at the Sheffield Lyceum, with travel and overnight accommodation paid for by English Touring Opera.

Key Dates:

• 2nd February – 11th March 2026

Salary:

• London Living Wage hourly rate (£14.80 per hour)

About English Touring Opera:

For over 40 years, English Touring Opera (ETO) has held a unique place in the opera industry as the only mid-scale touring company offering regional venues and thousands of audience members outstanding live productions and impactful learning and participation projects, with the largest geographical reach of any UK company, from Devon to Durham and Canterbury to Chester.

At the heart of their ethos is making exceptional artistic experiences available and accessible to everyone, through a commitment to touring ambitious programmes of high-quality, innovative opera productions that engage and inspire over 33,000 people every year. Central to ETO’s programming is their award-winning Learning and Participation Programme, which annually works with over 8,000 children and adults nationwide in schools, workshops, and community projects.

To apply:

• Please submit a CV or a short letter outlining your experience. If you have examples of previous work, recordings, or stories demonstrating your skills and enthusiasm, please include these. The deadline for applications is 5 January 2026. Please email your application to production@etopera.org.uk
• If your application is successful, you will be invited to an initial online interview. There will then be a second round interview that will take place in-person and your expenses will be covered by English Touring Opera.
• If offered the placement, you will attend induction and training days prior to 2 February 2026.

The brand-new series of In Dialogue - the podcast for emerging artists, is now here. Whether you’re an aspiring theatre-maker, performer, writer, director or producer, then this one’s for you.   

Across four episodes, these five artists dive into topics like nailing your audition, building creative partnerships, touring as a performer and producing autobiographical work. 

If you're looking to elevate your creativity and your career, make sure to tune in – this is one series you won’t want to miss! 

First episode is now available to stream, search Scottish Youth Theatre wherever you get your podcasts or use the link in the bio to listen now. 

Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Backstage Roadshow will take a series of FREE backstage skills workshops directly into UK state schools, introducing children and young people to the variety of creative pathways and career opportunities that exist within theatre, live events, television and film.

Led by industry professionals and designed by the School’s Production Arts staff, the Backstage Roadshow will take professional equipment into schools to provide a crucial insight into one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors and inspire young people to train and work in the creative industries.

Our team will also be offering full technical support to two primary school productions each year, bringing our lighting, sound, and stage management equipment, along with staff to help run your show.

How it works

The Backstage Roadshow will run for the Academic Years of 2024/25 and 2025/26, with support offered for one Primary School production in December and one in June or July.

What do we bring to your school?

• One lead facilitator and one workshop assistant to run each session. 
• Workshops designed for up to eight students per session, lasting 2-3 hours.
• For multiple workshops, one Project Manager to co-ordinate our staff.
• All equipment needed for each session.
• Transport of equipment to and from your venue.
• All of our staff complete an Enhanced DBS check.
• Public Liability, Employers Liability, and Professional Indemnity Insurance of up to £10,000,000.
• Full risk assessments for all activities (supplied upon request).

For workshops, please complete your expression of interest via this form.

Shortlisted schools will be contacted for an online meeting to discuss the options, prior to a site-visit being arranged ahead of any firm offer for the Backstage Roadshow to visit.

Primary schools, please register here.

‘Creative Wellbeing’ – the title seems self-explanatory, but when does it get taught? Talked about? Not only will this workshop examine ways in which we can nurture our stress as artists, but will also look at how to identify and advocate for your boundaries - both in process and practice. What comes after you’ve said “no”? How does creative risk continue? You will be practically exploring exactly that. Other topics may include neurodiversity, burnout and supporting others. Creative Wellbeing aims to give young people aged 14-21 the language and confidence to create theatre healthily, honestly and unbound.

Experience a behind-the scenes tour and interactive sessions throughout the building, with expert advice on career pathways into theatre and live entertainment at one of Bristol's most iconic venues!

Book for either the 4th or 6th November.

This opportunity is part of the West of England Discover! Creative Careers takeover, in collaboration with: Get Into Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Beacon, St George’s, The Redgrave, Prime Theatre, The Egg Theatre and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Please note, this is for school groups only. Sign up and book via the Discover! Opportunity Finder.

We are looking to take on a trainee stage manager to assist with our spring/ summer 2026 theatre production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is a hands-on role, requiring attendance at rehearsals (in Brixham) and shows (South Devon and up to Midlands). At the end the trainee may be invited to stay on with us, or not as they choose. Laura, the show director and theatre company founder will be mentoring.

The trainee will recieve photos of them "in action" at rehearsals and shows, free tea and coffee at all shows/ rehearsals, and at the end of the show run, a written reference for future work or study use.  Travel to Midlands performance(s) is provided.  Rehearsals begin Feb 2026, show run finishes duing August 2026

The trainee should be based in the South Devon area. 

With us, the stage manager will be trained with the following responsibilities:

• Use a ground plan to mark up the rehearsal room
• Attend production discussion (may be in person or online)
• Managing the furniture and props used in a production
• Supervise the ‘get in’ and ‘get out’
• Create a prompt script compiled with notes on Actors’ cues and requirements for props, lighting and sound
• Help to create a risk assessment to ensure the safety of the full company
• Manage the backstage and onstage area during performances
• Call cast for rehearsals and performances
• Maintain props, furniture and set during the run
• Liaise with resident staff (when touring)
• Helping ensure that rehearsal and performance venues are left spotless

Applicants Personal Qualities: 

• Aged over 18 (to the skys the limit)
• Reliable, able to attend rehearsals and shows.
• Able and willing to work with different people regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, religion etc, in a friendly, safe and supportive team creating high quality shows.
• Being zero tolerance to bullying, gaslighting or inappropriate behaviour
  Being clean and tidy
• Keeping any production or personal details confidential as required.

 

For: producers, artistic directors, people working in youth theatre, access coordinators, facilitators, directors, and people making work in the room.

This session will cover how Prime Theatre approach pastoral care and supporting the teenagers they work with, including support inside and outside of the rehearsal room and care practices.

We think it's important there are free, regular spaces to connect with other youth theatre makers, to learn together and to dream big for the sector. 

Since 2024, we’ve partnered with England’s Youth Theatre NPOs to offer free, regular online spaces to discuss the practice of running a youth theatre today.

In the Running a Youth Theatre sessions, you'll hear about their real-world perspectives and practice, participate in a task or provocation, and have space to ask any questions you have to the session leader and other makers in the room.

This is a space to learn, reflect, and connect with others working across the sector - whether you're new to the role or have years of experience. All sessions are free, held on Zoom and are open to anyone using performance in their work with young people.

 

Youth Steering Group

The Bruiser Ambassadors is a youth steering group. Members meet regularly to help develop Bruiser’s education and community engagement programme. The group is open to young people living in Northern Ireland aged 16+

Experience the magic of pantomime from behind the scenes!

Discover the magic that goes into creating our award- winning pantomimes. From costumes and props to stage secrets, it will be a unique glimpse into the world of theatre.

Take a picture of yourself in our pantomime set, see out wonderful costumes up close as you enjoy an exclusive backstage tour.

Our backstage tours are suitable for all ages to enjoy.

Dates:

Friday 12 December - 3.30pm & 4.15pm

Sunday 14 December - 11.45am

Tour lasts a maximum of 40mins.

Please bear in mind that there is no step free access on theatre tours.

The student technician is an important part of the Enlightened team, assisting with daily warehouse tasks, helping prepare, run up, and test equipment, and building their own skills to be a more effective technical specialist

This role represents a shared investment; from the student in giving the time and energy to build their own skills, and from Enlightened in giving them the opportunity and training to do so.

This is a fixed term position for either 9 or 12 months starting in Summer 2025. We may ask for proof of your eligibility from your college or University prior to starting.

Enlightened is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and value diversity within our workforce. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are embedded in our day to day working practices with all of our customers, colleagues and partners through the promotion of equal opportunities. We would warmly welcome applications from those who are likely to be  under-represented in the industry.

We are happy to make reasonable arrangements in order to help you apply for this role. If you need any assistance or for us to make any special provisions, please include this within your application.