A three-day introductory course for cis and trans women and non-binary individuals aged 18+, offering practical backstage training for those interested in starting a career in technical theatre.
Participants gain hands-on experience across core technical areas, including stage work, hemp flying, knots, lighting, and sound setup and operation. The course also explores entry routes into backstage roles, including apprenticeships and casual technician positions.
Designed for those with an interest in technical theatre, including people with some prior amateur or professional experience, the course focuses on building practical skills and confidence in a live production environment.
A limited number of subsidised places are available to improve access, with support offered for those facing financial barriers. Participants can apply for a £75 subsidised place or contact the team directly if cost is a barrier.
Cost: £150
Dates: 21 - 23 August
Funding Opportunity: Up to £60,000 for Outdoor Arts Projects
Without Walls UK has opened applications for its 2027 Creation and Touring Programme, supporting ambitious new outdoor arts projects by UK-based artists and companies.
Open to both emerging and established artists, including those new to outdoor arts, the programme is looking for innovative, tour-ready work across circus, dance, theatre, puppetry, installation and cross-disciplinary performance.
Selected projects can receive up to £60,000 in creation funding, alongside bespoke producer support, accessibility and sustainability training, and guaranteed touring opportunities across major UK festivals from May 2027.
The programme is especially interested in work that explores the climate emergency, family-focused or participatory experiences, creative accessibility, diverse-led practice, and new digital technologies.
A strong opportunity for artists ready to create bold public-facing work for outdoor spaces.
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.
Apprentices gain hands-on experience in busy receiving venues across the UK, working alongside in-house technical teams and visiting companies on a wide range of live productions.
The programme includes training across lighting, sound, stage and flying, with experience in at least two venues and opportunities to develop as a multi-skilled theatre technician.
Apprentices also complete a portfolio of projects and assessments throughout the programme.
The apprenticeship is delivered over two years, combining workplace learning with formal training and secondments to other ATG venues across the UK. Travel and accommodation for placements away from the home venue are provided.
This opportunity is for those aged 17+ who are interested in building a technical career in theatre. Applicants must live within commuting distance of their base venue and be open to travel during the programme.
Successful applicants will gain industry experience, a recognised qualification and the skills to work as a professional theatre technician.
Salary: £19,827.60 a year
Deadline: Wednesday 24 June 2026
Hull Truck Theatre is a pioneering theatre with a bold Northern voice, known for producing and presenting inspiring, high-quality drama. From in-house productions to visiting performances, touring work and community projects, the theatre plays a vital role in Hull’s cultural life.
Based at Hull Truck Theatre, you’ll be joining a collaborative production team working closely with artists, visiting companies and creative professionals to bring live performances to life. This is a fantastic opportunity to start a career in technical theatre, gaining hands-on experience across lighting, sound, stage and production in a real working environment.
What you'll do:
This is an 18-month apprenticeship, working up to 30 hours per week (including training time). You'll gain practical experience while working towards a recognised qualification, developing skills in areas such as:
Pay Rate: Apprenticeship Minimum Wage
At Kent, you will develop your individual voice and hone skills to express yourself creatively through performance.
Whether you want to be a stand-up comedian, actor, director, writer, producer, choreographer, or set designer – or even start your own theatre company – you’ll have the opportunity to explore your passions at Kent.
With a wide range of topics including acting, community theatre, musical theatre, puppetry, dance, stand-up comedy, and even alternative cabaret, there are plenty of opportunities to tailor the programme to your interests.
Theatre, drama and performance have the power to connect people, bring communities together and examine big issues. You’ll explore all this when you join our warm and inclusive creative community.
Our strong connections with industry and local arts venues will give you the chance to put your learning and creativity into action through placements, internships and other opportunities.
You can see shows and even take part in them at our fantastic on-campus venue, the Gulbenkian Arts Centre – which puts on an incredible programme of theatre, dance, music and film.
You can also take this course with a year in industry or year abroad.
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.
This fast track degree, taught by current industry professionals, provides a two year route into the theatre production industry whether in stage management, lighting, sound or AV across theatre, festivals and events. In association with Tobacco Factory Theatres and Bristol Old Vic Theatre, you experience two working theatres and learn technical theatre crafts from experienced professionals in a way that’s more similar to an apprenticeship.
The course is limited to just 12 students to re-create a professional working environment and culture from day one. There is a national shortage of skilled technical staff in the theatre and live events industries and Technical Theatre Arts graduates are in high demand. BSA’s strong industry networks help open doors to a rewarding career.
Designed as an accelerated pathway, this two-year degree packs 40 weeks of teaching into each year, matching the total teaching time of traditional three-year degrees. This means you enter the workforce sooner whilst saving more than £10,000 in tuition fees and living costs combined.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
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.
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.
