Applications are now open for work placements in the Scenic Art department at the National Theatre.

These two-week placements are for those studying, or recently graduated from, a Scenic Art or other relevant higher education course and looking for work experience in this field. Please note:

Placements will take place between April 2026 and March 2027.
Placements are not paid, but travel and food expenses will be covered.
This is an opportunity for people aged 18+.

As part of your application, please upload a CV, covering letter explaining why you are applying for this placement, and a short portfolio of your work. If you have any questions or if you would like to submit an application via an alternative format, please contact one of the Skills Centre team at skillscentre@nationaltheatre.org.uk who can offer guidance on how to do this.

Step behind the stage with this immersive six-month traineeship, gaining hands-on production experience and learning how world-class innovative shows are brought to life.

The Royal Court Theatre is internationally-recognised as the UK’s leading theatre for new work, with a 70-year commitment to developing and championing talent on and off stage. Each year it nurtures hundreds of emerging practitioners through structured development, placements and learning programmes – supporting them all the way through to professional debuts and major productions. 

Its mission is defined by taking risks on stages – inspiring audiences, artists and communities, and empowering new and diverse voices to drive forward national culture and public conversation. Every year Royal Court reaches over 100,000 people between its two theatres, touring productions and youth and community projects. Coming at an exciting time during its 70th Anniversary, this traineeship ensures both practical learning and a real dose of inspiration and excitement for someone new to the industry.

This production traineeship provides a supported, developmental role in our busy world-class backstage theatre teams – including opportunities to build to professional credits, and gain insights into future career pathways in theatre. Throughout the traineeship, the successful candidate will undertake supervised, developmental tasks that build confidence in rehearsal support, technical periods and performances, giving direct insight and hands-on experience into how plays are developed, rehearsed and staged in a world-leading contemporary theatre. There will also be opportunities to work alongside globally renowned artists, brand new writers and youth participants. The six-month traineeship will follow a structured timeline to support learning and development, potentially as follows:

• Months 1-2: Learning through practice, shadowing, and supervised contributions at the heart of our teams
• Months 3-4: Taking on more guided responsibilities and ownership of smaller, defined tasks on each production
• Month 5: Opportunities for short tailored placements across other departments of interest to the trainee, potentially including our producing, venue management, operations and marketing & communications teams
• Month 6: Taking on stage management responsibilities for festival presentations and readings in our September 2026 Open Submissions Festival in a supported environment, securing professional credits as an outcome

Key activities

• Supporting rehearsals, including setting up and maintaining rehearsal rooms, props and equipment
• Sourcing and adapting props
• Creating and updating relevant production paperwork
• Attending key production meetings and assisting with follow-up tasks
• Supporting deputy stage managers in managing rehearsal rooms, including wellbeing and pastoral care for rehearsal companies
• Observing and assisting fit-ups, set builds, and technical rehearsals
• Shadowing and supporting stage managers during technical rehearsals and running shows
• Helping backstage before and during performances, including company check-ins and wellbeing support
• Connecting with wider departments through optional placements across the organisation based on the candidate’s interests

What you will gain

• A clear understanding of professional production and stage management workflows, and the careers in these fields
• Enhanced confidence in rehearsal-room support, from wellbeing and inclusion for new and diverse artists to professional standards expected of world-leading talent
• First-hand experience of technical and performance periods
• Insight into the artistic and logistical processes of producing new theatre, and wider career pathways and opportunities across the UK theatre sector
• Clear, demonstrable evidence of work in a professional theatre environment and specific credits for your CV
• Build a meaningful professional network via introductions to creative teams, freelancers and partner organisations

What we are looking for

• No formal training is required but some experience or transferable skills that relate to stage management, theatre or backstage theatre are desirable
• A passion and genuine interest for theatre, stage management and backstage theatre, with an interest in exploring future pathways and careers within these
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• A positive flexible approach to working, with the possibility of some evening and weekends as required

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. 

Join one of RADA’s upcoming Open Days for an inside look at our Foundation Degree in Technical Theatre and Stage Management.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet our students and staff, explore our training spaces, visit technical departments, and find out more about life at RADA including funding, student support, and career pathways.

Open Days 2025-2026:

• Tue 18 November 2025 RADA in-person, 1-4pm
• Wed 10 December 2025 online, 5-7pm
• Tue 17 March 2026 RADA in-person, 1-4pm
• Wed 8 July 2026 RADA in-person, 1-4pm

At RADA, we enable exceptional technicians, managers, designers and makers to thrive through world-leading, industry-focused training that blends hands-on experience with professional practice.

Whether you’re exploring lighting, sound, props, scenic art, or stage management, our open days are the perfect chance to discover how RADA can help you become a highly skilled and creative theatre-maker.

A CPD opportunity for teachers to embed drama and creativity into their teaching, through working with a Bristol-based theatre company, Travelling Light.

Want to shake up your physics lesson but need some inspiration? Join Travelling Light on an exploration of how to incorporate more Drama into your classroom. Find out how a team of artists and teachers used arts-based learning to refresh their existing curriculum, whilst supporting pupil oracy, emotional literacy and wellbeing.

Key aims of the session:

• To use Drama and the Creative Arts to explore other areas of the curriculum such as STEM subjects.
• Introduce exercises to support class management
• To explore focus, self-regulation and reflection techniques.
• To use Drama and the Creative Arts to explore group work and supporting relationships in the classroom. 

Slots available in Bristol (8th Dec), Weston-Super-Mare (9th Dec) or Bath (11th Dec).

Please note, this is for teachers only.

The Black Artists Grant (BAG) offered by Creative Debuts as a no-strings attached financial support to help Black artists. They can spend the grant on whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses.

This grant has been set up because Black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools, and by audiences too.

Creative Debuts recognises that a full institutional overhaul and dismantling of racist structures is required to transform the industry permanently, but they hope in a small way that this grant will help enable recipients to continue their artistic practice when the odds are so stacked against them

There is no deadline as this is a monthly rolling grant, no age limit, and the grant does not expect any outcomes or reporting. Please only apply once, if you apply in February for example, you are still eligible for selection in a different month, all applications are kept and reviewed.

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.

Through in-house productions, industry based placements and hands-on training, you’ll learn all relevant skills relating to the work of the production technician in theatre, events, film and TV.

With technology at its core, this course offers practical, hands-on training in a variety of high-end lighting, sound, and video systems – skills that are in high demand for the theatre, events, film and television industries in Wales and across the rest of the UK.

You’ll have classes given by leading professionals operating at the top of their field, alongside several production placements, both based at the College and with our industry partners here in Wales.

With your placements, developing your expertise for a technical career in the creative industries is only one part of it. These experiences will also help you to build communication and team working skills that are essential to thriving in collaborative environments.

After graduation, you could take on roles such as a production electrician, lighting technician or programmer, sound and system engineer, video operator or programmer, among many more.

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.

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.

Ideal candidates will:

• Have a strong interest in theatre
• Be curious, enthusiastic and hardworking
• Have relevant qualifications or experience in carpentry, electrics, or sound
• Be eager to learn and contribute to a busy team
• Possess good communication and organisational skills
• Work well under pressure and solve problems effectively
• Not have professional experience working backstage on a large-scale commercial production

Eligibility:

• Age 18+
• Available for the full placement
• Have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the placement
• Be a Masterclass member (free to join)

 

Looking for new opportunities, need support with a personal project, or just after some advice?

Book a quick chat with the RicNic team to get unstuck, ask questions, or explore your next steps. We can help with everything from career planning and freelancing to opportunity-hunting, CV reviews, and more.

Our team brings a wealth of experience in event and theatre production, new writing development, and creative careers—and we’re connected to a broad network of industry professionals ready to offer shadowing, mentoring, or a helpful chat. Using proven coaching techniques, we’ll help you clarify your goals, find answers, and leave the session with a clear set of actions—plus our practical advice along the way.