Career ladders
Getting your dream job in theatre is rarely as simple as walking from A to B. For some, it was a qualification or training course that gave them that crucial step up. For others, a big break came during work experience, voluntary work or casual employment in a theatre.
We hope our career ladders will give a bit of insight into how some of our featured theatre professionals made it.
Administrative producer
- Administrative producer, Quicksilver Theatre
- Administrator and production coordinator, Quicksilver Theatre
- Assistant administrator Quicksilver Theatre
- ITC Fast Track programme including a work placement at Quicksilver Theatre
- Administration manager for a language school
- English teacher in Italy and London
- Temping in customer services, Co-operative Bank
- European studies degree
- A-levels
Chief electrician
- Chief electrician, The Lyric Hammersmith
- Deputy chief electrician, The Lyric Hammersmith
- Deputy chief electrician, Hampstead Theatre
- Lighting board operator, New Ambassadors Theatre
- Diploma in stage management & technical theatre from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Two A-levels
Milliner
- Resident milliner, Welsh National Opera
- Freelance milliner and costume maker
- Wardrobe supervisor, Diva Opera
- Deputy costume supervisor, Chicken Shed Theatre
- Theatre design degree
- BTEC national diploma fashion & textiles
Operations manager
- Operations manager, Sale Waterside Arts Centre
- Duty manger, Sale Waterside Arts Centre
- Front of house, Library Theatre and Sale Waterside Arts Centre
- Playing in a band
- Working in a wine shop
- A-levels
Producer
- Producer, Eclipse Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse
- Acting head of diversity and operations, Arts Council England
- Project officer, Race Equality Scheme, Arts Council England
- Project manager, Push
- Front of house manager, The Albany
- Administrator, Tiata Fahodzi
- House manager, Tricycle Theatre
- Administrator, Push
- Trainee administrator, Tricycle Theatre (Arts Council-funded bursary)
- Performing arts degree
Resident drama worker
- Resident drama worker, Live Theatre, Newcastle
- Various freelance contracts including youth theatre leader, breakdance instructor and learning support assistant for adults with learning disabilities
- Duty manager, Northern Stage whilst a student
- Drama degree, University of Northumbria
- English, psychology and theatre studies A-levels
- Yorkshire youth representative for National Association of Youth Theatres
- Member of Crucible youth theatre, Sheffield
Rigger
- Rigger for Unusual Rigging, who provide rigging for West End shows
- Stage crew, then flyman, then head flyman, then rigger at Glyndbourne
- Casual stage hand at Eastbourne Congress Theatre
- Work experience as stage hand at Kent Opera
- Stage crew on school productions
Theatre director
- Resident director, Northern Stage, Newcastle
- Self-employed drama worker
- Unpaid work placement at Northern Stage
- Temping in the finance department of The Sage
- Envelope stuffing for Artists’ Newsletter
- BA (Hons) English, Cambridge University
- English, history and maths A-levels
Theatre manager
- Theatre manager, Nottingham Playhouse
- Assistant manager, Palace Theatre, Manchester
- Assistant manager, Her Majesty’s Theatre
- House manager, Theatre Royal
- Front of house manager, New Vic Theatre
- Apollo Leisure theatre manager traineeship
- History degree
- English literature, government & politics and history A-levels
Theatre manager
- Theatre manger, Lyric Theatre
- Deputy general manager at The Alexandra Theatre
- Assistant theatre manager, The Alexandra Theatre
- Volunteer set painter
- Arts management degree
- BTEC national diploma in performing arts
- Experience as assistant stage manager, director and producer, Concordia Youth Theatre
Recommended reading
Get Into Theatre has asked industry experts to name their most inspiring reads and the books that made them who they are today.
We’ve got books on acting, directing, theatre design, marketing, stage management, street arts and much more.
Black and minority ethnic people in theatre
Independent Theatre Council’s (ITC) Fast Track programme has offered black and Asian people a chance to train in arts and theatre management since 1997.
The annual programme, which starts each September, was set up to encourage more black, Asian and other minority ethnic people to get into management roles in UK theatre.
Disability and theatre
Independent Theatre Council’s (ITC) Fast Track arts management programme was run for deaf and disabled people for the first time in 2007. It was set up encourage deaf and disabled people to get into management roles in UK theatre.
Shape runs the Link Up programme for deaf and disabled Londoners involved in the arts.
Show a commitment
Does your work experience section look a bit bare? Well get out there and do something. If you really want to get into theatre, you will be expected to show that you are dedicated.
Get skilled up
Could a qualification improve your chances?
