Getting work in the theatre can be notoriously difficult even for those brimming with qualifications. So what if you haven’t got the time or money to go to drama school? Well, the good news is that theatres need talented people with potential, and few jobs require formal qualifications.

While most now do some kind of course to help them get started, there are still opportunities start at the bottom and work your way up. Many people start with jobs like front of house assistant, box office assistant, follow spotter (operating a spot light) or dresser. Once you’ve got a foot in the door, you will have an opportunity to show off your talent and enthusiasm and move on to better things.

If your dream is to become a stage manager, here’s some advice from Barbara Eifler, executive director of the Stage Management Association.

Apprenticeships

“A number of local theatres have set up their own apprenticeships, so it’s worth looking out for schemes in your area. Otherwise, just get involved in local theatre as much as you can.

“Knock on the door of your local theatre and ask for any job that’s available. Many companies need people on casual basis, perhaps stage crew to take sets in and out at the start and end of shows.

“Once you get in and get to know people, more opportunities will open up.”

David Dukes, 31, left school after his GCSEs but has carved out a niche as a special effects technician. His favourite part of the job is creating prosthetics, which he would love to do full-time, but for now he spends much of his time operating wind and snow machines. He said: “I started doing work for re-enactment groups, fancy dress parties and local theatre groups and built it up by word of mouth. I do a lot of work charging only expenses as a way of building up my portfolio.”

Voluntary work

Robin Hawkes, who had a history degree but no theatre qualifications, found his way into theatre admin through voluntary work. He took a part-time bar job in a West End theatre which allowed him time during the day to do voluntary work for two small theatre companies, doing admin, marketing and helping with preparations for a show. After six months, Robin saw an advertisement for a part-time office assistant at the Independent Theatre Council and his voluntary work stood him in good stead to get it. Eventually the job became full-time and he was able to give up the bar work.

Robin is now leaving to become assistant to the executive director of the National Theatre. Robin, 26, said: “It’s been a busy couple of years, but it’s what you have to do to establish yourself. “Unfortunately you probably will have to do voluntary work, but you can always get a temporary paid job at the same time.” Robin’s boss, Charlotte Jones, chief executive of the Independent Theatre Council, agreed. “It’s a difficult sector to get into, and people often do work well below their skill level to find an opening. “But for a bright person, interesting in networking their way up, any job will give a good opportunity to meet people.”