Theatre

Shazia Mirza took several years to support herself through comedy.

Shazia Mirza, stand-up comic

Comedian Shazia Mirza offers advice for aspiring performers.

Communication skills are vital for education work.

Three education practitioners from Shakespeare's Globe, Chatsworth House and Derry Tower Museum spoke about their career journeys, and why an arts organisation's education department is a valuable asset.

The NYT focuses on the creative development of young people.

A career in youth theatre

The National Youth Theatre focuses on the social and creative development of young people. They provide workshops and training for performance and stage production. Artistic Director Paul Roseby spoke to Choices.

Live music is an essential element to musical theatre. Images: Britten Sinfonia

A musician in musical theatre

Live music is a key part of musical theatre. But tighter budgets can mean reduced band sizes, or even the automation of music altogether. 3 tips for breaking into musical theatre:

Learn backstage skills at the Technical Youth Theatre.

Learning technical theatre

Theatre would be nothing without people working behind the scenes to bring it alive. Chichester Youth Theatre teaches young people the skills they need to work backstage.

The Barbican offers a number of internship placements in a variety of departments. © Barbican Centre, London

Finding work in the arts

Xander Hough is a Human Resources Advisor at the Barbican Centre, working to support recruitment and internships. He gave advice on how to find employment in an arts centre.

Stage lighting certainly isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ set-up and should be tailored to your performance genre.

Light up the stage with 4 basic principles

Between rigs, fresnels and gobos, stage lighting can seem endlessly complex to those of us starting out. We’d be lying if we said it was simple, but that doesn’t mean you need ‘expert’ status in order to effectively light a dramatic scene or performance.

Following a BA Music degree, Isabel Murphy got involved in English National Opera and then moved to the Welsh National Opera. Image: WNO, Ne

Working in opera management

Isabel Murphy used her passion for opera after university to help artists, members and staff prepare for tours. She spoke about her career and how she shaped Welsh National Opera's artistic direction.

The same make-up can look quite different, according to the actor’s face shape.

Make-up artist for theatre

Sara Tyndall is a make-up artist and wigs mistress in London's West End. She has worked for Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast, and is now Head of Wigs and Make-Up for The Lion King.

Maya organises the event, liaises with performers, finds sound equipment, and makes sure everything is going to work.

Running a creative event

Maya Levy is an actor, singer-songwriter and pianist. She is also artistic director of the Open Arts Café evenings, where artists present original work to a supportive audience.

Because street theatre is so visual, costumes are very important.

Performing street theatre

Jacqui Papay is a senior performer with the internationally-renowned Natural Theatre Company in Bath. She performs visually engaging comic scenarios in a wide range of outdoor venues, UK and abroad.

On the fringe of the Fringe

Andy Field is co-director of Forest Fringe, an independent mini-festival that takes place during the Edinburgh Fringe. He spoke to Creative Choices about striking out on your own.

Let the casting director see a clear difference between you and the character you have evolved into. (Image: Suraya Jina and Mansoor Mir)

3 stages of an audition

Starting out as an actor? Martha Shephard of To Be Seen, an online audition resource for actors, discusses how to get the part and avoid common audition mistakes.

In 2012, Bruno won the Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design for his work on Frankenstein at the National Theatre.

Working as a lighting designer

Bruno Poet is an award-winning lighting designer who has worked extensively with theatre and opera companies all over the world.

Sayan Kent's play 'Another Paradise' was staged by Kali Theatre and taken to the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Image: Kali Theatre

Taking a play to the Fringe

Sayan Kent describes how Kali Theatre Company helped bring her play to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the support they provide for Asian women playwrights.

Derek Halligan is an actor whose credits include Harry's Game, Fifty Dead Men Walking, Hollyoaks.

A career in acting

Derek Halligan started his performing career as a touring singer with a band called Luigi Krum and the Kumbaks. He moved into theatre in the 1970s as has performed on stage, television and film.

Matt Selby is a casting director with Belinda Norcliffe Casting, one of London’s busiest casting agencies

How to prepare for auditions

Matt Selby is a casting director with Belinda Norcliffe Casting. He has advice on how to prepare for commercial auditions, with five quick tips to take away.

A stage manager is also responsible for sourcing all of the props and furniture that are in the shows.

Get into stage management

The role of stage manager is a busy and challenging one. Laura Flowers was Resident Stage Manager at the Almeida Theatre, and explains how she got into stage management.

Building a costume career

Fay Fullerton is Head of Production Costume at The Royal Opera House. She describes how she got into the industry, with advice for people wanting to get into costume careers.