Theatre

Theatre scenic artist

Scenic artists are responsible for painting sets, scenery backdrops and large props, bringing colour to a theatre production. Leila Kalbassi is the Design Assistant/Scenic Artist for the Dundee Repertory Theatre.

Alison has worked with deaf and hard of hearing theatre practitioners to develop a series of signs for technical theatre terminology.

Sign language for theatre

Alison Pottinger became interested in signing for theatre after stage managing a signed performance. She spoke about the skills it requires, and the opportunities signing opens up for performers and audiences.

Working as a sound designer

Steve Mayo is the Head of Sound for Barbican Theatres. He spoke about how he got the training and experience to build his career in theatre, and how he keeps the passion for his work.

Anna is a director, playwright and acting tutor. She is Artistic Director of Without a Paddle Theatre.

How to master a monologue

When it's time for that acting audition, do you have your monologue prepared? Anna Jordan, director, playwright and acting tutor, offers 5 pieces of advice for mastering monologues.

The world of theatre contains a very wide range of careers aside from acting. (Image: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)

Getting started with theatre

Susan Elkin is the author of 'So You Want To Work In Theatre?’ – a guide for young people who want to work in the theatre world. She shared five pieces of advice about careers in theatre.

A newly visible, richer, skilled workforce.

Beyond Participation

Open Theatre is based in Coventry and works right across the West Midlands region as well as nationally and internationally. It has been developing work with young people with learning disabilities through non-verbal physical theatre for over 30 years. Partnership Manager for the Midlands, Ruth Richardson, spoke to company director Richard Hayhow, to find out more about their work and how they employ young creatives.

Diane Prentice is Deputy Technical Head of the Wales Millennium Centre.

Getting into backstage theatre

Diane Prentice, of the Wales Millennium Centre, spoke about how she got into technical theatre. Two of her Creative Apprentices described their new pathways into backstage work.

Geoff Colman is Head of Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama.

Head of Acting, drama school

Geoff Colman has been Head of Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama in London for eleven years. He has taught in both higher education and conservatoire contexts, and has worked as a freelance director in theatre and opera.

Interning in the arts

Amy Powell is an intern at Unlimited, a programme delivered by Shape and Artsadmin that celebrates the work of disabled artists. In this video she discusses how the internship has opened her eyes to the value of the arts and reflects on what it means to be part of a workplace.

Working as a fire performer

A former electrician, fire performer Tim Marston developed his act and launched his business, Juggling Inferno, from scratch. He spoke about his career and shared 5 tips for freelance performers.

Simon Fraulo is Lighting Operations Manager at the National Theatre.

Lighting operations in theatre

Simon Fraulo is a theatre lighting expert. He has seen big changes in technical theatre training and jobs over the years.

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.

Richard Croxford, artistic director of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, with children from Braniel Primary School.

Being a theatre director

Richard Croxford is the artistic director of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. He describes how he discovered his true vocation, and what skills are needed to be a successful theatre director.

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.

Pervasive media

Katie Day spoke to Creative Choices about pervasive media, the current climate for public funding and the arts, and what she'll bring back from her Peach Placement.

Antony is still very involved in the props workshop. Photo credit Pete Le May

A career in theatre props

Antony Barnett is Head of Props at the Royal Opera House. Hired in the mid-1980s as a prop maker, his role has become more managerial in recent years.

Celeste has studied for three qualifications in opera and performance. But she isn’t sure she’d recommend opera singing as a career.

International opera singer

Celeste Lazarenko is a successful opera singer. She’s sung roles in a Philip Glass opera and for the English National Opera. She’s performed in Hong Kong, across Europe and in her home country of Australia.

Theatre education practitioner

Alice Barclay is a Globe Education Practitioner. She spoke about her role at the theatre, her career journey so far and gives three tips for others looking to get into the industry.

Being a voiceover agent

Jess Manley is an agent with Damn Good Voices, an agency that offers voiceover representation to actors and broadcasters. Finding voice work for others is an interesting challenge.