Theatrical organisations, professionals and artists UK-wide are today celebrating the wide range of careers available within theatre for young people.
The events are taking place for #InspiringFutureTheatre Day, part of a joint initiative between Society of London Theatre (SOLT), UK Theatre and Education & Employers, with the goal of encouraging young people to explore job opportunities within a sustainable and representative theatre workforce.
Professionals from a range of offstage careers have taken to social media to share why they love working in theatre, championing the industry to up-and-coming creatives:
https://twitter.com/LWTheatres/status/1146320245533171712
https://twitter.com/TrafStudios/status/1146360451070156800
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzcu2mIgwmJ/
https://twitter.com/TheRSC/status/1146353638240997376
https://twitter.com/polkatheatre/status/1146360495907246080
https://twitter.com/AlmeidaTheatre/status/1146352689808367616
https://twitter.com/LyricHammer/status/1146346843619627008
https://twitter.com/Masterclasstrh/status/1146355096487440384
https://twitter.com/SavoyTheatreLdn/status/1146349294791856130
https://twitter.com/mischiefcomedy/status/1146327794735046657
In London, 80 theatre professionals – many of whom are Ambassadors for the campaign, having committed to visit local schools to talk about their roles – have been Inspiring Future Theatre from the heart of the West End this morning.
Almost 500 teenagers from Westminster schools, who may otherwise have had little opportunity to engage with the world-leading theatre on their doorstep, have been enjoying a broad selection of talks, workshops and exclusive performances, granting them a unique insight into the work that goes on behind a West End curtain.
This morning’s activities have been undertaken in collaboration with SOLT’s major London theatre owners and producers, as well as two leading British musicals: the smash-hit Tudor-pop show, Six, and the inspiring true story, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
From holding speed networking sessions, to teaching young people about the technical challenges of staging a large-scale production, London theatres including Theatre Royal Haymarket, the Cambridge, the Vaudeville, the Aldwych, the Piccadilly, the Prince of Wales, the Gillian Lynne, the Donmar Warehouse, the Apollo, the Royal Opera House and the Arts have all been participating in the programme.
Staff members of SOLT and UK Theatre themselves have also joined in the celebrations, citing their own inspirations and passions for the industry:
Formed in response to SOLT and UK Theatre’s 2017 Workforce Reviews, Inspiring Future Theatre reaffirms the organisations’ commitment to opening up paths within theatre for young people, building a resilient workforce that’s representative of the UK’s diverse population.
Over 1000 UK theatre professionals – from artistic directors, costume cutters and lighting designers to producers and props masters – have signed up as Ambassadors so far, one year on from the Inspiring Future Theatre campaign’s Scarborough launch in July 2018.
This year’s #InspiringFutureTheatre Day follows hot-on-the-heels of the launch of Get Into Theatre, the UK’s first online theatre careers resource, which provides practical advice for young people to assist them in starting their careers.
This includes information on training, work experience and funding opportunities up for grabs, helping young people to break down any barriers and get their foot on the career ladder. The initiative was co-founded by The Stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, UK Theatre, and SOLT.
Such work is fortified by SOLT’s year-round investment in organisations which include the yearly ‘behind-the-scenes’ career fair, TheatreCraft – this year set to take place at the Royal Opera House on Monday 11 November – and Stage One, a registered charity that supports new commercial UK theatre producers and productions.
Run by SOLT, all profits from Official London Theatre and its ticketing channels – including TKTS, Kids Week and the New Year Sale – go back into the industry and its future, helping the workforce of London theatre to continue to grow and, crucially, keep providing world-famous experiences that people around the world love and enjoy.
Looking for a job in theatre? Whether you’re looking for a specific role, or you’re still unsure and want to find out more about your options, we can help. Take a look at our comprehensive Theatre Careers Advice section, where you can find all the information you’ll need to take your next steps.
If you’re a teacher seeking to inspire your class, we’ve also placed all the School Resources about the theatre industry you need in one place.
Theatre professionals who would like to sign up to be an Inspiring the Future of Theatre ambassador can visit the Inspiring the Future website. Theatres and arts organisations are also able to register their interest in getting involved and working with their local schools, via the website.
And if you’re already in the theatre industry, make sure you share your inspirations, education work and career success stories on social media with the hashtag #InspiringFutureTheatre.