Performing Arts
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in Performing Arts - including performance, presenting and performance production.
You might also find our information on careers in music useful.
What are careers in the performing arts?
According to the Creative and Cultural Skills council the performing arts sector covers theatre, musical theatre, dance, opera, puppetry, mime, carnival, street and circus arts as well as all the support functions and roles which bring these artforms to the fore. The visual arts industry covers a range of art forms, including painting, sculpture, photography and new media. The industry is highly diverse and includes players ranging from large commercial companies to small and microfirm groups who may be dependent on both public and private financial support.
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with profiles on the following jobs:
- Actor
- Broadcast presenter
- Choreographer
- Composer
- Conductor
- Dancer
- Disc jockey
- Production designer, theatre/television/film
- Theatre director
- Theatre lighting director
- Theatre producer
- Theatre sound manager
- Theatre stage manager
See www.prospects.ac.uk/links/performingarts
The Prospects options series will give you an indication of what you can do with your degree in Performing Arts (Dance/Drama).
Creative Choices A-Z Directory
www.creative-choices.co.uk/develop-your-career
How do I get into it?
Getting into any role in the performing arts will be competitive. The following links provide further information for different sectors within the performing arts industry about the different things to consider when looking at a career in the performing arts.
Prospects Sectors - Creative Arts and Culture
Links to employers, jobs, courses, industry information, articles.
www.prospects.ac.uk/creative_arts
BBC Learning- Performing Arts
This section of the BBC website gives useful links for dance, music, drama careers for those looking to pursue a career in the performing arts.
www.bbc.co.uk/learning/subjects/performing_arts.shtml
UK Performing Arts
UK performing arts training and careers, which includes sections for acting, dance, musical theatre, music, management and technical.
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk
Acting
getintotheatre.org
Funded by the Arts Council England this website introduces over 80 possible careers within the theatre industry. It includes interactive features such as a CV clinic, an expert panel and games.
www.getintotheatre.org
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
Information for those interested in a career within the dramatic arts.
www.rada.org
Conference of Drama Schools
Links to member schools offering courses in theatre and media.
www.drama.ac.uk
This page links to all the available PDF documents to download from the Conference of Drama Schools, including The CDS Guide to Professional Training Drama and Technical Training and CDS Guide to Careers Backstage.
http://sites.stocksphere.com/cds/articles.asp?articleid=20
National Council for Drama Training
Produce a list of accredited one year postgraduate acting courses.
www.ncdt.co.uk
Dance
A variety of roles exist for dance graduates or those interested in dance - performers, teachers (including community dance teaching), choreography, choreology,notation, therapy, management/promotion, history/archive etc.
Roles as performers are extremely competitive and likely to require specialist training at dance academies.
Council for Dance Education
Promotes excellence in dance education and training. It accredits courses at vocational dance schools and advocates on behalf of private dance training. You will also find a careers section.
www.cdet.org.uk
BBC Blast - Dance and Drama
This website has information, tips and advice and getting into the dance world. You will also find links to sources of further information about dance careers, such as Dance UK.
www.bbc.co.uk/blast/dance_drama
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance promotes knowledge, understanding and practice of dance internationally.
www.rad.org.uk
The Royal Ballet School
Trains and educates outstanding classical ballet dancers for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and other top international dance companies, and in doing so to set the standards in dance training, nationally and internationally.
www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk
National Dance Teachers Association
This website has a section detailing the possibilities in dance.
www.ndta.org.uk/careers-info/
Finding a job or employer in this sector
There is little labour market information available to show how many people are currently working in the UK performing arts industry and what role.
Skillset
Skillset produces a range of research covering employment, skills analyses and workforce surveys.
www.skillset.org/research/index/
Artyfacts
Artyfacts University of Brighton newsletter for Arts and Architecture students.
Actors One Stop Shop
As well as services on the show reel, photographic and CV front, the one-stop shop supplies regular back-up/support-allowing actors to access expertise and career advice on a free, ongoing basis.
www.actorsone-stopshop.com
BBC Careers
www.bbc.co.uk/careers/vacancies
Castcall
Casting Information Service, which emails direct a list of casting calls, three times a week.
www.castcall.co.uk
Production base
Post a CV to be viewed by production companies and broadcasters.
www.productionbase.co.uk
Stage Weekly
Entertainment trade weekly, includes vacancies and auditions for designers, theatre technicians, scenic artists and arts administrators.
www.thestage.co.uk
Spotlight
Sussex based performing arts organisations/resources
New Venture Theatre (NVT)
NVT is a community theatre, committed not only to achieving the highest standards on stage, but also to cultivating original work.
www.newventure.org.uk/home.asp
Brighton Fringe Festival
The Brighton Festival Fringe is a service organisation that supports artists, producers and audiences. It exists to encourage the development and promotion of arts and entertainment activity.
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk
Brighton Festival
Brighton and Hove Music and Performing Arts
This service is part of Brighton & Hove City Council's Children and Young People's Trust and provides a holistic range of music and performing arts education and performance opportunities for children and young people across the city as well as offering curriculum support to our colleagues in schools.
www.bhmas.org.uk/
South East Dance
Provides commissions, productions, tours, training and information for professional and amateur dance artists, venues and arts/cultural organisations.
www.southeastdance.org.uk
Further information and useful links
General arts organisations
Arts Council England
National development agency for the arts in England. Includes ArtsJobs which details current vacancies and opportunities in the arts community and ArtsNews which details arts events, news and press releases.
www.artscouncil.org.uk
Creative Choices
Developing your career in the creative and cultural industries. Includes sector-specific information.
The White Book
Lists leading businesses in every sector of the media industry, from concert production and promotion, publicity and marketing to manufacturers, conference and exhibition industries. It also incorporates record companies, TV film and video industries, through to artistes, agents and managers.
www.whitebook.co.uk
The Circus Space
The Circus Space aims to enable the creation of a breadth of excellent and innovative circus in Britain.
www.thecircusspace.co.uk/index.htm
The London School of Puppetry
Here students train to become freelance artists specifically in the discipline of puppetry.
www.londonschoolofpuppetry.com
The Comedy School
The Comedy School is the only arts organisation of its kind in the UK which works with comedy in many different settings.
thecomedyschool.com
The Magic Circle
This is the most prestigious society in the fascinating world of magic and illusion.
www.themagiccircle.co.uk/
Acting
Equity Union of actors, set/costume & lighting designer’s
Equity is the UK Trade Union representing professional performers and other creative workers from across the spectrum of the entertainment, creative and cultural industries.
www.equity.org.uk
Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematography and Theatre Union
Information, links and careers information.
www.bectu.org.uk
Dancing
Dancing Times Ltd
Information and links for more information
www.dancing-times.co.uk
Dance UK
Works with and on behalf of dance, providing information, publications, networks, forums for debate and conferences.
www.danceuk.org
Trinity Laban Conservatoire for M and Dance
Theatre technicians/designers
Association of British Theatre Technicians
Information and advice for anyone wishing to work backstage
www.abtt.org.uk
Independent Theatre Council
Represents a wide range of performing arts organisations, venues and individuals in the fields of drama, dance, opera, music theatre, puppetry, mixed media, mime, physical theatre and circus. Site includes lots of training information
www.itc-arts.org
Society of British Theatre Designers
Designers/Agents register and contact details. Aims to enhance the standing of British theatre design at home and abroad good links page for theatre design related websites
www.theatredesign.org.uk
Funding
Directgov - Dance and Drama Awards
Find out if you are eligible for a dance and drama award from Directgov.
www.direct.gov.uk