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

www.spotlightcd.com

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

www.brightonfestival.org

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

www.laban.org

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

Key points 

  • The performing arts sector covers everything from theatre to support roles such as arts administration.
  • The industry is highly diverse and includes players ranging from large commercial companies to small and microfirm groups.
  • The visual arts industry covers a range of art forms, including painting, sculpture, photography and new media.