Theatre & Live events

Training in the theatre and live events sector of the creative media industries is overseen by the Sector Skills Council, Creative & Cultural Skills and delivered by a range of partner 'founder colleges', training providers large and small, including equipment providers, associations and trade unions.

In this section you will find links to the best providers, to funding and subsidies and to places where you can simply find out more information.

New Entrant Training

Like the rest of the creative sector, entry to theatre and live events can be informal and dependent on networks rather than merit and skill. As with other parts of the creative industries this can lead to exploitation and unpaid 'work experience'. However, a great deal is being done to address this, including new apprenticeship frameworks and a code of practice dealing with new entrant training and development.

Creative & Cultural skills (CCSkills) manage Creative Apprenticeships and  The National Apprenticeship Service funds and co-ordinates the delivery of all Apprenticeships throughout England. Skills Development Scotland support Apprenticeships in Scotland.

The Welsh Assembly Government supports apprenticeships in Wales and in Northern Ireland they are supported by the Department for Employment and Learning

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

CPD is a broad term encompassing courses, workshops, work-based learning and anything that contributes to knowledge and skills. People who are employed should be able to access training and development with their employer but this can be inconsistent. Freelance and casual workers are often responsible for their own CPD including paying for it. A complex system of training has evolved in the sector, with the result that training can be expensive and of variable quality, where it exists at all.

A key starting point for all enquiries is CCSkills which is the Sector Skills Council for the Creative sector including theatre, live events & rock and roll.

ITC (mainly management & admin)   ABTT Training    PLASA Skills  Creative Choices