Careers Brief - Performing Arts - Contemporary Theatre Performance FdA
Overview
The theatrical industry is highly competitive and demanding, but can be very rewarding. To succeed, it is not enough to have talent and training, but you also need personality, be a quick learner, flexible, be disciplined and determined, enthusiastic and have a high level of fitness and stamina. You must be able to work successfully within a team and be prepared to travel, possibly overseas.
Usually you work short-term contracts with long hours or have a 'portfolio' career with more than one job or freelance. Pay is high for a few but generally low for the level of skill and training required. Income can be erratic with maybe long periods of unemployment.
You can work in commercial theatre, fringe theatre, children's theatre, TV, films, cruises. It is essential for your career to join Equity, the actors union.
Apart from the performing roles in theatre, there are also the technical roles of lighting, stagecraft and sound. You can progress into related careers, such as: choreography, stage management, directing, teaching, dance/drama therapy, theatre management and arts administration.
To consider a wider choice of careers, matched to your interests, use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Guide.
Further Study
Top-up degrees are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degrees to Ordinary or Honours degrees. It is expected that you will be able to progress onto a linked one-year top-up honours degree programme.
Institutions offering related Top-up honours degree courses:
Buckinghamshire New University; Canterbury Christ Church University; University of Cumbria; Doncaster College; Hereford college of Arts; University of Hertfordshire; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; Northbrook College Sussex; University of Plymouth; Rose Bruford College; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Teeside.
To search for other suitable honours degree courses, use www.ucas.com/ (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details. Entry point could depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
You will need to use UCAS (see link above) to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Use the website www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for information on student support.
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Resources
Creative Choices is produced by Creative & Cultural Skills - the Sector Skills Council for Advertising, Crafts, Cultural Heritage, Design, Music, Performing, Literacy and Visual Arts.
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Also click on 'Options with your subject'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' to 'Explore job sectors' - 'Creative arts'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use Prospects Planner
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct Careers Advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families' or Quick Search by typing in job title
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search either clicking on 'careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/acting
UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers
The Stage Online (magazine for the entertainment industry) - go to 'Advice' for 'How to guides'
Skillset Careers - specialist careers information service for broadcast, film, video, interactive media, photo imaging and publishing
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/justthejob/jobs
Soundstart - tuning in to new talent
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/arts/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Creative and cultural industries' for 'Performing arts'
Click on 'Performing arts'
www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for education and research in the Creative Arts and Humanities. Click on 'Music and the Performing Arts'.
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Arts-Drama - information source for UK drama companies, performing arts events, training, support and funding
The British Association of Dramatherapists
Arts Matrix is the skills and enterprise development agency for creative professionals in the South West
Arts Professional - the UK's leading arts management magazine
Equity - the UK Trade Union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries
Spotlight - the industry's leading casting resource
BECTU is the UK independent union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas.
