Home
» Higher Education
» Careers Guide
» Course Briefs
» Performing Arts: Contemporary Theatre Performance FdA

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 Careers Guide.

Use the website links below to find out more.

Further Study

You will be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degrees to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degrees.

Alternatively, you could transfer into a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be into the final year.

Progression is available to a one-year top-up Honours degree (Level H) at University College Winchester. Go to the Links on the HE Home page for details.

Institutions offering Top-ups include:

University of Cumbria; University of Hertfordshire; University of Huddersfield; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; New College Nottingham; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Sunderland; University of Teeside; University of the West of Scotland.

To search for degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.

You will need to use UCAS 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? Go to the university/college website for information on costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.

With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you could progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain specialist training.

For information on all postgraduate courses and research, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgstudy/ .

Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.

Resources

www.creative-choices.co.uk/

Creative Choices - online service supporting the individual and business in the creative industries and cultural sector.

Drop down sub-heading 'Knowledge' + go to sector side-heading 'Performing Arts'.

www.prospects.ac.uk/

Graduate Prospects - online national careers service for HE students studying in the UK:

Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your foundation degree...what next?' + 'Options with your subject'
Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use Prospects Planner

http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/

Careers Advice Service

www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u

Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles'

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/

Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search either by clicking onside-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.

www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/acting

UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers

www.thestage.co.uk/

The Stage Online (magazine for the entertainment industry) - go to sub-heading 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'

www.equity.org.uk/

Equity - UK trade union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries