Learn & explore

Skills Centre

Resources, training and professional development opportunities from entry-level to mid-career

Props apprentice working in large workshop

Explore the widest range of workplace-delivered placement, training and apprenticeship opportunities of any organisation in the creative arts.

Supported by UK Government investment, the new National Theatre Skills Centre offers resources, training and professional development, with opportunities available nationwide from entry-level to mid-career.

Under the guidance of world-leading experts, our programmes will help you to develop skills, open career pathways and access specialist training for a career in the creative industries.

No matter what your skill set or aspiration, there is a role in theatre for you. Explore pathways to a career in performance, creating productions, business, engineering, technical, digital, hospitality and more.

Take a look at the opportunities available now, with more coming from Autumn 2024.

Get the brochure

Discover careers, develop your skills, learn in the workplace and enrol in apprenticeships or further training, whether at the National Theatre or another provider.

Download our Skills Centre brochure

Antigone

Christopher Eccleston and Jodie Whittaker feature in this thrilling contemporary staging directed by Polly Findlay.

Reserve a place

Info & application form

Online

Medea

Helen McCrory plays the title role in Euripides’ powerful tragedy, with music written by Will Gregory and Alison Goldfrapp.

Reserve a place

Apply now

National Theatre

Coriolanus

A shirtless man with a muscular build stands defiantly behind a marble pedestal between two large, classical columns, set against a textured marble background. He wears worn and dirty brown trousers, has a determined expression and has leather strapping wound around one hand and the wrist of his other arm.

Coriolanus

Streaming from 2 January

Streaming soon on National Theatre at Home

Online

Nye

A man (Michael Sheen) wearing dark striped pajamas and plaid slippers, is standing amongst billowing pale green curtains.

Nye - Take Your Seats

Michael Sheen is Nye Bevan in an epic Welsh fantasia about one man's dream of the NHS.

Stream free from 7 November 2024

Watch on YouTube

Online

Underdog: The Other Other Brontë

Three women stand together, all facing to camera, the middle one, slightly higher than the others, seems to be trying to push the others, who each hold a pen, aside. All wear red shirts and skirts and the middle one has a large red bow tied at her collar.

Underdog: The Other Other Brontë

An irreverent retelling of the life and legend of the Brontë sisters, and the story of the sibling power dynamics that shaped their uneven rise to fame.

Now streaming

Watch on National Theatre at Home

Online

Vanya

Vanya starring Andrew Scott will be streaming on National Theatre at Home from 19th September 2024.

Now streaming

Watch on National Theatre at Home

Online

Dear Octopus

A woman in a brown long-sleeved dress stands, smiling, looking straight to camera. She is holding hands with a young girl who looks up at her. The blurred figures of five other people stand either side of them and the girl is also blurred.

Dear Octopus

Lindsay Duncan plays Dora in this beautiful, captivating revival of Dodie Smith’s play. Steam this moving dissection of family and what it means to grow up and return home on National Theatre at Home.

Now streaming

Watch now on National Theatre at Home

Online

Till the Stars Come Down

Till The Stars Come Down, the sold-out, critically acclaimed new play by Beth Steel, is now streaming exclusively on National Theatre at Home.

Now streaming

Watch on National Theatre at Home

Online

Discover creative careers

Live and digital events, and resources that showcase the careers available in theatre

A technician showing two people a tech desk

Explore our resources to give you insight and guidance for a career in theatre.

We offer free in-person workshops for 13-25 year-olds to take an in-depth look at a National Theatre production and discover specific aspects of theatre-making.

We will also be attending in-person careers fairs across the country, where you’ll get the chance to meet National Theatre staff.

Discover creative careers

Develop your skills

Hands-on courses led by National Theatre specialists, for Young People aged 13 to 25.

A group of technicians in orange hard hats put together a theatre set made up of an orange and silver climbing gym

Young Technicians

Free technical theatre training for young people aged 13–18, here at the South Bank, online and nationwide.

Young Technicians

A group of young people sitting and laughing around a table

Young Producers

Our programme for those aged 18-25 looking at all aspects of putting on cultural events, including building a team, budget management and marketing.

Young Producers

A pair of hands marking up a floor with measuring tape.

Introduction to Stage Management

Our free course for those aged 16–21, taking place online and at the South Bank.

Introduction to Stage Management

Four people sitting around and chatting, all with scripts in their hands

Skills workshops

Open to anyone aged 13-25, workshops run throughout the year exploring different areas of theatre-making.

In Focus

Learn in the workplace

Short placements of one week to three months and jobs, developing skills and employability

A group of six apprentices with Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the National Theatre, smiling and standing in the National Theatre's props workshop

Apprenticeships

Blending paid work at the National Theatre with college learning, to complete a nationally recognised qualification.

Apprenticeships

Apprentice looking at two computer screens in an office.

Work placements

We offer short work placements from one week to three months to develop skills and employability, focusing on groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

Work Placements

scenic metal work apprentice, wearing safety goggles, using machinery in workshop, sparks are flying from metalwork.

T-Levels

We are delighted to be lauching T-Levels in September 2024 with partners Lilian Baylis Technology School and Mulberry UTC. BTEC placements in production arts will be offered via schools and colleges in Lambeth.

Join our mailing list

We’ll be in touch with news about new opportunities for skills and training opening throughout the year.

A group shot of the 12 Linbury Prize recipients with Lady Anya Sainsbury at the Linbury Prize exhibition opening

The Linbury Prize for Stage Design

An unparalleled opportunity for early-career and graduating designers, offering the chance to work with some of the UK’s leading theatre, opera and dance companies.

Linbury Prize

A young man and woman hold hands, looking at each other. Both are gesturing with their free hand and the woman holds a forked stick. They seem to be in a wood, at night and are surrounded by bodies lying on the ground.

Play Video

The Max Rayne Bursary

Play Video:

The Max Rayne Bursary

Supporters

Apprenticeships at the National Theatre are supported by Bank of America, Eggardon Trust, The Radcliffe Trust and The de Laszlo Foundation.

Traineeships at the National Theatre are supported by The Rayne Foundation, Maria Björnson Memorial Fund, The Fenton Arts Trust, The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust and The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters.

Young People’s Programmes are supported by Bank of America, The Maurice Hatter Foundation and the Richard Radcliffe Trust. With thanks to the MAP Fund.

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Find out more about supporting our work

Photos
Apprentices 2023 © Cameron Slater Photography | Young Technicians & Lifting the Lid 2023 © Belinda Lawley | Linbury Prize 2023 © Ian Tillotson
Staff Director Benjamin Kwasi-Burrell © Marc Brenner | New Views / Max Rayne © Helen Murray | Atri Bannerjee / Peter Hall © X | Theatreworks 2023 © Emma Hare