Skills Centre
Resources, training and professional development opportunities from entry-level to mid-career
Explore the widest range of workplace-delivered placement, training and apprenticeship opportunities of any organisation in the creative arts.
Supported by UK Government investment and in partnership with Bank of America, 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.
Want to hear more about our skills courses and development opportunities? 💌
What’s on at the Skills Centre
Let's chat design!
In Focus: Here We Are
Space to Create 2025
Archive Unboxed Tours
Speak Up: Arts Everywhere Symposium
Skills Centre: Prop Making Course
Develop your skills
Hands-on courses led by National Theatre specialists.
Young Technicians
Free technical theatre training for young people aged 13–18, here at the South Bank, online and nationwide.
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.
Introduction to Stage Management
Our free course for those aged 16–21, taking place online and at the South Bank.
Young People's workshops
Open to anyone aged 13-25, workshops run throughout the year exploring different areas of theatre-making.
Learn in the workplace
Short placements of one week to three months and jobs, developing skills and employability.
Apprenticeships
Blending paid work at the National Theatre with college learning, to complete a nationally recognised qualification.
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.
T-Levels
We are delighted to have launched T-Levels in 2024 with partners Lilian Baylis Technology School and Mulberry UTC. BTEC placements in production arts will be offered via schools and colleges in Lambeth.
Discover creative careers
Live and digital events, and resources that showcase the careers available in theatre
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.
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Discover careers, develop your skills, learn in the workplace and enrol in apprenticeships or further training, whether at the National Theatre or another provider.
Professional creative development
A wealth of opportunities for emerging and established artists and practitioners
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.
The Max Rayne Bursary
An annual opportunity for an early-career designer to join our team, working closely with a broad range of award-winning designers.
The Peter Hall Bursary
Awarded every two years to support directors develop work for our stages and beyond.
Writers attachments
We offer around 25 attachments per year to playwrights. Writers are resident at the Studio, with a desk and the benefits and support of being part of the Studio team.
Director development
Explore our opportunities for early career and developing directors, including our Staff Directors programme and Kindling scheme.
Genesis theatre design programme
A free training and mentoring course for Global Majority applicants who are from socially and economically challenging backgrounds, who want to pursue a career in theatre as a designer.
Theatreworks: training for business
Individual open courses, coaching and bespoke training for teams.
Theatreworks is our communication skills training for professionals, in any sector. Our team of actors and directors will help develop your interpersonal skills and build your confidence.
Supporters
National Theatre Skills Centre in partnership with Bank of America.
The National Theatre Skills Centre is also supported by CHK Foundation, The Maurice Hatter Foundation and The Clothworkers’ Company.
Apprenticeships at the National Theatre are supported by Eggardon Trust, The de Laszlo Foundation, The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, and The Radcliffe Trust.
Traineeships at the National Theatre are supported by The Rayne Foundation, Maria Björnson Memorial Fund, and The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust.
Young People’s Programmes are supported by The Eranda Rothschild Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, The Maurice Hatter Foundation and the Richard Radcliffe Trust. With thanks to the MAP Fund.
Photos
Apprentices 2023 and 2025 © Cameron Slater Photography | Nationwide Young Technicians © Dom Moore | Young Technicians, Introduction to Stage Managment & Lifting the Lid 2023 and 2024 © Belinda Lawley. Shut Up, I’m Dreaming set designed by Peter Butler. | 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