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.
For an overview of the industry sector, go to National Guidance Research Forum for 'LMI Future trends' and 'Sectors covered'.
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.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You may be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degrees to achieve an Honours (or Ordinary) degrees, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Progression is possible onto the 3rd year of the BA (Hons) Performance Arts at the University of Winchester. Go to www.winchester.ac.uk/ for course information.
Institutions offering related Top-ups include:
University of Bolton; Brooksby Melton College; University of Cumbria; University of Gloucestershire; University of Huddersfield; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; Leicester College; New College Nottingham; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Teeside; University of the West of Scotland.
To search 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 links for information on costs and finance and to the section Financial support for additional help.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may 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 postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
http://mycareerhub.bournemouth.ac.uk/
Bournemouth University Graduate Employment Service - job news, campus events, part-time work, placement, graduate jobs, ask a question, book an appointment
Creative Choices developing your career in the creative and cultural industries - drop down sub-heading 'Choose a creative sector'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/acting
UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers
Also go to sub-heading 'management' + 'technical' for 'articles' and 'career profiles'
The Stage Online magazine
Go to sub-heading 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'
Soundstart - Radio drama tuning in to new talent
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers site for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down sub-heading 'Careers advice' for 'Options with your subject'
http://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/
Next Step careers site - go to sub-heading 'Planning your career' for 'Job Profiles'
Equity - UK trade union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries
BECTU - The Media & Entertainment Union
www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/ (updated until November 2011)
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/justthejob/jobs
www.intute.ac.uk/creativearts/
Intute - free online service (updated until July 2011) helping you to find the best web resources for your studies and research
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Drama information source - drop down 'Art Forms' for 'Drama'
The British Association of Dramatherapists
Arts Professional - the UK's leading arts management magazine
Spotlight - the industry's leading casting resource
Artjobster - free art workers jobsite for the UK
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section
http://artsmatrix.plymouthart.ac.uk/
Arts Matrix - skills and enterprise development agency for the Creative Industries in the South West
Arts Council England - national development agency for the arts in England
Arts Council of Wales
Creative Scotland - developing the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Go to the Employability section of this Careers Guide for additional help and advice with making applications.
