Education & Skills
The theatre industry is currently facing skills shortages and gaps in technical, operational and production teams, including front of house, lighting, sound, rigging, automation, costume, wigs, hair and make-up.
Research from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre indicates that that 73% of those employed in creative occupations have a degree or higher-level qualification (compared with 44% across the UK workforce).
However, degree-level qualifications are not required for many of highly skilled theatre roles which are currently in shortage so technical qualifications such as apprenticeships represent a sensible work-based route into the industry for young people and older workers looking to reskill.
We broadly welcome the UK government’s Advanced British Standard (ABS) proposals announced in October 2023, which aim to introduce parity of esteem between technical and academic qualifications. However we have used the consultation to highlight the fact that these proposals would only be effective within the context of a broad and balanced curriculum prioritising both arts and STEM subjects, strengthened teaching capacity and good creative industries specific careers advice. Read our response to the ABS consultation.
Curriculum and Assessment Review: Opportunity to respond by 22nd November
We are preparing our response to the DfE’s call for evidence for curriculum and assessment review. For members wishing to submit their own response, the deadline is 22nd November. SOLT & UK Theatre work as part of the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) to call for an arts rich education for every child.
Read the CLA’s guidelines on responding to the call for evidence
Survey on Skills Shortages & Gaps
SOLT & UK Theatre, with the support of the Gatsby Foundation, commissioned Shift Insight to conduct research to better understand skills gaps and shortages in the off-stage technical workforce.
We were particularly interested in understanding:
- In the theatre industry, which off-stage technical roles are hard-to-fill for SOLT & UK Theatre members?
- Where hard-to-fill vacancies exist, which are due to skills shortages?
- What are SOLT & UK Theatre members doing to address skills shortages in their organisations?
- Why are theatre organisations not making greater use of technical qualifications to address their technical, craft and production skills needs?
The report finds clear evidence of prevalent skills shortages across all off-stage technical roles. Respondents to the survey reported particular difficulties in recruiting to mid-level and freelance roles. Shortages were amplified as the pathways and opportunities are not clearly established earlier in the skills and talent pipeline.
Read the full report.
Technical Qualifications
Technical qualifications are not widely used in our industry. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre’s 2017 Workforce Review found that only 37% of theatre employers surveyed offer apprenticeships.
We are therefore working with government and our members to improve awareness of qualifications and courses including T-levels, apprenticeships and skills bootcamps that have the potential to meet the sector’s workforce needs. Learn more by watching this T-Levels webinar.
To support our members efforts to tackle the theatre industry’s skills shortages we call on the government to:
- Introduce a flexible skills levy.
- Reinstate the employer incentive to enable larger organisations to employ apprenticeship coordinators and scale-up their apprenticeship intake.
- Widen the availability of Level 2 apprenticeships.
- Improve public and employer awareness of apprenticeships.
Read our briefing on apprenticeships.
Portable Apprenticeship Pilot
Some of the UK’s leading theatre organisations are currently working with the Department for Education (DfE) to pilot a portable flexi-job apprenticeship which enables apprentices to complete a series of short-term contracts with a group of employers, rather than being tied to one.
SOLT & UK Theatre looks forward to the DfE’s evaluation of this approach and exploring its long-term viability.
Theatre for Every Child
The theatre industry’s skills shortages have their routes in the education system, which leaves many uninformed about the career opportunities within the theatre sector. This is one of the reasons we have launched our Theatre for Every Child Campaign, to ensure that all children are introduced to the joy of theatre as well as made aware of the exciting career opportunities on offer in the theatre industry. The campaign calls for:
- A funded government commitment to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience a professional theatre visit before they leave secondary school.
- An arts rich curriculum for every child.
