Paid Internship: Backstage Theatre

We are inviting applications for a six-week paid internship with LW Theatres, based at The London Palladium.

This is a fantastic entry-level opportunity for someone leaving school or college this summer and looking for hands-on training. You will be working full time at The London Palladium for six weeks, mentored by the backstage teams, and receiving support from Masterclass. During this six-week internship you will observe and practise skills needed to pursue a career backstage in theatre. You will gain insight into many roles backstage, from carpentry to lighting, sound to automation, with the opportunity to learn about career options from a range of people already in the theatre industry. You will also receive a workplace reference for future employment.

This is an entry-level role, intended for a school- or college-leaver, and therefore suitable for people who have no formal theatre training. However, we do want candidates with some skills in carpentry / woodwork or electrics or sound.

Not sure what job this internship could lead to? Check out a full list of backstage careers here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This internship is a development and learning opportunity for someone who is interested in exploring the options for a backstage theatre career.

Candidates should:

Have an interest in theatre or live events and a curious, hardworking attitude
Be able to demonstrate qualifications and / or experience in at least one of carpentry, electrics or sound.
Be eager to learn on the job, while contributing as part of a busy team
Have good communication and organisational skills
Work calmly under pressure and be able to think on their feet
Not have had professional experience working backstage on a large-scale commercial production. (Our internships vary from entry-level placements to later career development opportunities. This role is an entry-level placement for someone with relevant skills who has not yet had an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a theatre context.)

The nature of this opportunity, and the funding to support it, means that we have a strong preference for candidates who have just left school or college, and who are resident in the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. We will, however, consider all candidates. To check your borough, click here.

Candidates must:

Be aged 18+ when the internship begins
Be available for the full length of the internship
Have the right to work in the UK for the full length of the internship.

Masterclass and LW Theatres are committed to building a theatre workforce that demonstrates equality, diversity and inclusion. As such, our recruitment focuses on providing opportunities to those currently underrepresented in our workforce, and across the entertainment industry. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from candidates from the global majority, who come from a working class background or who have faced specific obstacles to progression. (This role will be based in a venue without step-free access, but reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure that the successful candidate can operate effectively.)

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete this application form

You can download the questions to prepare in advance here.

OR, if this process is not accessible to you, please send a video or audio file (maximum 3 minutes) explaining your interest in Backstage Theatre, your experiences to date, and how you would benefit from the placement, to info@masterclass.org.uk with the subject heading: BACKSTAGE - PALLADIUM

KEY INFORMATION

Application Deadline: 9am, Tuesday 28 May

Interviews: mid June

Start date: mid July

End date: late August

Job Location: Central London 

Contract Type: Fixed Term  

Salary: National Minimum Wage 

If you have any questions, please contact the Masterclass office by email: info@masterclass.org.uk

With grateful thanks to LW Theatres for making this opportunity possible.