GET INTO THEATRE and ATG partner on UK-wide careers initiative: WORK IN THEATRE 

Get Into Theatre and ATG have today announced an exciting new partnership, that addresses the need for wider diversity in the live entertainment industry: Work In Theatre.  

Funded by Arts Council England (ACE), the nationwide careers programme will improve access to theatre career pathways and information for underprivileged and underrepresented young people and emerging artists across England, Scotland and Wales. 

In-person activity will take place across 15 ATG venues nationwide, with digital activity hosted on getintotheatre.org. Work In Theatre will reach more than 30,000 young people, teachers, and freelance artists across the UK. The Work in Theatre initiative has been developed in consultation with secondary school teachers across the UK, following feedback that young people’s varying needs across the regions are not being met by the current ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to theatre work experience opportunities. The initiative aims to empower teachers to develop meaningful careers offer that achieves clear Gatsby Benchmarks and showcases the range of careers within the theatre industry.

Co-authored with teachers, the year-long project will be delivered through three strands: Work Experience, Teacher Conference and Emerging Artist Commissions. These strands will meaningfully inspire, educate and spotlight the breadth of on and offstage careers available within the theatre industry and will be brought to those that may not have thought theatre was a space for them; improving equal access for young people from lower socio-economic, d/Deaf or disabled and Black, Asian & ethnic backgrounds.  

Work In Theatre Experience will act as a holistic careers learning programme – curated alongside local schools, offered to young people from education settings and housed within their local ATG venue.  

Work In Theatre Teacher Conference will be a hybrid offer of digital and in-person Continued Professional Development for teachers from targeted state schools, ensuring those with direct access to young people feel confident discussing routes into the industry.  

Work In Theatre Commissions will commission emerging creative practitioners from under-represented backgrounds within each region, to create dynamic video responses that capture their career journey – to inspire Get into Theatre’s digital network of 17k young people. 

ATG’s Creative Learning programme actively fosters and champions arts education in schools, with the Work in Theatre initiative playing a pivotal role in this mission.  

Across the UK, the Creative Learning team at ATG actively work to target engagement to priority schools, working collaboratively with local authorities and networks.

“We are delighted that thanks to funding from Arts Council England, we enter an exciting next phase of our ongoing partnership with Get into Theatre – bringing the passion, commitment, and expertise of our organisations together in the locally driven, nationwide delivery of the Work in Theatre initiative. 

We believe partnerships are powerful. This collective approach ensures we’re able to deliver impactful and locally relevant engagement that moves us forwards in our shared commitment to nurture and inspire the industry’s next diverse generation.” Alexandra Snell, Senior Creative Learning Manager, Milton Keynes Theatre 

“Work in Theatre alongside our partnership with Get into Theatre stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to empowering young people and educators, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and experiences necessary to discover more about the vast range of careers in our industry.” Anthony Hope, Senior Creative Learning Manager, Sunderland Empire 

Get Into Theatre director Alex Duarte-Davies added: 

“Get Into Theatre exists for those young people who want to build their road map, or at least take a peek at what could be possible – from their homes and school classroom. However, getting through those physical doors can often be a daunting challenge. This collaboration with ATG will see those doors opened wide and ensure that young people from all backgrounds are given the same opportunities to ‘get into theatre’, as well as supporting teachers to confidently offer meaningful and up-to-date guidance to their students. It is a step in breaking down those barriers between education and industry, to ensure that the future of the sector is both representational and accessible.” 

Produced by 15 ATG venues, with digital activity showcased on the Get Into Theatre website, the project will run until April 2024. 

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England