Theatre manager : Employers and vacancy sources

There are two main types of theatre in the UK. These are repertory theatres, which have a resident company producing its own work and presenting plays from a repertoire, and non-repertory or receiving theatres that buy in plays and other productions.

Typical employers include:

• national theatres;
• regional theatres;
• London's West End theatres;
• opera companies;
• dance companies;
• arts centres.

The growth of the theatre industry is dependent on the quality of work produced and the size of the audiences which it brings in. Injections of money, for example through lottery funding, help the theatres to thrive and when they do there is likely to be a demand for writers and directors, and a corresponding role for theatre managers in supporting and encouraging their work.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Guardian Jobs  
• The Stage  
• Theatrical Management Association (TMA)  
• Stage Jobs Pro  - lists vacancies and allows professionals to upload their profiles.
• Arts Professional  
• artsjobsonline  
• Arts Industry  

Increasingly, individual theatres have their own websites with details of placement and job opportunities. Equity  provides an online job information service for its members which includes up-to-date analyses and vacancy information from all areas of the arts and entertainment industry. The British Performing Arts Yearbook also provides full listings of contacts and venues in the industry, which is useful for making speculative applications.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.