Theatre stage manager : Career development

A new entrant usually starts as an assistant stage manager and, after gaining skills and experience, progresses to deputy stage manager. With further experience, the next step is to become a stage manager and then company stage manager, although this is usually only in the larger theatres. A company stage manager may have additional duties, such as coordinating marketing and liaising with front of house staff.

Some stage managers remain as assistants or deputies for their entire career (especially in larger organisations). Others may move between companies, filling roles as assistant, deputy or stage manager, as required.

Some managers may choose to develop certain skills and move into specialist roles such as theatre lighting director, sound manager or wardrobe manager. This would involve expanding the technical and/or design skills learnt through the stage management role to specialise in the relevant area.

Ambitious stage managers may go on to become theatre managers or producers (sometimes called production managers or production directors). They normally work in larger theatres, run significant budgets and coordinate the whole physical production of a play.

With experience and further training, some stage managers go on to become theatre directors. Others use their skills and experience gained in the theatre to work in production jobs in television or film, where they usually start as trainee floor managers. Some stage managers may move into stage management of large scale music concerts or become events managers.

Geographical mobility is often needed for career development. In order to acquire the best skills and build up substantial experience, it is usually necessary to work with a number of different companies and/or travel with a touring company to a number of different performance venues.