Apprentice Technician

START YOUR CAREER IN TECHNICAL THEATRE AT NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE

Are you passionate about live theatre and interested in how lighting, sound, video and stage technology come together to bring a production to life?

Nottingham Playhouse is looking for a passionate, enthusiastic and practically minded Apprentice Technician to join our Technical and Production team.

This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of the country’s leading producing theatres while working towards a nationally recognised Level 3 Creative Industries Production Technician Apprenticeship qualification.

You’ll work alongside experienced theatre professionals across our Stage, Lighting, Sound and Video departments, developing the practical and technical skills needed to build a career in theatre and live events.

You don’t need to arrive knowing everything – this is an apprenticeship designed to help you learn.

This is a two-year, full-time apprenticeship combining practical experience at Nottingham Playhouse with structured learning.

Around 80% of your time will be spent working alongside our team of skilled technical professionals, with the remaining 20% dedicated to college learning and coursework.

You will study towards a Level 3 Creative Industries Production Technician qualification with Chichester College and, as part of your training, will also have the opportunity to gain the ABTT Bronze Award, an industry‑recognised technical theatre qualification.

During your apprenticeship, you’ll gain experience across different technical disciplines and work on a wide range of productions and events – from main‑stage and studio productions to co‑productions, touring work and Participation projects.

• Develop practical skills across Lighting, Sound, Video and Stage.
• Assist with the technical delivery of Nottingham Playhouse productions.
• Help with get‑ins, fit‑ups, technical rehearsals, performances and show operation.
• Work alongside performers, stage management, visiting companies and creative teams.
• Help set up and operate technical equipment.
• Support the maintenance of lighting, sound, video and stage equipment.
• Assist with technical requirements for events and hires.
• Learn how to interpret technical plans and drawings.
• Develop your understanding of safe working practices within technical theatre.
• Help maintain workshops, technical areas, equipment and storage spaces.
• Learn about the processes involved in taking productions from rehearsal through to performance.
• Gain experience of professional production processes within a busy producing theatre.

There may also be opportunities to work on productions away from Nottingham Playhouse, including at venues elsewhere in the UK.

We're looking for someone who is genuinely excited about developing a career in technical theatre and live events.

You might already have some experience through school, college, amateur theatre, volunteering, events or personal projects – but you don't need to be an experienced theatre technician.

We're particularly interested in your enthusiasm, potential and willingness to learn.

You'll ideally have:

• A passionate and enthusiastic interest in producing and presenting live theatre and events.
• A strong desire to develop skills across Lighting, Sound, Video and Stage.
• Some basic knowledge or interest in technical theatre equipment.
• An interest in how lighting and sound systems are programmed and operated.
• A positive, professional and practical approach.
• Motivation and enthusiasm for working with creative teams.
• An awareness of the importance of health and safety.
• An interest in solving practical and technical problems.
• A willingness to learn new skills and take on new challenges.
• Good communication skills.
• Good attention to detail.

Knowledge of areas such as sound consoles, ETC lighting desks, counterweight flying systems or technical drawings would be useful, but we do not expect you to know everything before you start.

Nottingham Playhouse is committed to developing and nurturing its employees. You do not need to have every skill listed in the Person Specification, but you should be able to demonstrate your potential to…