Donmar, Royal Court and BAC offer backstage apprenticeships

Battersea Arts Centre, the Donmar Warehouse and the Royal Court are among six London venues that will offer apprenticeships in the fourth year of a scheme run by a consortium of theatres.

The London Theatre Consortium, comprising 14 producing theatres, is this year offering up to 12 apprenticeships in a variety of off-stage roles, including administration, wardrobe and technical theatre.

A report published by the consortium shows that it has invested £800,000 to date on creating 56 apprenticeships in its first three years.

The report highlights that 62% of those who have taken part so far have been from non-white backgrounds, and that 27% have had a disability.

All apprenticeships on the scheme are paid at least the national minimum wage, and, as well as working towards an accredited qualification, are given mentoring help to build contacts.

This year, the consortium is piloting a new apprenticeship training hub, which will be accredited through the National College for Creative and Cultural Industries.

The hub pilot will run at the Lyric Hammersmith, and will make use of the resources and facilities the Lyric has since its redevelopment.

The hub will offer weekly classroom sessions with a tutor employed by LTC to support the students in gaining their technical certificates, which are a core element of their apprenticeship.

Lyric Hammersmith executive director Sian Alexander said: “I don’t think the London theatres could have embraced apprenticeships on the scale that they have, and with the success they have, if it hadn’t been for that collaborative approach, as part of the London Theatre Consortium.”

She added: “Although the funding climate makes it harder now, we are committed to continuing to work together to maintain the momentum we have achieved and to create open and accessible opportunities for talented young people from all backgrounds in our theatres.”