Behind every great performance

Supporting world-class technicians and theatre artists

Pilot Programme

Working in conjunction with Backstage Trust and Theatre Development Trust, we have designed a programme which will help to nurture and develop the creative workforce, in collaboration with performing arts venues across the UK.

Starting in Autumn 2022 and culminating in Winter 2026, the pilot will realise twenty full-time jobs, each running for two years, for people working in craft and technical disciplines at emerging and mid-career level. Alongside economic stability, each person will be supported with integrated training and mentoring from established freelance theatre artists.

Through this process, our aim is to identify new ways of working to help people develop their careers, understand how to improve working culture for freelance practitioners, encourage positive change and new frameworks for organisations, and benefit the wider creative industries and our communities.

Programme Headlines

2022–26

Programme duration

20

Full-time, salaried roles

2 years

Two-year contracts with training, networking and mentoring support

16

Performing arts partners, UK wide

13

Disciplines including Sound, Lighting, Costume

70%

mid-career and 30% emerging career level roles created

Advisory Group

Our thanks to: Kash Bennett, Liz Botros, Kathy Bourne, Şenay Camgöz, Paule Constable OBE, Mark Dakin, Patrick Gracey, Katie Kerry, Shelley Maxwell, Sir Sam Mendes CBE, Caro Newling OBE, Tom Piper MBE, Indhu Rubasingham MBE, and Dame Susie Sainsbury.

Alan Finch, CBE (1965-2026) was an incredibly valued member of our Advisory Group. He championed venues and talents and challenged us to think beyond the everyday, to do things differently, to enable the change our creative workforce would thrive from. We remain forever grateful for his wonderful contribution to Theatre Artists Fund and all that we have achieved whilst he was with us, and into the future.

Our Story

Between July 2020 and March 2022, Theatre Artists Fund realised emergency funds for theatre freelancers across the UK in need of critical financial aid, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the theatre sector.

£9.9 million, including £1.9m from Department for Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England, was raised to distribute 9,964 emergency grants, towards living costs such as rent, food, and electricity, alongside signposting to mental-health support.

In July 2021 Sir Sam Mendes announced that a pilot programme – focusing on employment opportunities – was going into development.

Why have we created the Pilot Programme?

The impact of Covid-19, exacerbated inequalities within the UK theatre industry and illuminated how precarious the industry is for craft and technical disciplines. There is now an urgent need to give confidence to and sustain the creative workforce.

To address this issue, we designed a pilot study which enables twenty new positions, salaried over two years, alongside enhanced training and networking opportunities, in disciplines identified as ‘in need’, including: Lighting Electrics, Sound Engineers, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up, Scenic Construction, Company Management, Automation, Costume, Wardrobe and Production Management.

Our aim is to enable people to become more robust and explore a new way of working for the benefit of the workforce, venues, audiences, communities and the wider creative sector.

Our Objectives

Nurturing and supporting the creative workforce, in collaboration with performing arts venues across the UK, our aims are to:

Empower artists and technicians through sustainable employment in partnership with venues
Retain skills and extend networks for mid-career artists and technical creatives by linking in experienced external freelancers
Enable career pathways for emerging and mid-career artists and technical creatives with key training opportunities and exposure to and experiences in commercial and touring theatre
Connect the creative workforce with organisations in a more integrated way by encouraging interventions in buildings to build confidence, networks, and shared understanding

Our Partners

Unicorn Theatre (London), Kiln Theatre (London), Nottingham Playhouse & Rocket Scenery Ltd, National Theatre & National Theatre Productions (London), York Theatre Royal & Wise Children, Theatr Clwyd, Leeds Playhouse, Chichester Festival Theatre, Lyric Belfast, National Theatre Scotland, Scottish Opera, Royal Opera House, New Adventures & Cameron Mackintosh Limited, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Our Theatre Artists

Ciara Leneghan-White’s Story
Costume – Lyric Belfast Participant

"There's been a big skills bleed from the industry, which is something that TAF recognised... Investment in skills... and in getting that knowledge bank back up again to where it was pre-pandemic, is absolutely vital... it allows stability and investment in the industry, whilst minimising the risk, and that's something that is priceless."

Partner – Chief Executive, New Adventures

Impact

Pilot Programme

20 participants in full-time salaried roles
16 partners across the UK including theatre, opera and contemporary dance
13 different disciplines including costume, sound engineering, wigs, hair and make-up, lighting, electrics and scenic painting
70% mid-career and 30% emerging career level roles created
85% female and 15% male representation amongst twenty participants

"Having the time to focus on having a full-time position, has allowed me to put all of my brain into the processes we are using rather than worrying about the next job or juggling a few jobs at once."

– Beth, Leeds Playhouse

Breaking Barriers

Case Study: Wigs and Hair – Theatre Training Initiative

Breaking Barriers – a Levelling Up pilot course funded by Theatre Artists Fund – was created to support experienced Afro-textured hair professionals in preparing for careers within theatre Wigs, Hair and Make-up (WHAM) departments.

Levelling Up is a not-for-profit organisation working to address skills gaps and improve representation within Hair, Wigs and Make-up departments across the UK performing arts. Since 2021, they have worked with theatres, productions and industry professionals to strengthen knowledge and practice around Afro-textured hair and multi-ethnic make-up, combining specialist practical training with cultural intelligence.

Through this work, Levelling Up identified a related industry challenge: highly skilled Afro-textured hair professionals working outside theatre can possess considerable expertise, but may lack access to the theatre specific knowledge, networks and experience needed to enter professional WHAM departments. Breaking Barriers was developed to begin addressing that gap by creating a bridge between existing professional hair expertise and the specific requirements of working within theatre.

Learn more about the pilot

Breaking Barriers Course Content

Breaking Barriers is a Levelling Up programme, funded by Theatre Artists Fund, designed to support experienced Afro-textured hair professionals in preparing for careers within theatre Hair, Wigs and Make-up (WHAM) departments.

The 10-day programme was delivered with support from the National Theatre Skills Centre in partnership with Bank America. The programme combined practical learning with industry insight to introduce participants to the theatre environment and the expectations of working within a professional WHAM department. The cohort was made up of accomplished Afro-textured hair professionals with varying levels of commercial experience. Many run successful businesses and have built loyal client bases, with some also establishing significant social media followings through their work. Whilst they brought a strong foundation in hair artistry, they were new to theatre and therefore needed an introduction to the working practices and expectations of a professional WHAM environment.

Participants developed their understanding of theatre working practices, professional expectations, working with performers, the journey from rehearsal to performance and the wider production process. The programme also included an orientation to the National Theatre and its WHAM department.

Professional development and industry engagement formed an important part of the programme, including CV and portfolio support, conversations with established theatre professionals and a Meet & Greet which enabled participants to begin building relationships with industry contacts.

Following the programme, participants have begun moving into the next stage of their development through work experience and industry opportunities.

Who are Levelling Up and why were they chosen?

Levelling Up is a not-for-profit organisation working to address skills gaps and improve representation within Hair, Wigs and Make-up departments across the UK performing arts.

Since 2021, we have worked with theatres, productions and industry professionals to strengthen knowledge and practice around Afro-textured hair and multi-ethnic make-up, combining specialist practical training with cultural intelligence.

Breaking Barriers was developed to begin addressing that gap by creating a bridge between existing professional hair expertise and the specific requirements of working within theatre.

How were people recruited?

Participants were recruited through a targeted outreach campaign using social media promotion, word of mouth and the existing industry networks of Levelling Up and TAF.

The recruitment process was designed to reach experienced Afro-textured hair professionals who already demonstrated strong practical skills within their own field and were interested in exploring opportunities within theatre.

Ten participants from across the UK were selected to take part in the pilot programme.

What happens next?

Breaking Barriers was designed as the beginning of participants’ transition into theatre rather than the end of their development.

Following completion of the programme, Levelling Up will continue to support participants in identifying opportunities to gain practical theatre experience and build industry relationships.

This includes facilitating connections with theatre professionals and organisations, signposting relevant work experience and employment opportunities, and supporting participants as they begin to establish their own networks within the industry.

When can I apply for this course?

Breaking Barriers was delivered as a pilot programme in Summer 2026.

Levelling Up are currently reviewing how the programme could be developed and delivered in the future. Further information about future programmes and opportunities will be shared through their website and Instagram pages.

levellingup.uk and levellingup_uk_

Where can I find out more about the organisations involved?

Levelling Up

Levelling Up is a not-for-profit organisation working with the performing arts industry to improve knowledge, skills and representation within Hair, Wigs and Make-up departments.

We deliver specialist training in Afro-textured hair and multi-ethnic make-up alongside cultural intelligence, and develop initiatives that support greater inclusion and representation within the performing arts.

levellingup.uk

Theatre Artists Fund

In July 2021, a pilot programme – focusing on employment opportunities for those at mid-career level – went into development. The pilot has enabled twenty positions, salaried over two years, with 13 venue partners across the UK, alongside enhanced training and networking opportunities, for disciplines identified as ‘in need’, including: Lighting Electrics, Sound, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up, Scenic Construction, Company Management, Automation, Costume, Wardrobe and Production Management.

Our aim is to enable people to become more robust and explore a new way of working for the benefit of the workforce, venues, audiences, communities and the wider creative sector.

theatreartists.fund

National Theatre Skills Centre

The National Theatre Skills Centre in partnership with Bank of America exists to open pathways into careers in the creative industries and provide a springboard for the next generation of theatre-makers. Reaching nearly 6,000 people around the country annually, the Skills Centre supercharges specialist skills needed across the sector through apprenticeships, training, placements and digital resources.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/skills-careers-explorers

Our Supporters

Pilot Programme

Leadership

Principal

Major

Ambassador Theatre Group
Jonathan & Maya Nelson
Jacqueline & Richard Worswick
MAMA Exhibition Group
Neil Laidlaw

Emergency Fund

We remain tremendously grateful to everyone who donated their time, creativity, and money for the major and necessary emergency fund campaign. Thank you.