Apprentice Technician

Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Birthday day off

Free tickets to performances

Playhouse Pass membership

Discounts on bars

Job summary

Nottingham Playhouse is offering a two-year, full-time Apprenticeship in Technical Theatre. You will work with our Stage, Lighting, Sound and Video teams, gaining hands-on experience while studying towards a Level 3 Creative Industries Production Technician qualification with Chichester College and potentially earning the ABTT Bronze Award.

You’ll spend most of your time learning alongside skilled technicians and join productions ranging from main-stage to co-productions and touring work.

Qualifications

• Interest in technical theatre and live events.
• Some experience through school, college, volunteering or projects.
• Willingness to learn and develop across Lighting, Sound, Video and Stage.
• Health and safety awareness.

Responsibilities

• Develop practical skills across Lighting, Sound, Video and Stage.
• Assist with the technical delivery of Nottingham Playhouse productions.
• Help with get-ins, rehearsals, performances and show operation.
• Learn to interpret technical plans and drawings.
• Maintain workshops and equipment.

Skills

Enthusiasm

Willingness to learn

Lighting

Sound

Video

Stage technology

Education

Level 3 Creative Industries Production Technician qualification

ABTT Bronze Award

Job description

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.

About the apprenticeship

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.

Want to find out more before applying?

If you're interested in the opportunity but want to know more about what being an Apprentice Technician involves, come along to our informal drop‑in session on Saturday 5 September 2026.

There's no need to book – just come along to Company, our bar and community space at Nottingham Playhouse, between 10am and 2pm.

It's an opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you might have before applying.

What you'll be doing

As an Apprentice Technician, you'll be an active member of our Technical and Production team.

With training, guidance and support, you'll:

• 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.

About you

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.

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 learn and develop with the right training and support.

About Nottingham Playhouse

We create theatre that's bold, thrilling and proudly made in Nottingham.

Awarded Theatre of the Year 2025 at The Stage Awards, Nottingham Playhouse is one of the country's leading producing theatres. We create a range of productions throughout the year, from timeless classics and innovative family shows to adventurous new commissions.

Our Technical and Production teams play a crucial role in bringing this work to life, collaborating with creative teams to turn artistic ideas into productions on our stages.

We want our theatre to be a space where everyone feels they belong. We use our stage to tell diverse stories that reflect our city, deliver wide‑reaching participation programmes across our communities and support the next generation of theatre‑makers through our Amplify programme.

Benefits of working at Nottingham Playhouse include:

• 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing with length of service.
• An additional day off for your birthday.
• Free and/or discounted tickets for performances, including Press Nights.
• Free Playhouse Pass membership.
• Discounts on our bars offer.
• Enhanced company sick pay.
• Staff social events.
• Discounted travel on Nottingham City Transport buses.
• Discounted parking at Mount Street and St James NCP.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• A relaxed working environment and informal dress code.

Diversity, Inclusion and Access

Nottingham Playhouse is committed to equality of opportunity and to creating a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we work with. We believe that theatre belongs to everyone and want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to be involved.

We actively encourage applications from the Global Ethnic Majority and Disabled people. Applicants who declare as being from the Global Ethnic Majority and/or as Disabled will be guaranteed an interview for workforce vacancies where they meet the minimum criteria set out in the Person Specification.

We are a Disability Confident employer and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to make our recruitment process accessible.

We are also part of the Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) campaign and welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and anyone looking for a positive work/life balance.

If you require the recruitment information in an alternative format, support completing your application, or an alternative way to apply, please contact [e-mail] or call our Stage Door on 0115 947 4361.