CATALYST participation trainee

Hachette UK; London; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing house in London is seeking a participation trainee to support creative projects connecting schools and communities with theatre. The role includes assisting with logistics, project planning, and administration, providing a hands-on opportunity to gain insights into the theatre industry. Key responsibilities include communication with stakeholders and organizing events while developing core skills for a future career in the arts.

Qualifications

• Desire to pursue an administrative career in the arts.
• Experience in an administrative capacity.
• Excellent communication in written and verbal form.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and delivery of creative projects.
• Maintain project schedules and organize meetings.
• Support communication with teachers and community partners.

Skills

Administration skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Tools

Spektrix (ticketing and CRM)

Dotdigital (email marketing)

Job description

Overview

Closing date for applications: 29 September 2025 at 10.00am

Salary: £25,643 per annum

Contract: Fixed-term, 12-month contract, ideally starting in October 2025

Kickstart your career in the arts with this dynamic traineeship supporting creative projects that connect schools and communities with the power of theatre.

The participation trainee role at the Donmar Warehouse is a hands-on opportunity to gain insight and experience within the theatre industry by supporting the Donmar's work with schools and community groups. As part of the participation team, the trainee will contribute to the planning and delivery of a wide range of creative projects, including the Local Performance Programme, Take the Stage, My Future, Pathways and the Schools' Tour. They will assist with logistics, administration, and communication, working closely with teachers, young people, freelance theatre-makers, and community partners.

Day-to-day responsibilities will include maintaining project schedules, organising meetings and events, managing departmental inboxes, and supporting the smooth running of participation projects. A key part of the role will be organising the Local Performance Programme, acting as the main point of contact for schools and holding this project as their own to practise and develop core skills. The participation trainee will also contribute to planning processes, and support the creation of content for marketing and documentation purposes.

By the end of the traineeship, the participation trainee will have built a strong foundation in communication, project management, collaboration, and arts administration, equipping them for a vibrant future career in creative engagement or arts education. This role is designed for those who wish to pursue a career in arts administration. The role does not require facilitation skills or include facilitation opportunities.

During your traineeship you will:

• Learn how to plan, deliver and evaluate participatory arts projects from start to finish, including workshops, performances, and outreach events.
• Develop strong communication skills through liaising with a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers, artists, young people, and theatre professionals.
• Gain experience in inclusive practices and safeguarding, and understand how access and care are prioritised in community and education work.
• Build confidence managing a busy inbox and supporting the coordination of multiple projects and schedules.
• Gain hands-on experience using industry-standard tools such as Spektrix (ticketing and CRM), Dotdigital (email marketing), and other admin systems.
• Develop confidence in contributing creatively to planning and communications, including writing copy for mailers and workshop materials.

Holistically:

• Get a behind-the-scenes view of how a leading London theatre operates, including how different departments collaborate.
• Work as part of a friendly and experienced team, with opportunities to grow your professional network within the theatre and arts sector.
• Receive mentoring and tailored support to shape your personal development and explore career pathways in arts participation, producing or education.
• Access opportunities to attend performances, industry events and professional development sessions as part of your learning journey.
• Gain access to a thriving and active Donmar Trainee alumni community.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• A desire to pursue an administrative career in the arts
• An interest in working with school and community participants
• Experience of working in an administrative capacity
• Experience of managing your own workload
• Excellent administration and organisational skills
• Excellent communication in person, on the phone and in written form
• Computer literate: word processing; spreadsheets; databases; internet and email

Desirable

• Knowledge of the local communities and/or schools in Camden and Westminster and how to engage with them
• Experience of working with a file management system such as Google Suite, Teams, dropbox etc
• Experience of having engaged with participatory projects in school or community settings
• An awareness of safeguarding procedures for young people and adults at risk

This opportunity is specifically for candidates who are from the Global Majority.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.