6 Theatre Careers That Don’t Involve Being a Performer

If you’re someone who is completely and utterly obsessed with theatre but knows that becoming a performer isn’t their calling, then you’ve come to the right place!

Some people just aren’t cut out to be performers. No matter how much training they’ve had, they’ll never become a professional theatre performer. To make it in the industry, you need to have a lot of talent. Of course, training nurtures talent, but unfortunately, not everyone has the gift of being able to act, sing, or dance.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though! Participating in the arts is fun, boosts confidence, and teaches a wide range of skills that can be transferred to other areas of life.

In addition, there are lots of other career options that still allow people to be actively involved in the arts.

Costume Design

The role of a costume designer is to create clothing for actors and dancers. Costumes are extremely important because they bring the visual aspect of a show to life! If you fancy yourself as the next Susan Hilferty, consider taking a course in fashion design.

Theatrical Make-up

Make-up artists apply make-up to performers before they go on stage. Stage make-up is equally as important as having a great costume because it can drastically change a person’s appearance and can be used to reflect various situations in a role.

Stage management

Do you have great organisation and management skills? If the answer is yes, stage management might be the perfect career path for you! Stage managers are responsible for making sure all aspects of the performance run smoothly. They coordinate rehearsals and manage the cast, the lighting technicians, the sound technicians, and the costume department. It is also their responsibility to liaise with other team members, such as the directors and set designers.

Theatre Director

Directors are the big dogs of the theatre industry. They have full creative responsibility for productions, from how the performers will stand to the way they speak. Sure, the cast might be incredible, but without the director, the show would lack cohesion and artistic vision. The job role of a theatre director includes providing creative input to the tech teams, costume designers, and make-up artists, as well as budgeting, adapting scripts, and holding auditions.

Set Designer

If you have a flair for the visual arts, becoming a set designer might be a great career choice for you! Set designers are responsible for the visual concept of theatre productions, including props, graphics, and lighting. They design the sets for the show and work closely with the directors and producers. Job responsibilities include planning and monitoring the set design budget, producing design ideas for sets, and sourcing materials.

Arts Marketing

As someone who works in arts marketing, I can say that this is a very fulfilling job for someone who has a strong interest in the arts. Marketing is very important for any organisation because it increases brand awareness, drives sales, and ensures that your brand stays relevant. Job responsibilities include creating marketing campaigns, managing social media accounts, designing promotional content, writing blogs, and creating online ads. If you enjoy designing graphics, copyrighting, and being active on social media, this could be the perfect career for you!