Stagehand
Stage technician, backstage crew member
Stagehands help to get things ready on set for performances in the theatre, at concerts and in TV and film studios.
Salary range: £15,000 to £20,000
How to become a stagehand
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You can do a foundation degree or degree in a subject like:
- stage and production management
- sound engineering and production
- theatre and production arts
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You can take a college course, for example:
- Level 2 Certificate in Technical Theatre Support
- Level 3 Diploma in Production Arts
The skills you’ll learn on these courses could help when you look for a trainee job with a stage or production company.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through a creative technician or technical theatre advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
Work
You may be able to start in a theatre or venue as a member of the casual backstage staff and work your way up.
You can contact a theatre’s resident stage manager or master carpenter to find out about possible opportunities.
Volunteering and experience
Any backstage experience you have from school, college, amateur or fringe productions will be helpful.
More information
Career tips
You may have an advantage if you’ve got skills and experience in carpentry, electrical work, sound or lighting.
Further information
You can find out more about working and training as a stagehand from Creative Choices and the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- knowledge of maths
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- persistence and determination
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- loading and unloading equipment
- helping carpenters build and put up scenery
- attending rehearsals
- moving scenery, furniture and heavy equipment
- opening and closing theatre screens and curtains between acts
- operating manual and automated scenery-moving machinery
- clearing the stage or studio and backstage area at the end of a performance
Working environment
You could work at a TV studio, at a film studio or in a theatre.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, you’ll travel often, cramped, noisy and at height.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could lead a crew of stagehands and scene builders. You could also take further training to become a production carpenter, sound or lighting engineer, or move into stage management.
You could also work freelance for theatre venues, TV or film studios, touring theatre companies and large-scale concert tours.