A Comprehensive Guide To The Best Careers In Drama

Have you always been pulled to the allure of the big screen? If so, a career in drama may be the ideal choice for you! There are numerous careers in drama to pursue in this exciting industry, regardless of whether you are an experienced actor, an aspiring writer, or simply someone with a passion for the performing arts. The options for jobs in drama are endless, ranging from acting to directing, writing to producing. So, if you're prepared to advance your passion for theatre and launch a career, this guide is for you. We'll look at the various avenues that can lead to theatre jobs and give you insightful advice to help you succeed.

Creative Roles

Do you have a love for the performing arts and drama? Are you drawn to the appeal of Broadway productions like Hamilton and Wicked or do you binge on Netflix hits like Bridgerton and Stranger Things? If yes, here are some exciting drama roles for you to consider.

1. Theatre Director

Average Salary: £33,904 per year

Choosing the cast, selecting the costumes, and organising the performance are all common responsibilities of a theatre director. In a demanding theatre job, the directors instruct the cast and crew on duplicating their concept of how a script should be performed. A bachelor's degree in theatre production or a closely related discipline is the typical entry point for theatre directors. Hence, becoming a theatre director ranks as one of the best careers in drama to pursue.

2. Stage Manager

Average Salary: £41,542 per year

You might want to think about working as a stage manager if you are organised. Stage managers are responsible for supervising every part of the production to ensure that it runs successfully. They collaborate closely with the director and actors. You'll need strong interpersonal skills for this employment to communicate with others and ensure the production team is operating efficiently. As a result, it ranks as one of the leading drama jobs to pursue.

3. Playwright

Average Salary: £48,908 per year

Playwrights, often known as scriptwriters, create the core narrative for theatrical shows. The director and the actors then use this knowledge to transform it into a live performance. They also generate all lines of speech between performers and explain each scene. Becoming a playwright is one of the best jobs in drama to consider.

4. Costume Designer

Average Salary: £32,362 per year

Theatrical costume designers create or select every component of the actors' attire, including their clothing, jewellery, masks, gloves, hats, and anything else they might wear onstage. The clothing may be coordinated with the play's historical setting, the characters' individual preferences, and other pertinent elements. Most costume designers have previous fashion design backgrounds. Bring out your inner fashionista by becoming a costume designer, a great drama job to check out!

5. Choreographer

Average Salary: £33,617 per year

Choreographers develop, coordinate and supervise the dance routines, costumes, visual aspects and music within a theatre show. They typically have exceptional dance skills and a wealth of production expertise, enabling them to recognise the components each show needs to appeal to a larger audience. Many choreographers undergo training as professional dancers and refine their talents as their career grows. For the ones ready to shake it up, this is a great drama job to consider!

Production-related roles

Lights, camera, action! Are you enthralled by the special effects that make your favourite films and TV shows come to life? Step into the spotlight as we explore the fascinating world of production-related career roles in drama, where you'll meet the unsung heroes who help make Hollywood dreams come true.

6. Sound Technician

Average Salary: £27,476 per year

Sound technicians, or sound engineers, manage theatre productions' audio quality. They make sure that their team appropriately creates, mixes, records, and edits sounds, such as voices, effects, and music for live productions, using their talent and expertise. Although there are no formal requirements for becoming a sound technician, candidates with the right qualifications and work experience are more likely to get hired. Hence, becoming a sound technician is one of the best jobs in drama to pursue.

7. Producer

Average Salary: £41,871 per year

The exact responsibilities of a producer vary slightly from one theatre performance to the next, although they often oversee and carry out every aspect of the production. Finding investors, setting up finances and budgets, negotiating employee contracts, managing all technical aspects of the play, establishing deadlines for various tasks, developing marketing plans to promote the production, supervising directors and artists, and ensuring legal compliance are just a few their responsibilities. A producer can pursue any career route, while most have degrees in media-related fields and prior work experience. This makes it among the best careers in drama for people to consider.

8. Casting Director

Average Salary: £41,917 per year

The casting director identifies potential performers for performer roles in a theatre show and chooses the best ones for each. They ensure that the selected individuals possess the qualities called for by the script and the director and the knowledge and expertise needed to carry out their roles effectively. Although there are no legal requirements for working as a casting director, the majority have degrees in theatre or film production. As a result, it ranks as one of the leading jobs in drama to aim for.

9. Prop Manager

Average Salary: £30,189 per year

A prop manager is responsible for locating all the props required for the production. Based on the screenplay and the director's overall vision, they collaborate closely with the stage manager to develop a list of the necessary props. This is a crucial position, especially for big-budget movies and TV shows, but it's equally necessary for plays and musicals. This makes it one of the top jobs in drama to pursue.

Service-related roles

Ready to explore service-related careers in drama as you set out on a journey where passion meets purpose? Join us as we reveal some careers where you work behind the scenes to improve the theatrical experience, one kind deed at a time.

10. Usher

Average Salary: £34,559 per year

Ushers ensure customers' well-being before, during, and after a theatre performance. They direct audience members to their seats, provide refreshments, hand out programmes, assure their safety, and coordinate with other staff members to ensure everything goes according to schedule. Formal education is not required to work as an usher. This makes it one of the top drama careers to pursue.

11. Front-of-House Manager

Average Salary: £26,428 per year

Front-of-house supervisors oversee various everyday tasks relating to the theatre's reception and sitting area. These duties involve managing the building's security operations, ensuring that workers adhere to safety protocols, hiring and training new employees, serving as a customer service representative for theatre visitors, and addressing any concerns that could come up with theatre visitors. Although no formal education is needed for front-of-house managers, soft skills like effective communication and numeracy are frequently crucial for the position. This makes it among the best drama careers for people to strive for.

12. Company Manager

Average Salary: £56,533 per year

Usually serving as the link between the theatre manager and the rest of the production team, theatre company managers serve this role. They handle daily management activities, including resolving employee complaints, managing communication, ensuring everyone does their part, preparing timetables, negotiating contracts, and other corresponding duties. The majority of business managers have prior management expertise in other areas. As a result, it ranks as one of the best careers in drama to aim for.

13. Theatre Manager

Average Salary: £40,966 per year

Theatre managers monitor every area of a theatre's management and show production. They manage all administrative functions related to organisation, finances, and marketing, assisting the theatre in turning a profit by planning and putting on diverse productions. A theatre manager is involved in every step of carrying out the business plan for the theatre. The majority of candidates for the position have administrative and artistic backgrounds. This makes it one of the top drama jobs to pursue.

Administration-related roles

The show must go on in the drama industry, but to guarantee a flawless performance, a team of dedicated professionals must work behind the scenes. Join us as we lift the curtain to reveal the fast-paced world of administrative career roles in drama, where organization, creativity, and a dash of theatrical flair come together to create a symphony of success.

14. Drama Teacher

Average Salary: £35,675 per year

Drama professors handle the training of aspiring theatre performers. Most instruct kids between 11 and 18, giving them all the fundamental knowledge needed to start a career as stage actors. Regularly putting on school plays and productions to give their kids a theatre experience is one of their responsibilities. A bachelor's degree in a theatre-related discipline plus a teaching credential are often requirements for drama teachers who work in educational institutions. This makes a drama teacher one of the leading drama careers to pursue.

15. Marketer

Average Salary: £44,371 per year

Theatre productions must be advertised to attract potential customers to purchase tickets and attend the performances. They tell the public about the theatre's upcoming shows and entice them to go by using every media outlet at their disposal. Typically, they are responsible for advertising both the performances and the theatre. This makes it among the best careers in drama for people to consider.

16. Arts Administrator

Average Salary: £24,141 per year

A career in arts administration is perfect for you if you enjoy working behind the scenes and have excellent organisational abilities. You could manage, plan, and assign operational duties in a theatre. As a result, an arts administrator ranks as one of the best jobs in drama to pursue.

17. Talent Agent

Average Salary: £43,130 per year

Consider a job as a talent agent if you have an eye for discovering new talent. They are responsible for finding and reserving musicians, singers, and actors for plays and movies. They also come across upcoming musicians who haven't yet been signed to a record label in the music industry. This makes a talent agent one of the top drama careers to pursue.

For those passionate about the performing arts, a career in drama can be incredibly satisfying and enjoyable. There are many jobs in drama to explore and leave your mark in the industry, whether your dream is to work as an actor, writer, director, or in any other capacity. We've given you insightful advice and pointers in this book to assist you in taking the initial step towards realising your career objectives. If you're ready to apply to the best acting schools in the world, can check out student accommodation near Carnegie Mellon University, DePaul University, and Juilliard School. Stay focused, put in the effort, and always be willing to develop as an artist. You may make your passion for theatre into a fulfilling career that will last your entire life with hard work and effort. So get out there and break a leg!