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Opening times this week:
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9am-4pm
Wednesday
9am-7:40pm
Thursday
9am-11pm
Friday
11am-10pm
Saturday
9:30am-7:40pm
Sunday
9:30am-7:40pm
Our box office is open Mon-Fri 12-4 and an hour before each performance

Please note: we’re experiencing some issues with our IT systems, meaning some emails aren’t sending. If you have made a booking, you may not receive your email confirmation or e-tickets right now. Instead, we can print your tickets at box office on the day of your performance. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

A young person on work experience at Northern Stage. She is smiling while wearing headphones and an earpiece.

Work Experience

All about Work Experience

Work Experience at Northern Stage is for anyone aged 14-18 looking to gain an insight into the backstage roles in a theatre.

Our intensive week is focused on the technical and production elements of theatre, and there’s no performing involved. You’ll get the chance to try out different backstage roles in our professional theatre space and will be introduced to light, sound, special effects and stage management.

You’ll be one of 16 people between the ages of 14-18 taking part, and you’ll work together to design and produce your own technical installation.

You’ll also get the chance to meet Northern Stage staff across all areas, including producing, participation, marketing and programming.

Work Experience takes place in July each year. We are unfortunately unable to offer work experience at other times of the year.

Learn more about work experience at Northern Stage

Photos from our Work Experience weeks in 2022

A group of young people doing work experience. They are sat in a theatre auditorium learning how to operate pyrotechnics.
A work experience participant learning about the fly floor
Work experience participants being taught about sound
An audience in a performance space. There's a disco ball and purple lighting. In the background, young people on their work experience programme operate the sound and lighting.
Young people on their work experience programme working on the cues for a theatre show. They are in darkness lit by a small table lamp.
A group of young people doing work experience. They are gathered around a sound board with one young person operating the board. A technician showing a young person how to operate a lighting board. A young person with a theatre technican teaching them how to write cues on a script.

Apply for Work Experience

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR WORK EXPERIENCE IN JULY 2026! APPLICATIONS CLOSE 1st MARCH.

The dates for Work Experience 2026 are:

6-10 July 2026 or 13-17 July 2026

If successful, you would take part in one intensive week from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

Before you apply:

We’ve created an application pack which we recommend you read through before starting your application form.

How to apply:

To apply to take part, please submit an application form.

If you would prefer to answer the questions verbally, you can send us a voice recording or a video recording of your answers to workexperience@northernstage.co.uk. If possible, please try to keep your recording under 3 minutes.

When you’ll hear from us:

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 1st March and we will send you an acknowledgement that we have received your application shortly after this deadline. If you haven’t received an acknowledgement email from us by 6th March, please get in touch as we may not have received your application.

We will let you know the outcome of your application by Easter break.

Please note that due to a high volume of applications, we’re unfortunately unable to offer a placement to everyone who applies.

If you have any questions, please email workexperience@northernstage.co.uk.

Alex Tate
Read more about Alex's story

From Work Experience – to permanent member of staff!

At age 18, Alex took part in Northern Stage’s Work Experience programme to gain insight into the world of technical theatre and backstage roles. After enjoying the one-week intensive programme, he was motivated to apply for the ‘Creative Venue Technician’ apprenticeship with us. With the support of The Mackintosh Foundation who funded the apprenticeship, Alex joined us as a Regional Theatre Technician Apprentice in 2023. After completing his apprenticeship (passing his exams with flying colours), Alex is now a permanent member of staff at Northern Stage.

Read more about Alex's story

We recognise the underrepresentation that exists within our sector, and we’re committed to breaking down barriers to entry and one of the ways we strive to achieve this is through our Work Experience Programme. We therefore welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and any other protected characteristic to apply to get involved in our Work Experience Programme.

If you are a young person, teacher or parent/guardian who’d like to know more, please email workexperience@northernstage.co.uk.

Sign up to our Mailing List

If you’d like us to keep in touch about future opportunities to take part at Northern Stage, please fill in this form to sign up to our mailing list.

If you have a specific enquiry, please get in touch by emailing us at takepart@northernstage.co.uk or call us on 0191 242 7205.