Valley Community Theatre’s: 10 Best tips on how to get into theatre!
Man standing in front of an empty theatre stage, dreaming of a career in theatre
Introduction: Want to Get Into Theatre in Liverpool? Start Here
I know Breaking into the theatre world can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out. As a community theatre in Liverpool, we know how hard it can be to get your foot in the door — whether your dream is to act on stage or work behind the scenes.
That’s why I have created this guide with 10 actionable tips on how to get into theatre, based on what works in today’s competitive industry. If you’re local to Liverpool, you’ll also find suggestions on how to connect with theatres in the area (including us!). Whether you're pursuing acting, directing, lighting design or costume work, there’s a path for everyone.
FAQs – How to Get into Theatre
Q: How do I start a career in theatre with no experience?
A: You could Volunteer at local theatres as well as take beginner classes this would also give you the benefit of networking within your community. If you are in Liverpool, you can volunteer for one of our performances at the Valley Theatre just contact us here.
Q: Can I get into theatre without acting?
A: Absolutely! Theatre offers you the opportunity to do many roles including lighting, sound, directing, makeup, costume design, front of house, and more. It is important for you to explore these different roles and find what path you would like to take.
Q: Is Liverpool good for starting a theatre career?
A: Yes, Liverpool has a thriving theatre scene with lots of options for you to explore while trying to start a career here such as community theatres, touring shows, arts festivals, and institutions. These will all support your journey into the industry.
1. Study the Theatre Industry and pick you’re role!
When you are studying start off by understanding how the theatre world works. You can do this by researching different job roles such as acting, lighting, sound design, costume, stage management, and more. This will give you an idea of what role you definitely want to do. Each role has its own demands and opportunities, so it is important to research these roles well so you can pick one to focus on.
Once you've found the role you want to focus on now it is time to take a course or attend classes in your area. Whether that’s drama school, university, or local evening classes they will greatly benefit you with building the skills you need and help you learn the fundamentals of the role you want to do. By learning these fundamental skills, you will have a valuable edge in breaking into the theatre industry over others.
2. Set Clear Goals for Your Theatre Career
To set clear goals, define what you want to achieve such as musicals, Designing sets, Touring with a theatre company. This is important because it makes it easier for you to figure out the steps you need to reach your goal. It is also important to have specific ambitions/goals and write them down so you can remember them and revisit them regularly.
While setting your goals it is important for you to set both short and long-term goals. This will help you stay on track and motivated when your journey gets tough. You could also create a career map to outline the experience or education you need to reach each stage simplifying it a lot more for you.
Examples of useful short-term goals:
volunteer in a theatre production
join a theatre class
attend three performances this month.
Examples of useful Long-term goals:
enrolling in a theatre degree
landing your first paid acting or on-set job
3. See a variety of different theatre performances
Seeing a variety of different performances will inspire you to pursue your career as well as help you discover what interests you the most in theatre. Search for local performances going on in your area from large scale productions to small intimate ones.
While you attend a performance pay attention to key details such as the direction, set design, lighting, and actor performances. This is important as you will be able to see what makes them effective as well as what style speaks to you most, allowing you to implement some of what you see into your learning.
If it’s possible after a performance, try to speak to the cast and crew after the show to learn about their experiences and ask for any advice for your own learning development. This is important because the more you engage with the theatre industry you will learn more and be able to understand it better.
4. Gain Theatre Experience to Stand Out
It is vital to gain experience as it could be more valuable to an employer than qualifications in many cases. Employers want to know that you can perform under pressure and be a part of a team.
One of the best ways to start to gain the experience within the industry is to volunteer with local theatres in your area or with student performances or even school plays. You could even apply for apprenticeship/entry level opportunities in your area if you where looking more for a behind the stage role e.g. ushering, tech crew, or backstage assistants.
If you are in Liverpool, we at the Valley Theatre regularly accept volunteers for productions. Whether you want to act direct or assist backstage you can look into volunteering with us here for more information. Real-world experience will give you stories to tell in auditions and interviews, as well as practical skills you’ll use for the career you have ahead.
5. Network Within the Theatre Industry
Networking is a vital skill in any industry, you must learn this skill to gain a lot more opportunity than you would’ve had without networking. You’ve probably heard the phrase “It’s not just what you know but who you know.” Networking will grant you more opportunities to get auditions and backstage gigs.
There are different ways to network within the theatre industry such as:
join online communities and forums for theatre professionals in your area.
Attend networking events, acting workshops, and fringe festivals.
While networking makes sure you are introducing yourself to as many people as possible because even a brief, respectful conversation can lead to you gaining valuable contacts. Make sure you follow up with an email or social media afterwards to keep in contact with the people you meet.
6. Use Social Media Professionally
Social media is a powerful and important tool when you use it well. Social media allows you to showcase your work and build an online portfolio. You can also follow theatre companies casting directors and performers to stay in touch with the theatre industry in your area and know what’s going on.
While you are using social media make sure your profiles that are public are appropriate and present you in a positive light. You can share photos or videos of your performances (with permission), comment on industry news, and engage with other artists’ work showing you are active within the theatre industry to potential employers.
It is important to remember consistency is key. Make sure you post regularly and keep your bio updated with relevant contact info as well as links to demo reels or portfolios you have. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn are all useful platforms for you to use.
7. Create a Demo Reel (If You’re an Actor)
A demo reel is your visual CV as an actor. Your demo reel should be a short and sharp way to show your range and talent as an actor. It can also be used by directors and designers to show their work for directors and designers it’s called a showreel.
Your demo reel should include:
4–5 strong clips (20–30 seconds each)
A variety of characters and genres
Clear audio and video
Only your best, most polished work
If you don’t have any filmed performances yet create a couple of examples to show off your talent you can record a couple of monologues or scenes using good lighting and sound. To help you create your demo reel you can collaborate with friends to produce quality clips. Once you have completed your demo reel, upload it to YouTube and share it via your CV and on your social media accounts social media.
8. Stay Positive and Resilient
While you are on your path to get into theatre it won’t always be easy, you will face rejection, competition as well as times of doubt. But it is important to stay positive and resilient which will keep you moving forward.
To help you do this it is also important to celebrate small wins such as getting cast in a play, completing a class, learning a new skill, this will help keep you motivated. Another way to help you through your lows is to build a support network of fellow creatives who understand the highs and lows you will be going through.
The mindset you have matters a lot, it is important for you to stay positive and prepare for auditions. You can do this with techniques such as positive self-talk, breathe deeply, and visualising success. Remember if one opportunity doesn’t work out there will be another opportunity just around the corner if you keep going.
9. Always Look to Improve Your Skills
It is important to be constantly improving and learning new skills because being great at something requires you to be a lifelong learner. Whether you’re acting, directing, designing or working backstage you will always have skills you need to learn or master throughout your career.
To help you constantly improve your current skill set, asking for feedback after every rehearsal or performance will help you improve at a faster pace. You could also take notes and use them to reflect on what went well during your rehearsal and what you could improve upon.
Another way you could improve your skillset is by finding a mentor. Mentors are people with more experience in a field who can offer advice and guidance. Many educational theatres offer mentorship schemes or feedback sessions after shows so see if you have one offering this in your local area.
10. Contact and audition at local theatres
When you are ready to audition theatres in your local area are the best way for you to start your journey in the theatre industry. You should audition for theatre and community theatre shows that are on in your local area or apply for backstage roles you can also reach out about any other type of opportunity you would like to pursue.
It will help you out making a list of theatres near you and regularly check their websites and social media for opportunities to join them for a show/production. You can get in touch with them via email and attach a short CV or demo reel if you’re an actor.
If you’re in Liverpool looking to volunteer for a show, you can contact us at The Valley Community Theatre here. We’re always looking for passionate talented people to join our productions.
Conclusion: Ready to Get Into Theatre?
I hope this guide gives you the confidence and direction you need to get into theatre. By following these tips and staying committed I know you can pursue and achieve the career you want in theatre.
If you’re based in Liverpool and want to gain experience working on a production or show, we’d love to hear from you as we are always trying to build a network of local talent. If you would like to contact us click here.