Producers make theatre happen. They are there at the seed of an idea and they nurture it all the way to the final performance. Meticulous planners, masters of money and management maestros, producers obtain the rights for a project, select and engage the creative team, negotiate and issue contracts, ensure legal compliance, create and manage budgets, book venues, plan production timelines and raise money. Being a producer is a high-pressured job, but it is also a hugely rewarding role.
Teachers often act as producers in schools, and acknowledging this skill is important. However, being a producer is a very real career prospect for our students, and engaging them directly and explicitly in this vital role is a critical lesson that should not be overlooked. Students with this initial understanding can then seek out pathways into the profession from organisations like Stage One.
Stage One is an organisation that helps people to get into producing. They have 40 years of experience supporting new producers, and offer many pathways into the profession each year. Joseph Smith, Chief Executive of Stage One describes how it is their desire to nurture the initial ‘instinct to organise, collaborate and ultimately put on a show.’ They achieve this by offering three main pathways:
Routes in
First, they generate an average of 10 paid placements across the UK each year, with opportunities to work in London theatres or regional theatres. Second, they run several workshops for up to 70 people looking to develop their skills as producers. Third, Stage One offer the Bridge the Gap scheme, a year long programme for people that have proven to be underrepresented in their other pathways.
If you teach students with an appetite for entrepreneurship in theatre, then a Stage One producer placement could be right for them. Over 125 paid placements in West End and regional commercial theatres have been provided by Stage One since 2006.
‘The placement scheme has been an invaluable experience, having a mentor and the support of Stage One has given me the confidence to ask the questions I would not have and accelerate my learning. I have had the opportunity to work on one of the West End's biggest musicals and have now accepted a permanent position,’ says Daisy Lee, a London Placement Participant from 2019/20.
These are competitive opportunities so the more experience the students can get before they leave school the better. The placements are then targeted at people with 1-2 years’ experience of producing for fringe venues. These are full-time roles with a fixed salary of £22,000.
Bridging the gap
In addition to the producer placements, Stage One has created Bridge the Gap to address the lack of diversity in theatre producing and support people underrepresented in their other development programmes. They tailor masterclasses to focus on career progression and skills development and these are led by experienced professionals. Each participant is matched with a mentor that supports their transition to commercial producing.
‘As a part of the Bridge the Gap programme I have met so many producers and been able to expand my network, which continues to grow. I've been able to establish my company and its mission statement, beginning to move from the subsidised to the commercial sector with access to an amazing network through Stage One,’ says Ameena Hamid, a Bridge the Gap Participant from 2019/20.
Networking workshops
Networking opportunities are at the heart of what Stage One strives to provide. We should never underestimate the importance making our students aware of the vital role a strong network plays in the theatre industry. Producers have to be the ultimate networkers, bringing together funders, venues and the creative team. Stage One provides three-day workshops that are a fantastic introduction to theatre producing for people at the very beginning of their journey as a producer.
In addition to the three-day workshops, and new for 2022, Stage One are collaborating with a regional theatre to provide a 2-day workshop about commercial touring theatre. They are also partnering with an Off West End venue to provide a 2-day workshop for producing a small-scale commercial show.
It is vital to encourage young people that being a producer is not only a viable career option, but also a hugely creative and rewarding profession. Pathways like those offered by Stage One are an essential gateway into producing that allow different people access to the industry so that they can shape the future of theatre.