What jobs can I get with a theatre degree? 🎭

We all dream of walking the red carpet as an actor…

But have you considered all the people behind that moment?

For example:

• Directors

• Camera operators

• Talent agents

• Gaffers

• Event coordinators

• Set designers

• Makeup artists

• Public relations professionals

All of these roles can be very different, but they may also share a common background: jobs with a theatre degree.

If you have a theatre degree, consider these 6 types of roles you can do both within and beyond the arts field.

Is performing your passion?

Some jobs with a theatre degree may be obvious…

• Stage actor

• Film actor

But also think about the performing skills you honed alongside acting. Did you spend a lot of time in the dance studio? Accompany singers on the piano? Host a radio show or podcast for your school? Consider the following specialties:

• Professional dancer

• Voiceover artist or voice actor

• TV or radio broadcaster

• Theatre musician

All of these jobs can have VERY different paths, and many successful theatre artists work in several specialties.  

Any good performance depends on lots of support work offstage and offscreen.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

If you've done any of this work, you can find jobs with a theatre degree, such as:

• Theatre or film & TV director

• Stage manager

• Stagehand or film crew

• Playwright or screenwriter

• Talent agent or casting director

• Film or TV producer

But wait, there's more! Depending on your other areas of study, a wide range of supporting roles may be available.

With a background in music, you might consider working as a:

• Sound designer or operator

• Songwriter or music composer

If you also have experience in the visual arts, you might consider jobs like:

• Theatrical hairstylist

• Makeup artist

• Costume designer

• Set designer

• Lighting designer or gaffer

• Camera operator or cinematographer

Meet Taio, who is about to complete his undergraduate theatre degree.

Ever since grade school, he’s been part of every play, either up on stage or keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. In college, he wanted to improve his singing for musicals, so he’s been taking singing lessons and studying music production as part of his theatre degree.

He’s started auditioning for professional musical theatre shows but has only landed one job so far. What other job(s) should he consider applying for?

Is theatre your passion, but you want a regular paycheck? Or do you want to share your love of the arts?

Jobs with a theatre degree can also include:

Acting coach or vocal coach

• Drama teacher (may require an additional degree/certification)

• Theatre professor (requires a master’s degree or Ph.D.)

• Community arts coordinator 

Other jobs support operations at an arts venue or arts company:

• Arts administrator

• General manager

• Marketing coordinator

• Artistic director (may require additional degrees, such as an M.B.A.)

Jobs with a theatre degree go way beyond the arts and entertainment industry!

As a theatre student, you’ve probably developed transferable skills in:

• Communication and storytelling

• Creative thinking

• Event coordination

• Crisis management 

• Visualization

So, you may want to apply these skills in jobs like:

• Public relations specialist

• Flight attendant

• Drama therapist (likely requires another degree or certification)

• Fundraiser

• Event planner/coordinator

• Public speaking or voice coaching for business clients

The entertainment industry has a lot of gig work: 

• Seasonal productions

• Quick one-off pieces, such as commercials

• Individual shows (running from days to years!)

• Short-term consulting, as for choreographers

Many theatre artists make a living by putting together several different jobs at a time inside and outside the industry. They often find jobs through an agent or theatre organizations. Since they work with many people on different projects, networking can also lead to consistent work.

For work outside of theatre, they may look in more typical job-searching places, such as Indeed or LinkedIn.

Quiz

Meet Hannah, who finished her theatre degree a couple of years ago. She has been finding work in voice acting and plays, but in some months, she can barely pay her bills.

Photo by Madrona Rose on Unsplash

While Hannah wants to keep taking acting gigs, she also wants to have a more steady income. When she searches on a job listing website for "jobs with a theatre degree," a couple of nearby jobs come up. When she searches for "communication skills" and "creative thinking," she finds many more options.

It's time for your next scene. Break a leg!