Wish 11 – Leeds Heritage Theatres puts young people at the heart of creative careers

Leeds Heritage Theatre’s innovative work experience program offers young people a chance to feel inspired and valued as they explore various arts industry roles. Through practical activities and direct engagement with employees, students will gain confidence and motivation to pursue a creative career.

Delivered at Leeds Grand Theatre, during one whole week, students explore the myriad job roles that make theatre possible; from technical roles to front of house and lesser-known administrative roles that are imperative to the success of Leeds Heritage Theatres. The project sheds light on non-performance roles, through first-hand involvement and conversations with industry experts, as well as in-depth tours of Leeds Grand Theatre and City Varieties Music Hall, celebrating the heritage of our venues.

Under the expert guidance of our in-house Technical teams, students design lighting states, drive the desk and immerse themselves in theatre both on and off stage. With our Communications team, students develop social media campaigns, run photo calls and post live on Instagram stories. Even roles such as HR, House Management and Finance are explored through Q&As and practical tasks, showing that there really is a role in the arts for everyone.

Careers support programme

LHT’s Work Experience programme is part of their Careers support programme, which also includes Careers Workshops, classroom resources, and interviews with team members. Please have a look at the Careers page of our website for complete details.

What this means for young people now:

Real exposure to the entire theatre ecosystem, from performance to technical and administrative roles, aims to spark curiosity and excitement about many pathways in the creative industry.

• Hands-on learning, such as lighting design, driving the desk, or creating live social content, provides practical skills that are useful right away and also vividly demonstrates what those jobs look like day to day.
• Personal development is built in, so students recognise their own strengths and decide where to grow. Drama exercises and reflection form the core of the week, helping students feel ready for future study or work.
• Connections and confidence come from working with staff teams and visiting historic venues. The report and ongoing programme show that this experience genuinely shifts how young people see their future options.

Since its first pilot in 2023, the programme has engaged 75 young people, demonstrating its relevance and power to inspire future creative careers in Leeds, making a meaningful difference in how participants view their options.

How to get involved or find out more

If your school or college wants to offer meaningful arts work experience or if you’re a young person curious about creative careers, reach out now to join this exciting opportunity and start shaping your future.

Bookings for 2026 are open now. Email for details, or explore the Careers page on our website to see the full range of support, including workshops, classroom resources and staff interviews.

Young people have access to a wide range of work experience, employment and volunteering opportunities.