Backstage Membership Courses
Applications are open to become a National Youth Theatre Backstage Member in 2024.
If you pass your backstage interview, you'll be invited to attend one of the below courses for 16-25 year olds.
After the course you'll become a Backstage Member and get the chance to gain experience on shows in leading venues, get free tickets and access free leadership training.
Types of Backstage Courses
Costume Design & Making
Format: 2 weeks full-time, 10am – 6pm
Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Dates: 5th - 17th August 2024
Price: £525
The costume course brings together the two distinct strands of costume-making and costume design in the theatre industry. You’ll be introduced to key skills with a range of practical exercises covering machinery commonly found in a wardrobe department, hand-sewing, garment-making, and more. For the course finale, you’ll work to create a cross-discipline immersive walk-through, taking responsibility for the design, sourcing and buying of costumes. Previous experience is not a requirement – as long as you arrive with a willingness to learn and “give things a go”, we can achieve anything!
A limited amount of accommodation is available to book through NYT.
Lighting, Video & Projection
Format: 2 weeks full-time, 10am – 6pm
Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Dates: 5th - 17th August 2024
Price: £525
From rigging and programming to lighting design, during this course you’ll cover a wide variety of the technical and creative aspects encompassing theatrical lighting. You will have access to a range of venues and learn how to transform the rigs to suit the task at hand. You’ll be introduced to the equipment and technology used within the industry and, with guidance from professionals, shown how to effectively utilise it to bring your designs to life. At the end of the course, you’ll work alongside the other backstage departments putting these new skills into practice, where you’ll design, rig and program the lighting for a collaborative piece.
A limited amount of accommodation is available to book through NYT.
Scenic Construction & Set Design
Format: 2 weeks full-time, 10am – 6pm
Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Dates: 5th - 17th August 2024
Price: £525
During this course, you’ll be introduced to all aspects of scenery, from inception of designs to realisation. You’ll be working in a professional standard workshop, learning Safe Working Practices as well as how to use various tools and utilise industry proven processes. You will visualise and design elements with the help of professional designers, then use your newfound skills in carpentry, scenic painting and props to create, install and demonstrate your work as part of a collaborative piece with other backstage courses.
A limited amount of accommodation is available to book through NYT.
Sound Design & Composition
Format: 2 weeks full-time, 10am – 6pm
Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Dates: 5th - 17th August 2024
Price: £525
This course takes you through not only the key technical skills you need to create sound design and compositions for theatre, but also some of the creative possibilities that will let you craft unique, immersive, subversive, emotive and expressive sonic experiences. You will be introduced to the equipment and techniques used in sound design, including having access to theatre spaces, a recording studio and sound design software. You’ll also be given a chance to put these elements into practical use, working in teams to create the sound design for an interactive installation.
A limited amount of accommodation is available to book through NYT.
Stage Management
Format: 2 weeks full-time, 10am – 6pm
Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Dates: 5th - 17th August 2024
Price: £525
A short course covering the fundamentals of the roles and duties carried out by a stage management team. You will explore the range of tasks that stage managers are responsible for whilst supporting a theatre production or live event, including communicating with each other and the wider team, prop-making, blocking, script work, information sharing, creative problem-solving and lots more! The course finale is an immersive walk-through in which you'll take on stage management roles to deliver an interactive experience for the audience.
A limited amount of accommodation is available to book through NYT.