Creative Choices (formerly Offstage Choices)

Each autumn, thousands of young people get the chance to meet and learn from in-house creative professionals at leading theatres and live music venues throughout the UK.

Through hands-on workshops and talks they gain an insight into the range of careers available offstage, in technical theatre and live music/event production, as well as an understanding of how to get into these industries. They  get to experience everything from lighting and sound to marketing and front-of-house.

These events support our popular young people's resource websites getintotheatre.org and getintolivemusic.org. These websites show young people the range of careers available in theatre and live music, current training, workshops and job opportunities and also information about qualifications.

The Stage provided us with a great review of last year’s 2011 events. Brian Attwood, editor at The Stage newspaper said: "It was a marvellous example of building on the lessons of the previous year and a great template for any venue seeking to get involved with the scheme".  You can download a PDF version of the article here.

In 2011, 32 theatre and live music venues opened their doors to over 2650 young people in what was the most successful Creative Choices (formerly known as Offstage Choices) to date! If you would like to get involved with Creative Choices 2012 please contact us for more information.

You can take a look at the executive report for last year's events here.

Now in its fourth year this innovative event aims to widen its reach even further by engaging over 9,000 schoolchildren and up to 100 venues in 2012.

If you would like to support us and help expand our worthwhile work there are some great sponsorship opportunities. Please email tina.giddings@ccskills.org.uk for more information.

"I didn't realise how interesting backstage work was! Being on stage is amazing and I think that having a job offstage can be just as rewarding. This experience has definitely opened my mind to different careers in theatre, and not all the 'fun' stuff happens on the stage. Thank you for the opportunity!"

Gracie Gardiner

"Absolutely amazing just reinforced my desire to become a theatre technician. Loved the day and the chance to talk to real techys thank you."

Ryan Parsonson

"I loved seeing the 'makings' of the theatre- it was so interesting to see how a stage is created and worked to produce the shows to such a high quality! I'd like to have learnt more about the literary department, but overall it was a great day! :)"

Rachel Sawyer

"I didn't realise there were sooo many different jobs in theatre that had nothing to do with just acting. I loved the sessions where we designed the costumes and looked around the theatre. I think that I'd like to find out more on the arty jobs in theatre - like the painting of the scenes or costumes and make up :)"

Eleanor Lavery

"I thought the offstage choices day was brilliant. I learnt so much I didn't already know. I thought a theatre was mostly made up of actors, but most of the people in the theatre are actually have different jobs, like lighting, sound, costume and managing. This trip has taught me so much I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go."

Patrick King

"I loved the offstage choices event! It was really great to see how much effort was put into the shows backstage, and how much detail they went into, like how they studied how a pepper would land if it was a dropped on the floor and changing their prop to suit it! It was a really amazing experience that has given me a huge insight in to the world of theatre! Thanks again for taking us! :)"

Emilie Witt

"I really enjoyed it, and it was really interesting too. Favourites were the costume workshop, the AMAZING backstage tour, and talking to the guy who makes the wigs - 60 hours for one wig! Amazing!"

Lauren Chinery

"The national theatre was just so amazing, I really enjoyed it! it was a great opportunity for me. It was really interesting to find out that everything thing that’s made is made in the theatre! i learnt so much from that one trip that I really didn’t think i was going to! I would just love to go again! thanks Mr cox and Miss turner for taking me! It’s really had a huge impact on me! :)"

Sammie Peel, student