ATG Announces New Technical Apprenticeship Programme

The UK's largest theatre owner and operator, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), will pilot a groundbreaking technical apprenticeship programme in its theatres for the first time this year.

Supported by the Creative Employment Programme with Arts Council England Lottery funding, the programme will begin with four apprenticeships employed from September 2013 to August 2014. Each Apprentice Theatre Technician will be based at one of ATG's renowned regional receiving houses: the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Richmond Theatre, the New Wimbledon Theatre, and the Churchill Theatre in Bromley.

John Young, Head of Technical Services for ATG, said: "Technical apprenticeships mark an important change in our recruitment process. We need to address a growing skills gap in the technical sector of our industry, with new recruits possessing the right skills. There can be no better way of developing dedicated technical staff at entry level than by creating a learning culture - passing on the essential skills we require as an employer."

The programme has been developed in partnership with North Hertfordshire College, White Light Ltd and theAssociation of British Theatre Technicians, and apprentices will benefit from training and work experience with the partner organisations as well as with ATG, reflecting industry practice in the comprehensive partnership working that already exists in this field.

Apprentices will have access to world class opportunities, using the most up to date equipment and techniques not available in colleges or universities. Throughout the year, they will gain the EDI Level 2 Certificate in Technical Theatre Support, and the assessment criteria for this qualification will form the backbone of practical assessment to be woven throughout the full programme.

Nick Potter, Managing Director (Venues) for ATG, said: "We are delighted to be leading the industry in bringing back apprenticeships to the heart of the theatre business. This will provide great opportunities for future employees to benefit from practical, live learning, and gaining knowledge from our experienced technical team."

Co-founded by Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE in 1992, ATG has grown to be the UK's largest theatre group with a total of 40 venues in Britain and on Broadway and an internationally recognised award-winning theatre producer with co-productions in New York, across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Itis also a leader in theatre ticketing services (ATG Tickets).

ATG Production output is currently at its highest ever presenting an average of 30 productions a year, demonstrating the unique quality and range of ATG Productions in a diverse number of theatres and markets worldwide. ATG has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in Britain and internationally and has subsidiary offices in London, New York and Sydney.

ATG production companies and partnerships include Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP), First Family Entertainment (FFE), Jerry Mitchell Productions, Tali Pelman Productions, Jamie Lloyd Productions and Theatre Royal Brighton Productions.

Current and recent ATG co-productions include Macbeth starring James McAvoy, The Hothouse starring Simon Russell Beale and John Simm, Passion Play starring Zoë Wanamaker, Posh, Jumpy starring Tamsin Greig andConstellations starring Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins (Royal Court at the Duke of York's), Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Legally Blonde the Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show, Goodnight Mister Tom, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, Lincoln Center's production of South Pacific starring Samantha Womack and Paulo Szot, All New People starring Zach Braff, Ghost the Musical, Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker!, Being Shakespeare starring Simon Callow, The Misanthrope starring Damian Lewis and Keira Knightley, West Side Story, Elling and Guys and Dolls starring Ewan McGregor.

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