Apply for Roundhouse Backstage Pass

Ever wondered how your favourite live music gigs come together? Do you know how many different roles are involved in your favourite concert or festival? Interested in working in the live music industry? Get a foundational understanding of all the backstage roles on offer and real experience working on live music events – from sound to light and stage. 

Roundhouse Backstage Pass is a three-month training programme designed to help young people aged 18–25 gain hands-on experience and insight into the technical and backstage careers that power live music events. This is an entry-level project aimed at those who have little to no knowledge about the technical and production space. Through practical workshops, teamwork, and real-world experience at the Roundhouse, participants will build employability, communication, and technical production skills.

The programme covers three key areas:

• Foundations: Understanding backstage roles, production flow, and communication.
• Technical Skills: Sound, lighting, staging, and safety.
• Live Experience: Real-life work experience within the Roundhouse Three Sixty Festival, portfolio building, and next steps.

By the end of the programme, you will get to try out roles and find out exactly which technical areas you’re most interested in exploring further.

What do I get by taking part?

By taking part you will learn to:

• Identify key backstage roles and explain how they interact to deliver live music events.
• Demonstrate basic technical skills in sound, lighting, and stage management.
• Apply safe working practices in live music event environments.
• Communicate effectively as part of a production team.
• Reflect on experiences to identify personal strengths and development areas.
• Develop employability skills including teamwork, time management, and adaptability

Do I need any experience to take part?

Not at all! This programme is designed for beginners, first-timers, and those with limited experience. 

How to join

Apply online by Monday 12 January, 9am using the form above.

The Roundhouse champions diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe in a just society and in the benefit for all gained from the richness of diverse experiences and expressions within cultural output.

Through its youth programmes, the Roundhouse actively seeks to increase diversity and address disadvantage and inequality. Under the provisions made for Positive Action in the Equality Act 2010 the Roundhouse may, in the event of identifying two or more candidates of equal merit, give preference to a candidate or candidates that are from a group that is disproportionately underrepresented or otherwise disadvantaged.

I’M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE PART…

If you need help to pay for things like project fees, transport or childcare, we can help. Find out how you can get support. If you are using a bursary to pay for the project, please ensure you arrange this with the Advice Base with plenty of time before the start of the project.

I HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

We are committed to supporting D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people, those with medical conditions, access requirements or any lived experience that may require adaptation, support or sensitivity. If there is anything you would like to let us (our youth workers, tutors or staff) know that will support your enjoyment and access, you can do so by emailing us at advicebase@roundhouse.org.uk, and we will contact you to discuss further how to best support your engagement.