Breakthrough Traineeship – Trainee Theatre Technician, Bournemouth
About Breakthrough
Breakthrough is a 6‑month employability programme designed as a stepping stone to get you workplace experience and all-important employment skills. This short placement gives you insight into a future career in the Creative Industry, supporting your confidence and professionalism in the workplace, and helping you to break through into a career that matters to you!
Read more about Breakthrough here:
The role
The Technical Team is responsible for the day-to-day running of all technical requirements of a busy and varied programme including professional & amateur performances, workshops, masterclasses, conferences, and film screenings. This is a hands-on role providing the opportunity to learn alongside the small team providing high quality technical operation of the venue, and excellent technical support to visiting artists and clients hiring spaces within Pavilion Dance, whilst working within health & safety regulations.
This role will include:
- Learning to set up and run live performance and participation events and films at any location where activity is presented
- Learning to operate and programme lighting (using ETC EOS) and sound (using QLab + Allen & Heath) for a wide variety of events
- Assist external hirers with technical support, providing the best levels of customer service.
- Work with Front of House colleagues to set up spaces for classes/talks/meetings etc
- Ensure studios, workshops, stores, and stage areas are kept safe and tidy
- Clean, maintain and repair where appropriate all technical equipment
- Assist with any general maintenance of Pavilion Dance where appropriate
- Attend planning meetings and rehearsals where required
- Understanding and abiding by our Health & Safety standards, enabling and championing safe working at all times
- Contribute to PDSW’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact by embedding an approach of reduce, recycle, and reuse across all aspects of the role
- Participate in training sessions, staff meetings, and staff development
- Support the Technical Manager to log all equipment entering and exiting the building and maintain an accurate inventory of technical equipment
- Contribute to show reports and incident reports for the Pavilion Dance South West management
- Undertake such other duties as required within the general scope and grade of the post
Additional Information
- This post involves manual handling and lifting (approx. 20kg)
- This post involves working at heights (Theatre rig 5.5m)
- This post involves late night working, weekends, and Bank Holidays
The role will be based at Pavilion Dance South West, Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BU
Who we are:
PDSW believes that dance is for everyone. As a registered charity, we are dedicated to transforming our communities through dance. Based in our wonderful historic seafront building, just off Westover Road in Bournemouth, we have two dance studios for classes and rehearsals and a 197-seat theatre.
We give residents and visitors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole the chance to take part in dance and watch high quality, live or digital dance performances from all cultures. Our communities include local audiences, people living with disabilities or ill health, and world-class choreographers and dancers. We aim to welcome everyone by opening doors, deepening connections, and embracing diversity.
We are a creative centre of excellence for professional work and talent development across the South West and wider UK. Our aim is for all people and body types to be visible throughout our work. Our programme of live shows, community work and weekly dance classes are reflective of this goal.
Deadline for applications
The deadline is 11:45pm, on 27 July 2026
You will need to download the job description below and read it carefully, and review the eligibility criteria below to ensure you are able to apply.
You then need to fill out the form below to submit your application.
All of the job descriptions include an “Employers advice” section and we strongly recommend that you tailor your answers to ensure they cover that advice given for the specific role you are applying for.
You can apply for more than one role if you wish to, but you will need to submit separate applications using the same process.
We strongly suggest that you research travel options for the role before applying to ensure travel is feasible.
To be eligible to apply for a Breakthrough traineeship, applicants must:
- Be aged 18-25 on the 28 September 2026
- Have the right to work in the UK
- Available to start work on the 28 September 2026 and available for the duration of the placement (until 28th March 2027)
- Have no or little (less than one month) previous experience of working in an arts, creative or voluntary sector organisation
In addition to the above, applicants should also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Currently not in employment, education or training (NEET)
- Be disabled and/or Neurodivergent
- Have current or prior mental health issues
- Have experienced racism, homophobic or transgender discrimination
- Be a recent school or college leaver (A level or equivalent)
- Are struggling to find work due to lack of employment or training experience
Please note that this programme is not suitable for those on a degree placement year or an MA programme.
Download the full job description
This contains more information about the role, including advice from the employer.
Breakthrough 2026 Application Form
Contact us
If you are unsure if you are eligible, have any other questions, or need information in a different format, please email our Careers team:
FAQs
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If you have applied for a Breakthrough placement in a previous year and been unsuccessful, then yes you are very welcome to apply again if you meet this years eligibility criteria!
If you have already successfully undertaken a Breakthrough placement before, you won't be eligible to apply again.
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Please do. You will need to submit an application for each role you are interested in and should check that the travel to the workplace is realistic for you before applying.