There is no one way to become a producer! You do not need any specific qualifications but training does help. Either formally at schools and colleges where theatre producing courses are now more widespread, or working directly in the industry in a multitude of other roles to gain experience of the theatrical process. An eye for detail, strong people management, good communication skills and a personality that thrives on risk are just some of the helpful attributes.

A lot of people become producers from other roles in the theatre:

• If you are a writer, you might have found it easier to sort the logistics of getting the show on stage yourself. You have therefore produced your own show.
• If you are a director, you may have found yourself working closely with the producer, getting involved in the financial budgeting of the production and the relationship with the theatre. Or you might have been doing all these things yourself!
• If you are an actor, you may have found that you wanted more control over the production and preferred the action off stage to on.

At Stage One, we feel that in order to produce efficiently and effectively, the role should be separate to other creative roles of your show. We aim to support artists who wish to transition to producing or understand the need for a producer on their production.