“It’s hard. When people ask what I’m going to do after school, I can’t always give them a straight answer. I know I want to work in theatre, but I don’t know what exactly that means yet – or how I’m going to get there.”

It’s a sentiment we hear time and again from young people. The passion is there – vibrant, determined, full of potential – but the route ahead? Not always so clear. While the pull toward creativity is strong, for many young people, the reality of forging a career in the arts can feel shrouded in a mist of uncertainty.

At Capital Theatres, we’ve made it our mission to change that. 

Through extensive research and collaboration with schools across Edinburgh, our Creative Engagement team explored how young people perceive careers in the arts – particularly during those critical years when subject choices and future plans begin to take shape. What we discovered confirmed what many educators and artists already suspect: a significant drop-off in Expressive Arts uptake beyond early secondary school. Not due to lack of interest or ability, but often due to a limited understanding of where these subjects could lead and an understandable nervousness about the uncertainty of entering an industry where just getting your foot in the door comes with a lack of clarity. 

Pupils who chose to continue with Drama often cited joy, creativity, confidence-building, and teamwork as core motivators. Those who opted out expressed concerns about performance anxiety, lack of alignment with their future ambitions, or uncertainty about job prospects in a seemingly unstable industry. This disconnect revealed something vital: for many young people, the phrase “career in theatre” still only conjures up the image of an actor on stage. But theatre is a world filled with roles – from technical production and design to arts marketing, producing, stage management, creative learning, and beyond.