The Theatre Hierarchy

A Collaborative Effort

Theatre (and all live entertainment for that matter) is a highly collaborative art-form, created through a partnership between the director, the designers, the technical staff, and the performers. As it is often said, "It takes an army." It is rare that a given element of what is presented on-stage is the result of the efforts of a single department or individual. There is frequent cross-over between individuals and departments that can make even the seemingly simple act of placing a functional radio on-stage a multi-departmental conversation and build.

As an unintended result, the inner workings of the theatre can often feel confusing or overwhelming, particularly if you are working with a theatre or artistic team for the first time. But the good news is, there is a standard hierarchy that helps govern these interactions.

The Typical Hierarchy

Generally, a job in the theatre will fall into one of these four (4) categories:

• Management
• Design
• Technical
• Performance

Over the remainder of this module, we will explore together the sub-categories, inter-relationships, and associated jobs for the management, design, and technical fields. We will not cover performance as a part of this class.

Below is a chart illustrating the typical hierarchy of the departments and positions that you will find within a given theatre production.

Important Note

The structure of individual theatres and productions can be unique, so this chart should be taken as a guideline rather than a rule. At smaller theatres, you may see one person doing many of these jobs. At larger theatres, there may be added assistants or other positions in between or in addition to those shown.  Jobs can be called by slightly different names. As a result of all these possibilities, make sure that you check-in (at least the first time) with each new theatre or production you work with so that you follow the proper paths of communication.