Performing on stage, managing productions, fundraising for the arts: there is no single route into a career in theatre. Yet for many people, taking that first step can still feel out of reach because of financial barriers, limited opportunities or a lack of industry connections. 

Our Stage the Future campaign is raising funds to support the next generation of theatre-makers through training, work experience, mentoring, apprenticeships and other pathways into the industry. 

And the impact of those opportunities can be life-changing. We spoke to three people whose careers have been shaped by experiences at CFT, and who demonstrate the many different futures a first opportunity can create.

For Olivier Award-winning actor, puppeteer and director Romina Hytten, the foundations of her career were built through Chichester Festival Youth Theatre (or CFYT for short). 

‘CFYT was my training,’ she says. ‘When Running Wild, which was originally a Youth Theatre production, transferred to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, I went straight into professional work.’ 

Since then, Romina has built a successful career performing around the world and appearing in major productions, including the West End's Life of Pi. 

Looking back, she credits CFT not only with developing her skills, but also with shaping her outlook on the industry. ‘Chichester taught me early on to learn from everyone around you and to keep learning,’ she says. ‘From the outside, theatre can feel intimidating, so any opening of those doors is important.’ 

That sense of community is something she still values today. ‘I love that this campaign says: come and connect with us and be part of this creative community. CFT is such a welcoming place. So many of my Youth Theatre friends now work here in a range of roles and seeing them thrive in their careers is amazing.’

While Romina's journey began on stage, Olivia Garner's route into theatre has taken her behind the scenes. 

Now one year into her two-year Assistant Production Manager Apprenticeship at CFT, Olivia is gaining specialist technical skills while learning how large-scale productions are delivered. 

‘It's hard to find opportunities where you can build technical skills while also learning how to manage a wider production,’ she says. Over the past year, she has taken on increasing responsibility and developed confidence in a fast-paced professional environment. ‘When I look back, I feel worlds apart from where I started,’ she adds. 

Alongside practical experience, Olivia has also gained qualifications, including technical drawing training, a key skill used to translate a designer's vision into detailed plans for a production. 

‘These skills can be expensive to learn,’ she explains. ‘The qualifications are expensive and many courses struggle for funding. This apprenticeship has allowed me to continue to build my skills and experience, learning from, and working with, a great in-house team as well as industry-leading freelancers.’ 

For Olivia, the fact that the apprenticeship is paid has been crucial. ‘If I wasn't being paid to learn, I couldn't be here,’ she says. ‘There are lots of opportunities that rely on unpaid experience, but having the financial support to train while you work is a gamechanger.’

Josh Vine's story shows how one opportunity can shape a career and eventually come full circle. After joining Chichester Festival Theatre as a Trainee Producer, Josh used the experience as a springboard into the wider industry. 

‘After the one-year traineeship, I had the breadth of knowledge to apply for other roles,’ he says. ‘Straight off the back of it I was working in a West End producer's office on new work and national tours.’ 

Today, Josh works as Individual Giving Officer (maternity cover) in CFT's Development team, helping to raise funds for opportunities like the one that helped launch his own career. 

‘I'm now working alongside the people I have to thank,’ he says. ‘It feels like a beautiful full-circle moment.’ 

For Josh, one of the most valuable aspects of Stage the Future is the way it highlights the huge range of careers that make theatre possible. ‘It supports early-career people on stage and off,’ he says. ‘It helps people access experiences they may not have thought were for them. That's so important.’ 

Through Stage the Future, CFT is working to ensure that opportunities to enter the industry remain available for future generations, helping more people discover that there is a place for them in theatre, whether on stage, behind the scenes or elsewhere across the creative industries. 

To find out more about Stage the Future or to support the campaign, visit cft.org.uk/stage-the-future.