Drama Practitioner

I was always interested in performing, but wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to drama school. What I do know is that I love the working environment, the creativity involved, and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a show.

Hello, my name is Jasmine Hilton, and I work at the Birmingham Rep Theatre as a Drama Practitioner. If I had to describe my job in one sentence, I’d say: I inspire young people, create and direct exciting shows, and lead on our social media.

I’ve worked at the Birmingham Rep as a freelancer since 2018 in various roles, and I’ve been in my current permanent position for the past three years. There’s no single route into this role, but having a strong foundation in performance facilitation and being able to work well with people, alongside creativity, adaptability, and resilience, is key.

Personally, I trained in acting at Birmingham Ormiston Academy, which gave me a solid grounding in performance and ensemble work, as well as an insight into the industry. While some people in this sector have studied Theatre or Applied Arts at university, others have come through more vocational or hands‑on routes such as youth assisting, community work, or freelance facilitation. It’s very much a blend of practical experience and academic learning. What matters most is being involved in the industry in some capacity, whether that’s volunteering, shadowing, or freelancing.

I started out in this sector as an actress, and after training in acting at BOA, I gradually transitioned from acting jobs and other sectors into youth assisting, then drama practice, and eventually becoming a Youth Theatre Director.

Currently, I work three days in schools and two days at the theatre. When I’m based at the theatre, I often do evening work and weekends, especially during rehearsal periods and show seasons. During our festival, I usually work extended hours. In a typical week, I plan acting workshops for schools. When I’m in schools, I design sessions based on their curriculum to support learning, whereas at the theatre I plan sessions around a show, which might involve movement and character work, eventually leading to me directing the production.

I feel very fortunate in my job, as I get to witness the growth of the young people I work with and see the results of the projects we create together, all while being creative and collaborating with so many different people.

My advice to anyone interested in a role like mine would be: get involved, make yourself visible, be enthusiastic and passionate, and gain as much hands‑on experience as possible — even if that means volunteering.