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Theater requires you to embrace diverse perspectives, whether you’re performing on stage, directing a production, designing costumes, or managing lights and sound. It’s an art that calls you to step into another person’s shoes—not just emotionally, but culturally and socially—to create authentic and compelling performances. From actors to stage designers, directors to production assistants, those working in theater must engage with people from a wide range of backgrounds, broadening their understanding of different experiences and storytelling traditions. One of the best ways to develop these skills is with an international theater internship in a city known for the stage.
An AIFS Abroad internship will simultaneously expand your cultural and social perspective while helping you to hone your theater skillset. AIFS Abroad offers incredible opportunities for internships in some of the world’s best cities for the performing arts, so here are our top cities for theater internships!
Want to set the stage for a successful career in the performing arts? Explore AIFS Abroad’s top cities for theater internships!
1. Dublin
Storytelling is at the heart of Irish culture. Ireland’s capital city of Dublin is renowned for its playwrights and writers such as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan, Marina Carr, and William Butler Yeats. One of the city’s greatest attractions are its famous theaters including the Abbey Theatre (Ireland’s national theater), the Gaiety Theatre, and 3Arena. Dublin boasts a highly active theater community for actors, writers, producers, stagehands, and other theater staff. Its theaters are numerous and there are tons of lesser-known gems that offer valuable internship opportunities for budding theater professionals. With an internship in this city, you’ll have the opportunity to build a robust professional network in an international community while you learn the skills that will help you get in the theater spotlight!
In your free time, you’ll be able to attend performances and enjoy the history of some of Dublin’s most famous theaters. There’s so much more to enjoy beyond the city’s Thespian opportunities, like Dublin’s famous St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle, that will transport you hundreds of years into the past. The city also has other smaller attractions like the Little Museum of Dublin and the Museum of Literature Ireland—both offer unique insights into the city’s history and its people. As Oscar Wilde said in The Happy Prince and Other Tales, “Travel improves the mind wonderfully.” Take his advice and improve your mind with a theater internship in Dublin!
2. London
London has been a global center for Theater for centuries, where Shakespeare rose to fame. Whether you’re an aspiring actor searching for the limelight or a backstage producer, England’s capital city is an unbeatable choice for your theater internship. This city immerses you in an environment with some of the world’s most famous theaters, including Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. As you work your way up in the industry you can use these theaters as a goal symbolizing your future success, allowing their renown to inspire you to greatness. At your internship in London, you’ll have the opportunity to gain mentorship from industry experts and build your skills, whatever they may be—production, scenic design, stage management, directing, or customer service. “A dream itself is but a shadow,” but a theater internship in London is so much more!
Outside of your theater internship, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the other reasons people come from cities all over the world to visit London. Dive into medieval history with a visit to the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St Bartholomew the Great church. Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the London Eye or gain an expansive view of world history at the British Museum. In London, you can watch and listen to all the live music you want at trendy jazz bars and local pubs, or larger venues like The Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena. As the famous quote goes, “A bad day in London is better than a good day anywhere else.” Discover all the good days in front of you with a theater internship in London!
3. Madrid
Madrid is an international hub for theatrical performances, including Flamenco, circus acts, opera, classic plays, and much more. The city is filled with theater opportunities, and it has a long history of theatrical tradition, including zarzuelas, a renowned Spanish opera, that have been performed in Spain for centuries. While you can find international influences and a diverse multicultural community in Madrid, the city’s theatrical offerings are unique and will expose you to a cultural community you can’t find anywhere else. In the city, you’ll learn the skills you need to pull back the curtain on a successful career. Working closely with mentors, you’ll learn how to stay calm and collected in an industry that’s known for its last-minute surprises. Launch your career in theater with an internship in Madrid—no rehearsal necessary!
Madrid’s performing arts may be incredible, but that is just one piece of the cultural pie. The city is also famous for its fine arts museums that house masterpieces by famous Spanish artists like Francisco Goya, Diego Velázquez, and Pablo Picasso. When you go to Madrid, you’ll see the artistic flare penetrating the architecture of the streets and buildings—the Royal Palace of Madrid, Palacio De Longoria, and Plaza De Toros Las Ventas are just a few examples. While you walk the streets, you’ll inevitably understand why the locals are known for their passion and liveliness, and who knows? Maybe some of that theatrical energy will rub off on you!
4. Sydney
Sydney’s most notable landmark, the Sydney Opera House, stands as a testament to the city’s dedication to theater. Sydney is filled with a strong performing arts scene that includes major theater companies along with many smaller, mid-sized, and independent companies that add an innovative and up-and-coming energy to the culture. People considering a theater internship in this city will find there are a wide range of options depending on your specific interests within the performing arts. There’s opera, Shakespearean theaters, dinner theaters, musical theater, community theater, avant-garde theater, and so much more. As a theater intern in Sydney, you can dive into a specific niche within the industry and learn the inner workings of a small or independent theater company, getting experience with the diverse responsibilities that keep these companies operating.
Sydney isn’t just known for its spotlight—it’s also famous for its weather! The pleasant climate and consistent sunshine make this city an excellent place to live and enjoy outdoor activities. If you want to spend free time as an intern relaxing on the beach and listening to the waves crash, Sydney has you covered! Or get between the waves to enjoy some of Sydney’s iconic surf. Athletic interns can play volleyball on the beach, go for runs in the park, or join an intramural sports team. With a theater internship in Sydney, you’ll find no end to fun activities to enjoy!
Looking to impress employers with an international theater internship? Connect with new cultures and develop your career simultaneously with AIFS Abroad!
An international theater internship is an incredible way to gain hands-on experience while immersing yourself in diverse cultures across the globe. AIFS Abroad provides unparalleled opportunities for aspiring theater professionals in some of the world’s most exciting cities for the performing arts. With inclusions such as housing, insurance, career readiness programming, excursions and activities, on-site staff, and emergency support, you’ll have a stress-free global education and professional development experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the theater industry with an internship abroad!