Volunteering at the Festival

c.Kat Gollock
c.Kat Gollock

Every year, we look for enthusiastic and committed volunteers to join our team during the Festival (whether for the whole duration or for a few days). We're now recruiting volunteers for the 2023 Festival. If you're interested and our values and commitments align with your own, please email us at volunteers@imaginate.org.uk and we will get back to you soon.

We welcome volunteers from all walks of life. We particularly welcome people with disability, BPOC+, those from diverse ethnic communities and all those who feel they are not commonly represented in the arts sector. Our volunteers are the public face of the Festival; helping our school, family and delegate audiences at each venue, attending industry and guest events, and supporting the Festival team behind the scenes. 

In return for their time and commitment volunteers are able to see Festival performances, attend social events, and take part in a hugely exciting, creative and rewarding week. 

Volunteers are looked after by the volunteer coordinator who ensures they benefit greatly from their experience. These are some of the benefits mentioned by our previous volunteers:

  • Watch world leading theatre and dance for children and young people
  • Have an experience shaped to your specific needs to help maximise the opportunity for you
  • A chance to meet and socialise with other volunteers and artists from across the world.

"I just had to come back this year after having such an amazing time last year - the festival was one of the biggest highlights of my year! I can't stress enough what a good experience I have had. All of the Imaginate team are so friendly and welcoming. You weren't looked down on as a mere volunteer but they were just such a pleasure to work with, and so cheerful no matter what! It's so good that as a volunteer you usually get to see at least one performance of the show you're helping out with. Everything I saw was incredible and as a writer I've left very inspired. It is such a brilliant experience to put on my CV about front of house tasks, interacting with children and families etc.. I honestly had so much fun and I just want to say thank you so so much for putting this together and creating such an amazing festival and creating such a caring atmosphere for volunteers. Next year I'll hopefully have a full time job instead of being a student but I'm definitely going to try and book a week off for the festival next year!" (2018 volunteer)