Government officials will NEVER ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call.
Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 or visit the ScamShield website if you are unsure if something is a scam.
Theatre Technical Director
Overview
Theatre technical directors turn creative stage visions into reality by engineering and managing all the lighting, sound, rigging, and scenery for live shows.
Description
- Transform artistic visions from directors and designers into practical, safe construction plans.
- Coordinate all technical teams including lighting, sound, carpentry, and rigging crews.
- Manage production budgets by tracking costs for materials, equipment rentals, and crew wages.
- Enforce strict safety rules during live performances.
- Fix technical problems instantly during live shows.
Entry requirements
- You need a Degree or Diploma in Technical Theatre, Stage Management, or Theatrical Engineering.
- Extensive hands-on experience in carpentry, rigging, lighting, or sound design is also advantageous.
Salary
$6,600 – 8,800
/mo
Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.
Trivia
Theatre technical directors manage "fly systems" that are big pulley mechanisms that can lift 1,000kg set pieces into the air in seconds, creating magical stage transformations.
What to expect
Master both engineering knowledge and people skills. You might have to tell directors why dangerous ideas won't work, while offering creative, safe alternatives.
Soft
skills
Quick Problem-Solving
Able to identify problems and proposes fixes and solutions while audiences wait.
Clear Communication
Able to explain engineering limitations to non-technical directors.
Crisis Management
Able to stay calm and execute safety procedures during technical emergencies.
Technical Design & Engineering
Familiar with using CAD software and engineering principles to create accurate construction blueprints from creative set designs.
Rigging & Safety Operations
Familiar with using pulley systems to safely hang and move heavy lights and scenery above stages.
Production Budget Control
Able to track material, equipment, and labour costs.
Hard
skills
"If you take away the cast, you take away the orchestra, I'm responsible for everything else. I'm the first on the ground and the last to leave."
Mark Henstridge, Technical Director
Our Grandfather Story
Frequently asked questions
Stage managers run schedules and call cues for actors during shows. Technical directors figure out how to build sets, rig lights, and make the physical stage work safely.
They're the bridge between both. They must understand artistic visions from scenic designers, then use construction skills, maths, and engineering to build them safely.
Since it's live theatre, technical directors and their crew rely on backup plans and problem-solving skills to fix issues seamlessly so audiences never notice.
Theatres are very dangerous with actors moving in darkness, heavy scenery flying overhead, and high-voltage lighting. They ensure no artistic idea compromises cast and crew safety.
It's a heavy mix of both. They spend hours doing budget calculations and CAD drawings, but also work on stage floors with drills and hard hats, physically building shows.