Before I got involved in opportunities around the arts sector, I decided to do some research into how the 'backstage' elements worked because, as described in
Unit 1 - Part A, this was my first idea for an art form to explore.
I got in touch with the education team at the Mayflower Theatre, the third largest theatre in all of the UK, and was lucky enough to receive a response and get the opportunity to go in and chat with Community and Education manager, Sara Scott.
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Animated diagram from S1E2 that I used to visualise what I'd
learnt as if a classroom chalkboard. |
I learnt about what happens not backstage, but 'back-backstage' as it were, in the office buildings at a big theatre. I was told about the differences between a standalone showcase theatre and a producing theatre, as well as all the departments involved (Technical, Financial etc.). I give a lively explanation here:
(S1E2 - 4:42)
I also took the time to explore different careers in the arts that are involved within the creative process
(S1E3 - 1:35), as well as asking my Gold Arts Award interviewees what they thought was valuable about learning from others (
S1E9 - 6:40).
After all this research, it was finally time to look for an opportunity in the arts to get involved in, so I contacted local theatres to see if they had anything on offer.
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Painting the set for 'Our Town'
S1E3 |
I got an exciting reply from Maskers Theatre Company, an amateur local production company who were working on a production of '
Our Town'. I got a chance to go along and paint some of their set (
S1E3 - 6:27), all the while learning about their unique creative process on a tight budget.
Then, I visited the theatre company again, this time at the exclusive auditions for a production of '
Wuthering Heights'. (
S1E3 - 7:37) << In this clip, I talk through everything the director relayed to the auditioning cast (commitments, rehearsal schedule, pace of the show, costume etc.), and from what I then considered strict rules, got my first understanding of how tough the industry was.
Whilst I can look back now with hindsight knowing how hard-working everyone has to be in theatre, this was truly my first taste of that commitment people put into their crafts and it was an eye-opening experience.
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| 'Oliver!' - Mayflower SYP 2015 |
One of the reasons I can look back with experience now is because of how I got involved with the Mayflower Theatre again. Whilst, I was contacting the Maskers Theatre company, I also went back and forth with Sara Scott to ask about how I could get involved with a big theatre like the Mayflower. Luckily for me, the then recently formed Engage department hosted a huge summer youth project every year around July/August, and I bit the bullet by auditioning for their production of '
Oliver!'.
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'The Pirates of Penzance'
Mayflower SYP 2016 |
Being involved with Mayflower SYP is perhaps the most valuable set of experiences I've had, experience
s (plural) being because I have attended multiple years since. I got cast in the ensemble of '
Oliver!', was then a principal in the following year's '
The Pirates of Penzance' and am going back again for 2017 as a main role, which I'm delighted to have been cast in. I've also had the chance to perform onstage with West End/Broadway legend Earl Carpenter (
Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) by being involved with SYP, and the tremendous boost in confidence and inspiration all this has given me is priceless.
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The cast of 'An Evening with Earl
Carpenter' - 2017 |
Finally, there was one more involvement opportunity Sara told me about at the time, which was a week's work experience in the very Mayflower Theatre departments she'd detailed to me. Unfortunately, I was two years too young to get involved, but now, in 2017, I'm delighted to have been given a work experience spot for this summer, and I can't wait to get started on the week.
It's clear to me that even now my Arts Award has concluded, I'm still benefiting from the opportunities I got from partaking in it.
