Creative and Cultural Skills and Equity, two key theatre industry bodies, say:

Theatre sound technicians are responsible for all aspects of sound during productions, including controlling sound levels, sound reinforcement, sound effects, music and dialogue. They work closely with other members of the production team.

Sound technicians may be employed on a permanent or freelance basis by receiving theatres, producing theatres (reps) or touring companies.

They may also be required to design the sound for productions.

The specifics of the work vary enormously depending on the requirements of each production, company, venue etc, and the overlaps between the roles of sound designer and technician are often blurred.

A sound engineer/ technician may be supported by a sound operator, who is responsible only for operating the sound desk during the show.

Tom Marshall, 31, a freelance sound engineer, said the best thing about his job is “the adrenaline and excitement of live performance and the satisfaction of making something sound nice. Also, the audience’s reaction at a good show”.

He also loves the variety that working for himself offers. “There’s never a typical day. As I’m freelance, one day I could be mixing a band or concert, the next I could be rigging speakers in the rain, or sitting at the back of a dark theatre making sound effects”.