"Chances are you won’t earn a fortune but you’ll have fun being a pauper"

Hometown
Leicester

What do you do?
Education officer, The Y

How long have you been at it?
Eight months

What was your very first role in theatre?
Understudy to First Elf in Santa Claus and the Video Games at the age of nine

What else have you done in theatre?
I’ve acted in 19 professional productions with companies including Speakeasy Theatre Company and Gazebo Theatre Company

Have you got qualifications?
A drama degree

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I worked part-time as a library assistant to supplement freelance arts work

How did you make the move to working in theatre?
I made connections through my freelance work, which I started when I left university

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actor (or a sweetshop owner, before I realised that didn’t mean you could eat all of the sweets)

What do you do all day?
I spend a lot of time getting in touch with schools as part of our Arts and Kids project. We have a partnership with a primary school so I sometimes deliver drama or contemporary dance workshops there or support fashion design, Kathak dance (a North Indian classical style), radio, poetry or storytelling.

I also run our art exhibition space in The Y Bar. I am in charge of our active arts programme, which includes delivering Inter-ACT, our drama class for 13-16 year-olds. I am delivering a theatre week this summer as part of a YMCA play scheme.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Variety. I have the opportunity to work in many different ways with a range of groups.

And the worst?
I don’t get to act anymore – but there’s always room for the job to expand and grow!

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Acting in the West End. Or more realistically, having my own theatre in education company (in which I can still do some acting).

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
If I can do it I’m pretty sure you can! Always be professional and don’t let people down who give you a chance. Successful artists always have a good reputation for being reliable so build yourself one. Chances are you won’t earn a fortune but you’ll have fun being a pauper.