"I love being a jack of all trades"

Hometown
Originally from Kinross and now living in Stirling, both in Scotland

What do you do?
Assistant technician, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling

How long have you been at it?
Almost two years

What was your very first role in theatre?
First role was as stage manager for a school show

First paid job was as pyrotechnician for Just FX for Classical Spectacular- at Royal Albert Hall. I was still a student at this time.

What have you done in theatre?
Whilst I was a student, I worked as an usher at the Royal Academy Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; was a technician at the Pleasance Below during an Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and worked as a production electrician during our own shows. I’ve been working at Macrobert since a few months after I graduated.

Have you got qualifications?
I have a degree in technical and production arts from Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and an HNC production and technical theatre from Telford College

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I worked at Asda to help pay for university, and then did temp work until I had enough theatre work to live on

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A policewoman

What do you do all day?
Nothing about theatre is typical. I work in a receiving house and so things vary from day to day. As a general technician I work in all aspects from the get in, flying of scenery, rigging lights and sound , operating the show and then tidying it all away again to start again tomorrow. We also have a cinema so I had to learn how to be a projectionist on the job. The day always starts with a good cup of tea though!

What’s the best thing about your job?
The variety of ideas and people who come through the door. The best thing you can say is that it is never boring.

And the worst?
The long hours for not brilliant pay, and not always being appreciated when you try your best to accommodate people

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I want to be a technician. At this stage in my career I am happy where I am. I love being a jack of all trades.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
If you enjoy what you do go for it. Get some work experience or a college course, and work your way into jobs. In this business it is all about networking and having the right skills. Or just being in the right place at the right time. It is not always easy but that is part and parcel of this career.