"Recently this has included water, sand, feathers and a dead pig"

Hometown
Originally Hitchin, Hertfordshire, now living in Manchester

What do you do?
Lighting, sound and audio visual technician, Greenroom, Manchester

How long have you been at it?
I have been a technician for 14 years. I have been with my current employer for two years and full-time for a year.

What was your very first role in theatre?
Performer/ maker/ curator

What else have you done?
* Performer and technician for numerous independent live art events and performances, including Vision Collision, Slinky and Tropical Hot-dog Payday
* Technician for Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
* Freelance technician at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and around Manchester
* Artist technician and project manager for Idea, an independent electronic arts organisation

Have you got qualifications
A degree in fine art from Manchester Metropolitan University

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I did technical stuff at independent club nights, independent live art events and at Idea, an arts co-operative

How did you make the move to theatre?
It was a natural progression from using theatre venues, organising and sometimes being my own technician to starting to find part-time jobs as a technician and eventually going full-time.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist and a scientist

What do you do all day?
My roles include:
* lighting and sound design
* stage management
* guidance and mentoring to emerging performers
* media production (mostly video)
* attending meetings/ planning forthcoming events
* managing the building: we have a very flexible space that is used in different ways, such as a gallery, installation, theatre, live art, dance, music gigs, film screenings, experimental sound, body art and club nights
* rigging sound lighting and audio visual equipment
* operating lights and sound during shows

What’s the best thing about your job?
Having creative input to shows (from a technical perspective)

And the worst?
Cleaning and derigging messy shows! Recently this has included water, sand, feathers and a dead pig (but not all at the same time)

What’s your dream job in theatre?
My current job: working with makers and performers to come up with a final production

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Get real experience doing this kind of work so you know what works for you in practice. Your past experience becomes your toolbox of ideas and solutions which feeds into your new work.

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