"Try to find work experience opportunities but don’t do too much work for free "

Hometown
I’m originally from Sutton-in-Ashfield and I now live in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, both in Nottinghamshire

What do you do?
I work as an education development worker for The Palace Theatre, Mansfield for 26.5 hours per week, funded by the Arts Council England, East Midlands.

The rest of the week is made up with short term contracts, including working with Creative Partnerships BAM, ABC Arts (the community element of All Saints’ and The Brunts Specialist Arts College in Mansfield), County Youth Arts (Nottinghamshire County Council’s Young People’s Division) and Tangere Arts.

What was your very first role in theatre?
Theatre in education actor/workshop leader for Speakeasy Theatre Company in Leicester

What else have you done in theatre?
Amongst other things:
*I was development worker for Speakeasy Theatre Company for almost five years. I learned so much in that time working with artistic director Andy Reeves
* I was co-founder of ‘Act Up’ young people’s theatre, which ran for three years and was funded by the Neighborhood Renewal Fund through the Schools Development Support Agency
* I also founded, in partnership with 27a Access Artspace, and directed, Movers Theatre–an integrated theatre company for actors with and without learning difficulties, devising and performing theatre looking at disability issues. We were funded by Arts Council, Leicester City Council and The Chase Charity.

Have you got qualifications?
* BTEC National Diploma in performing arts
* Higher National Diploma in community performance (including technical theatre and mechanical media)

Did you ever not work in theatre?
No, but I have done jobs like private tutoring, market stall-seller, factory work etc when I’ve been in between jobs

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A theatre director. My mother delightfully reminds me that I used to ‘put on shows’ for a very kind and forgiving audience of family and a patient next door neighbour. I must have been a nightmare!

I discovered ‘proper’ drama when I attended youth theatre at Mansfield Palace Theatre at the tender age of 12 or 13.

In rehearsals I always used to think ‘wouldn’t it be simpler to do it this way?’ but never said anything. I’ve always had a passion for theatre to be more inclusive and to allow young people’s ideas and experiences to really come through. But I knew that no-one would listen to be until I was an adult!

What do you do all day?
Many different things, which is why it is so enjoyable. I co-ordinate a whole range of arts projects for children, young people and adults of different ages abilities and interests, from varied cultural backgrounds.
I work with excluded young people to explore new skills and achievements and encourage communication and development of emotional intelligence. I deliver workshops and employ other freelance professionals to deliver workshops. I direct young people’s theatre, promote performances, liaise with press, do administration and make things happen… well try to anyway. I’ll even sweep the floor if required!

What’s the best thing about your job?
Being freelance lets me work in a huge variety of roles in all sorts of different venues across the East Midlands. You can take the positives from each and not have to dwell too much on the negatives as that’s someone else’s job.

I also enjoy the challenges of marketing myself, meeting new people and working under pressure.

I’ve learned to be a problem solver and am now very good at multi-tasking.

And the worst?
Having to chase invoices! This only usually happens with county or district council run projects though–they have such a mountain of paperwork to have to deal with!

Oh, and also working odd and unsociable hours.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I think I have it. I have the opportunity to work with the best (David Johnston and Ava Hunt at Tangere Arts, for example)

But, having said that, in ten years time I would like to be managing a small studio space with a focus on young people’s theatre.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
* Firstly, go for it!
* Have confidence in your own ability and the possibility of what’s achievable
* Set aims, objectives, and achievable goals and don’t forget to take time out to celebrate your achievements before setting the next challenge
* Stay true to yourself and agree to disagree if needs be
* Try to find work experience opportunities but don’t do too much work for free
* Join a mentoring scheme. Creative Partnerships runs mentoring schemes where they pair up established experienced practitioners with those just starting out in their careers, the mentees receive payment for expenses and the mentors receive a nominal fee. Arts Training Central in Leicester also partner artists up to mentors on a voluntary basis or speak to your local Arts Council England office.
* Talk to everyone, however much more intelligent or experienced you may think they are. All of us have the ability to inspire and your ideas might just do that and turn in to a project.
* When something you do is a success, let the world know. When it fails, only share it with those that need to be informed, learn from it and do it differently next time. We all have horrible days where we just want the world to swallow us up swallow us up, but so long as no damage is done, it’s just a little dented pride. Just pick yourself up and start over again.
* Remember that everyone started somewhere
* Don’t wait till tomorrow, make things happen today