"Theatre is addictive and once you have it in your blood, it’s really difficult to leave"

Hometown
I’m from Morecambe, Lancashire and now live in Nottingham

What do you do?
Administration officer, Nottingham Playhouse

How long have you been at it?
Two-and-a-half years as an administrator now

What was your very first role in theatre?
Assistant stage manager (ASM)

What else have you done in theatre?
* Stage manager at Bloomsbury Opera, London and Man in the Moon Theatre (now closed, but previously a famous fringe venue), London
* Deputy stage manager (DSM) at Nottingham Playhouse, Dukes Theatre, Lancaster’ Anvil, Basingstoke, Theatre Royal Windsor, Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke, Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Octagon Theatre, Bolton.
* Assistant stage manager at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and Dukes Theatre, Lancaster

Have you got qualifications?
Diploma in stage management and technical theatre (LAMDA)

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Various roles, mainly theatre but toyed with being a train driver or a farmer

What do you do all day?
I check emails, sort out post and then make calls. As I start earlier than most people in the theatre, I have a bit of quiet time early on to think. I get a lot of visits and calls from staff, actors, agents, creatives etc
I also look after the computers, which can be time consuming.
I do contracts, deal with recruitment, and sort out stationery.
I feel like I spend a lot of time troubleshooting both technology and people!

What’s the best thing about your job?
Working at the Playhouse with people I like, having the opportunity to still be involved with theatre and have a family life too

And the worst?
The office is too hot

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I would like to run/own my own venue

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
My background in stage management has meant that I understand how the building I work in works. I think that having some arts experience, be it with a local amateur company or youth theatre helps, as you can understand more and be more familiar with the ‘artistic temperament’.
I have done a short course in arts administration, but this was after I already had the job.

As for getting into stage management, you can either train, as I did, or learn on the job, which takes longer. You will need to spend time as a dresser, operating a follow spotlight or on the crew, but once you are working in a theatre and your face is known, then you are far more likely to be considered for better jobs. It meant I could cross over from stage manager to admin.

You also need to be prepared to work very hard and move house a lot. But theatre is addictive and once you have it in your blood, it’s really difficult to leave.