"I worked in other sectors mainly to pay my way through college, but always wanted to be in theatre"

Hometown
Born and bred north east

What do you do?
Production/administration assistant at Northern Stage

What was your very first role in theatre?
I worked as a box office assistant at Northern Stage for a year and also previously worked on theatre productions as a volunteer

Have you got qualifications?
HND in drama

Did you work in another industry before the theatre?
I worked in sales previously

How did you make the move to working in theatre?
I worked in other sectors mainly to pay my way through college, but always wanted to be in theatre. I looked for theatre jobs via the internet and local newspapers and I was lucky enough to find the box office position at Northern Stage.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actor

What do you do all day?
A normal day involves answering calls and emails about technical details for our stages from theatre companies who will be bringing shows to the theatre. My desk is in the technical/stage management office which is at stage door. From here I greet the new arrivals and collect the post and parcels to distribute throughout the company. I am responsible for the paperwork for incoming shows, updating the files with their technical requirements. I am required to take the minutes for the production meeting and other managerial meetings.
During our productions I find accommodation and transport for the actors and crew as well as buying props. I also detail with venue hire for our smaller spaces, corresponding with potential clients for parties, conferences and small scale performances.
On a weekly bases I input the technicians’ working hours into a database for the accounts department. I have to update the tax, insurance and MOT of the company vehicles. An added job for me is the advertisement screens in the foyer. I design and create the slides which advertise our up and coming shows.

In my last role as box office assistant I spent the majority of my time in the box office taking telephone and face-to-face bookings and giving out information on shows. I had to research forthcoming shows so I could provide information to the customers, usually using the internet but the tech and booking departments also provided us with information.

I was responsible for keeping the leaflets in the foyer stocked and up to date and for emailing weekly sales figures to the theatre companies who were working with us.

If we had a show to prepare for we usually begin at 5 or 6pm. This gave us time to print the tickets and organise them into envelopes for collection.

Once the performance had begun we usually stayed open for a minimum of 15 minutes in case any customers arrived late.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The people I work with and the people I meet from the visiting companies.
I also enjoy to opportunities the theatre has provided me to be creative, working on the advertisement screens and I am about to start some photography work for the theatre too.

And the worst?
The usual–when there is not enough time in the day to do all of the small jobs that need doing

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I would like to work within the stage management team

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Make contact with the theatre you are interested in. If you become known to the theatre they will think of you when looking for new staff. Also try looking for volunteer projects, work experience and participation group projects. All of these are great areas to be spotted.
If the company don’t know you want to be involved with them then they will not offer you work.