"It is never too late to work in theatre"

Hometown
Born in Wirral, now living in Sheffield

What do you do?
Line producer at Sheffield Theatres

What was your very first role in theatre?
Assistant to chief executive (of Sheffield Theatres)

What else have you done in theatre?
I started off as assistant to chief executive, then became assistant to the artistic director. Next came programming and planning coordinator (programming the visiting companies as well as working on our own productions), production coordinator (dedicated to our own produced work) and finally in 2007 I became line producer (responsible for putting in place/overseeing all the elements of each production). I have worked since 1993 for Sheffield Theatres.

Have you got qualifications?
A teaching certificate and an administrative diploma

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I was a teacher

How did you start working in theatre?
I spent a year looking through arts jobs in the Guardian, cutting them out and keeping them in a scrap book and seeing what qualifications may enable me to get into the arts profession – which is why I chose a year-long administrative course.

Then I got a job at the regional arts board (now called Arts Council) which gave me a really good grounding in arts funding and all the different arts organisations in the regions. I then took the risk of leaving to take on a maternity cover at Sheffield Theatres.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A nurse (well, the matron)

What do you do all day?
I’m frantically busy working on each and every current and future production (sometime even on past ones!), dealing with agents, creative team members, venue managers and promoters, working through contracts and liaising with members of staff.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Working with the people who create the work on stage artistically

And the worst?
Not having enough time!

What’s your dream job in theatre?
To be in charge of the artistic side (though I would also like to be a deputy stage manager)

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
It is never too late to work in the arts/ theatre. I came to it as a second career after having had a family and am proud of where I am in my career. A lot of skills are transferable and then you can learn the specific theatre-based skills as you go along.

Energy and enthusiasm and initiative get you a long way, but don’t expect to get rich and don’t expect a 9-5 job. Even starting off by working as a front of house usher or box office assistant can lead to a really good theatre career – if you are keen and hard-working.