"I think it takes time to create really good theatre"

Hometown
I was born in London, grew up by the Mendips in North Somerset and now live in Bristol. I have lived in Bristol for five years.

What do you do?
Self-employed theatre designer

How long have you been at it?
Just over a year

What was your very first role in theatre?
Scenic artist/prop maker

What have you done in theatre?
I’ve just designed the set and costumes for six White Horse Theatre shows

Other recent work includes:
* Stage and costume design for Caligula at the Union Theatre, London
* Director, designer and puppets for Minny Stynker’s Electrolux Nightmare, Bristol Old Vic
* Stage and costume design for A Bridge to the Stars and Red Sky at the Salisbury Playhouse

Have you got qualifications?
A theatre design degree from Nottingham Trent University and a theatre design postgraduate diploma from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
The usual part time work… bar work, market research, call centre and retail

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist, then an animator

What do you do all day?
Model making, research, drawing, collage, liaising with theatre departments, meetings with directors/stage managers/production managers, travelling on the bus and train, lugging around portfolios and models, shopping for costumes, putting costumes in costume stores/hire places, sourcing props, making props and puppets, doing maintenance on costumes, doing a bit of painting, overseeing set builds, liaising with costume supervisors, sitting in the auditorium during techs and dress rehearsals, talking to/measuring/reassuring actors, photographing shows and compiling images for my portfolio. (Busy then?)

What’s the best thing about your job?
Everything, so I would have to say the variety. Being your own boss is the best thing in the world and being able to manage your own time. I love the problem solving and creative thinking, as well as the hands-on practical side. It’s nice to have such variety. I never get bored. I like the quiet studio time, and then being thrown into a very intense production week. It’s an invigorating job.

And the worst?
It is very demanding on your time and you have to be 100 percent committed to it. There is a lot of travelling, and you end up spending a lot of money just by being away from home a lot of the time. The money is erratic, and you can often be poorly paid. You don’t get much time to see your friends.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I would like the opportunity to build up a relationship with a company or director over time, and together explore and build our own unique visual language. It would be lovely to be able to really start to create something special, and not always be so pressured with time and budget. I think it takes time to create really good theatre, and so often the creative process is forced and you have to churn things out to meet the deadline.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
For me, studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School was the best preparation I could have for working in the theatre industry. The school operates like a professional theatre and I got to design set and costumes for real productions. Design is only a tiny part of the job – you can only really learn what else is involved whilst doing it.

After I trained, I did quite a few jobs for nothing alongside paid jobs to get more experience and meet other theatre folk, which has been very useful. Everyone you work with is a potential good contact, so use that to your advantage.