Theatre work experience in Year 10: is it possible?

By Catriona Davies

Everyone in theatre will tell you that work experience is the best way to get your first foot in the door. It looks great on your CV, helps you judge if this really is the career for you and if you’re really keen, you’ll want to start showing your enthusiasm as young as possible. But are there barriers to getting your first work experience in Year 10 or 11?

Legal headaches such as health and safety issues, insurance restrictions and needing Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for all staff who come into contact with children can put theatres off taking on school pupils. But despite the hurdles, when we threw the question of school work placements open on our website, we received an enthusiastic response from young people and theatres alike.

Those young people who had secured work placements at 15 or 16 found them to be hugely rewarding, and theatres welcomed interest from young people with genuine enthusiasm.

Shakespeare

Sophie Willis, who did a week’s work experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Year 10, said: “I absolutely loved it! It was the best week I’ve ever had. I had to badger them until they finally gave in and offered me a place.”

Shannon Gibson Durr said: “I did a two-week Year 10 work experience in a tiny community theatre.

“I did a bit of everything, from building and painting the set, helping to make a table fly and begging and borrowing props and costume, to making tea and a bit of admin.

“I think being 15 meant there were things I wasn’t allowed to do, but it’s always worth trying.”

Glamorous

Don’t expect to be given the most glamorous jobs. Those who get the most out of their work experience are those who are willing to just watch and learn when there’s nothing hands-on to do, do menial tasks, and stay a bit late if necessary.

Peter Morgan, who did work experience in a local theatre in Year 11, said: “It was a great experience, but it should come with a bit of a warning, you have to totally commit to it.

“You have to work some mad hours and be willing to stand around for an hour or spend ages looking for a prop in a dusty cupboard. To get the most from it you have to be willing to do whatever is asked of you.

“It was a great test for me to make sure that working in the theatre was definitely what I wanted to do. If you ask questions, engage with the crew and really work as if you were in the house crew you will get a lot from the experience.”

Legal

Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA, the Professional Lighting and Sound Association and board member of National Skills Acadamy for Creative & Cultural Skills, said businesses may find it impossible to take school pupils because of the legal and insurance restrictions, but amateur organisations would be more willing.

“Many amateur companies willingly take on volunteers of all ages to help with every facet of the production including lights, sound, set etc,” he said.

“The other advantage to this route is that you get good practical knowledge of working with people outside of a stressful commercial environment.”

Bev Paskell, a technician at the South Holland Centre in Spalding, Lincs, said: “We do offer work experience to Year 11s, but they go through an interview process.

“We look for people who have sourced their own work experience and have a general interest in theatre.

Height

“We naturally don’t let them work at height or in situations that is out of their capability, but we will supervise them in running LX desks and Screen Films that are appropriate to their age.

“We try to give them a look at all aspects of theatre from the technical right through to admin, box office and maintenance.”

Ellen McPhillips, theatre company director, at Southend Theatres, which takes work experience pupils from the age of 14, said: “Because of health and safety, anyone under the age of 18 can only watch and learn when they are backstage.

“One of our technical team will give them a tour of the stage and explain everything but they cannot carry out most activities.

“They are not restricted in other areas though, and they will be given time in every department from marketing to box office, catering and backstage.”

Interest

Salisbury Playhouse also offers work experience to those over 14 who show a genuine interest in theatre. You can download an application form from their website, and candidates may be invited to an interview.

Louise Dancy, participation coordinator, said: “Under 16s cannot take part in all activities and under 18s are limited in some, but placements are arranged to accommodate this.”

Mic Pool, director of creative technology, West Yorkshire Playhouse, said that generally work experience in technical and design areas is only available to over 18s, but that the community and education departments offered placements to younger high school pupils.

He said: “These are pretty general placements with routine office tasks and some involvement in community arts activities.”