Name Beckz Smith
Age 20
Hometown Swindon/Bristol
Where did you do it?
Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
How did you make it happen?
I spoke to Andy Hill, the theatre director of the Wyvern, during a post-show discussion and mentioned that I was interested in learning more about how a theatre works. He then got in contact and put me in touch with the backstage team who needed stage hands during a travelling show.
Why did you do it?
As part of my A-level drama I had to direct a piece and create the lighting plan. This was new to me so I was really eager to get some experience and see how a show fits together. It was actually paid work, which was also beneficial as you can never have too much money.
How did you get there?
I walked
How long did it last?
I was only needed for two evenings
How old were you?
18
What did you do?
We had to get the show in and out. This meant unloading the lorry and rigging everything into the theatre. It was manual work and involved a lot of lifting, pulling, holding, tying, securing and moving.
The following evening everything had to be taken out and packed back up into the boxes and put onto the lorry so it could move on to the next venue.
What did you learn?
I learned the importance of communication in this line of work. The touring company was Russian, so everything had to be communicated through signs and signals. Getting a show in and out involves team work; you always need to be aware of everyone’s positions within the space and know what is to be done.
I had never considered how much work goes into a show behind the scenes. I don’t think anyone can realise how hard it is until they have lifted a row of lights onto a lorry or carried out the roll that becomes a sprung floor. It opened my eyes to the range of jobs to be done even before the curtains go up, let alone when the production is in full swing.
What was the best thing?
Getting the show out paid really well because you have to know where everything must go. Seeing the stage set and knowing I played a part in it was also rewarding.
Proving the men wrong was fun. Some of the Russian crew said “No women. Heavy” or laughed when female crew members came to the van. They tried to give us light items like rocking horses and chairs to carry, so it felt great when we worked faster and harder than some of the men and proved their stereotype wrong.
How would you advise someone else to get themselves some work experience?
If you want to work in a theatre then speak to people already working there. The key is to be enthusiastic. Even if there is no work currently, people remember enthusiasm and might get in touch when they have jobs (volunteer or otherwise) available.
Try to get booked onto a tour of the theatre as it shows dedication, gives you a chance to ask questions and lets you ponder which area you would like to get involved in.
There is no harm in asking.
What would you do differently if you did it again?
I would try harder to remember the nicknames the crew had for tools and areas of the theatre as it was like they were speaking a different language some of the time.
