On Wednesday 13th March, over 130 secondary school pupils aged 12-14 took part in a day of practical workshops, interactive demos and Q&A sessions to explore technical careers at the National Theatre and demonstrate the variety of skills in demand in the creative sector.
Creative Choices offered the opportunity for young people to learn about backstage and off-stage roles from top industry professionals across lighting, sound, set design, prop-making and stage management, as well as the huge value of science and mathematical skills in a theatre.
The day included:
A stage management and technical demonstration on the set of Tartuffe followed by a Q&A with different departments on stage
Practical workshops exploring Lighting, Technical Skills, Mathematics of Design, Costume and Make-up
Backstage tours to glimpse behind-the-scenes at the NT, including set-building, props-making and preparation for shows
An opportunity for teachers and pupils to speak to NT Learning and technical staff about career paths and apprenticeships
Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning said, “We’re excited to welcome so many young people to the National Theatre’s Creative Choices Day. The application of science, technology and mathematics is integral to many aspects of theatre-making and we hope to open their eyes to the vast array of technical and backstage roles. The creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK and it is vital that we do our part to inspire young people to explore creative careers and ensure that the pipeline of talent into the creative industries are not diminished.”
NT Learning has a range of programmes and workshops for young people to take part in and discover more about the variety of roles in a theatre, such as Make Theatre Days, How to be a Stage Manager and Getting Started with Set Design. The Young Technician’s Programme offers young people the opportunity to develop their skills and learn about technical roles. The NT’s Apprenticeship Scheme will be open for applications in the summer. More information can be found here.
The National Theatre's Partner for Learning is Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Creative Choices is supported by The Edge Foundation.
