At a time when the importance of training in the industry is much in the spotlight - with an emphasis not only on those joining the profession but also those with more established careers - this alliance heralds a new phase in each organisation's plans to raise industry standards.
BECTU, with project workers throughout the UK, identified in the ABTT a partner who - as one of the leading training providers - would deliver high quality, industry-recognised training, across the UK, to the benefit of its own and ABTT's members, as well as theatre in general.
The scheme will initially focus on implementing the ABTT's Silver Award in three regional centres: the South West, under the guidance of Martin Roberts, seconded to BECTU as a learning organiser two-days-a-week from his chief electrician post at Torquay's Princess Theatre; the North West, headed by BECTU learning organiser John Crumpton, a freelance audio visual sound editor; and finally, the Midlands, with ABTT Council member and BECTU learning organiser Sebastian Barnes, director of the Midlands Off Stage Skills Consortium (MOSC) and a skilled technical manager.
Commencing at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, on 17-18 March, with further dates scheduled at Wolverhampton Grand, Princess Torquay and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, the format is intended to rollout nationwide in the foreseeable future.
Overseeing the partnership's development for the ABTT has been its training co-ordinator, Geoffrey Joyce, and its new CEO Andrew De Rosa, who commented, "This alliance cements the ABTT's commitment to working with its established associates and complements our desire to build further relationships with other organisations, dedicated to the advancement of technical excellence in the theatre and performing arts. It also acknowledges the strength of the ABTT's training which is widely recognised as the industry standard."
BECTU's national official for education and training Kate Elliott replied, "BECTU has a long established relationship with the ABTT and welcomes the further development of delivering the ABTT's training programme to our members in theatres around the country. We hope that this pilot will lead to a long-term partnership in skills delivery.
"We recognise that this is a very important time for skills within the theatre and live events industry, with the new National Skills Academy for backstage and offstage skills and the new apprenticeships for the creative industries.
"Much time and effort has been dedicated to the development and agreement of the National Occupational Standards for technical theatre - of which both BECTU and the ABTT have been a driving force - and we look forward to working with the ABTT towards the better future of technical theatre."
This scheme will run alongside the ABTT's ongoing training programme.
(Jim Evans)
