By winning The Theatre Skills Award from amongst a very strong short list, Geoff was honoured in recognition of the debt the technical theatre sector owes to him as a theatre practitioner and trainer. Through his personal conviction and resolve Geoff has established a relevant, accessible and vocational training provision for young people wishing to commence careers in technical theatre.
A facilitator and training programme leader for the ABTT, the introductory training courses Geoff has devised distil a suite of vocational skills, to provide the essential grounding that ensures a new entrant to technical theatre will be safe backstage.
His work in establishing the content and delivery of this training programme throughout the UK - based upon vocational practice, deliverable in the work place - has created industry-recognised qualifications, very much in demand by employers for a new generation of technicians.
Furthermore, having established this initial entry-level training, he has continued to develop the framework and maintain its relevance; most recently, in response to the demands of employers, incorporating the training into a Technical Theatre Framework Apprenticeship.
On winning the award Geoffrey said, "The inspiration came from Tony Bond who organised technical training for the five national companies during the late 1990s. I asked Tony how this training could reach a larger audience, in particular freelancers and provisional technicians, which is how, through the ABTT, we have the awards training we know today. I am very surprised but greatly honoured to receive this award."
Summing up the achievement, Robin Townley, CEO, ABTT responded, "Much of Geoff's work has been undertaken on a voluntary basis and the training would not exist without his dedication. I am incredibly pleased that Geoff's tremendous contribution to training in technical theatre has been acknowledged by this very deserved award."
The Awards, which recognise organisations and individuals working to support young talent to build careers in the creative sector, were presented at CC Skills' annual Award Ceremony, held this year on Wednesday 4 March at the organisation's Backstage Centre training facility in Purfleet, Essex.
The other shortlisted nominees were Philip Crawford (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast), John Young & Stuart Graham & Zoë Briggs (Ambassador Theatre Group) and Nolan Pearce (City College Plymouth).
(Jim Evans)
