UK - Offering considerable hands-on experience and the first steps into a technical career in the arts, applications are open again for Lighthouse Young Technicians, organised by Lighthouse Poole arts complex. It is a nationally recognised training course for young people aged 13-19 eager to get to grips with lighting, sound and stage management in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings.
“Since its launch in 2018, the Young Technicians course has proven to be a valuable, real-world route into a career in technical theatre,” says Charles Shenton, Lighthouse creative engagement producer.
Guided by industry specialists in a structured 12-week course, the budding technicians navigate all elements of technical theatre to gain the experience they need to pursue a future career, working alongside all technical departments in the build up to opening night of Sleeping Beauty, this year’s in-house produced family pantomime.
“As a young person making your way in theatre, it is very important to do what is right for you,” says course tutor James Smith, technical director of Sleeping Beauty.
"There is no right way to start a career in technical theatre – for some the answer is university, for others it could be an apprenticeship, or a job at their local theatre where they can build their skills. All roads will end in the same place where the aim should be to produce good-quality collaborative entertainment.”
The course costs £150, although bursaries are available, and thanks to generous funding awarded by the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Lighthouse is now in the position to offer more bursary spaces than ever before.
“Cost should never be a barrier to accessing the arts and there are very few courses like this available in this country,” adds Smith. “The students get lots of hands-on experience and, crucially, it’s real-world training in a multi-venue arts facility working on shows and events indoors and outdoors.” Applications (learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk) are open now until Friday 11 October.
