This free exhibition of some of the most up-to-date lighting and sound technology in the world provided an excellent opportunity to explore the knowledge and skills required to make a career in technical theatre and live music. It was attended by students, young people and the generally interested - as well as industry professionals.
Also exhibiting were Skills Academy Industry Members Stage Technologies, White Light, BECTU (the Media & Entertainment Union) and the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT). During the course of the two-day event, the Skills Academy also welcomed two new technical service provider Industry Members: the Production Services Association and Stage Electrics.
For the Skills Academy, PLASA Focus was also a warm-up for autumn's Offstage Choices programme, this year expected to expand to 30 events across the country. Hosted by Skills Academy member venues, each event will offer an unprecedented number of young people the chance to explore the possibilities of a career 'offstage', plugging a skills gap currently standing at 6,000.
Also, in the name of encouraging careers backstage in live music and technical theatre, the Skills Academy's business development manager Robin Auld opened the first day of PLASA Focus with a highly successful seminar on the benefits to the industry of the forthcoming Backstage Training Centre based in High House Production Park (Purfleet, Essex).
This will be the first building of its kind in the world, a huge space fully equipped to exhibit and develop the world's best technical equipment for theatre and live music. It will also act as a training centre allowing learners and young people access to an industry-spec space within easy reach of London, the East of England and the rest of the UK. The Skills Academy will be 'turning the turf' on this building project at an afternoon event supported by White Light and Stage Electrics on 19 May 2011. It is expected to open its doors in May 2012.
(Claire Beeson)
