The agreement is designed to facilitate the exchange of contemporary and state-of-the-art techniques for running a successful and prosperous theatrical industry and establish a practice of exemplar training that can create a greater skilled workforce in theatrical production industries.
Tom Bewick, chief executive of Creative & Cultural Skills said: "By working cross-culturally, we are able to share the strong and specialised musical theatre skill set we have here in the UK with China. The new National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural aims to address the need for 30,000 skilled staff by 2017 by offering bespoke and endorsed training and qualifications. We are sharing details of this initiative with our Chinese counterparts. With the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching, it's important we have a highly skilled and creative workforce for not just the opening ceremony but for the whole Games as a major live event. The benefits of a UK-China cultural Exchange are limitless."
Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House and chair of the Creative & Cultural Skills added: "This is another important milestone in our relationship with the NCPA. We have already seen cultural exchange through backstage staff from the NCPA coming to the Royal Opera House and The Royal Ballet performing at the prestigious new venue last summer. This consolidates the commitment on both sides to developing backstage skills and crafts in world class venues."
Deng Yijiang, vice president NCPA added, "The theatre and performing arts are undergoing phenomenal development in China. The joint collaboration between NCPA, NSA and ROH is a new initiative, especially exciting as the NCPA opened just a year ago. We strongly anticipate that this collaboration will help fulfil the NCPA's current and long-term goals in building a skilled and experienced workforce and will create greater job opportunities.
"As we grow in confidence working together, we envisage expanding the opportunities in the future from backstage and technical training to other areas upgrading the skill levels in theatre generally, as well as nurturing the growth and prosperity of the performing arts in our two countries."
(Jim Evans)
