As a 17-year-old student at Tarporley Sixth Form, I’ve always had a deep interest in theatre. I’m currently studying Drama, Geography, and English Language for my A-levels, with hopes of pursuing a career in the film or theatre industry. However, despite my passion for the theatre, acting has never been my strength. I’ve always felt awkward and uncomfortable in the spotlight, making it clear to me that a behind-the-scenes role would suit me better.

In search of a work experience placement, I contacted Unity Theatre, and Emily Maguire, the Marketing and Digital Lead, responded positively. After a brief phone conversation, we agreed that I would be working behind the scenes with their marketing team. A couple of months later, the opportunity arrived, and I couldn’t have been more excited.

The journey to the theatre was quick, but I felt a bit nervous as I walked from the station. However, the moment I arrived and met Emily and the rest of the team, I immediately felt comfortable. They welcomed me with warm smiles, and Emily set me up with my first task: organising feedback from Unity’s recent Up Next festival. As someone who loves to organise, this was the perfect start. After a few hours of sorting through the feedback, I took a break and later joined the Rising | Pike Ake youth group for a workshop. The group, which collaborates with young people from New Zealand, spent the first hour learning about physical theatre with Eli Randle, exploring how we can use our bodies to express feelings about the climate crisis. The second hour was led by Ginni Manning, who introduced us to the power of writing as an emotional outlet. The workshop ended with an improvisation task on the theme of environmental change.

On my second day, I helped with outreach by messaging organisations about upcoming performances and promoting Unity Theatre. I found it fascinating to learn how the theatre ensures accessibility by offering BSL interpreters and audio descriptions, making performances available to a wider audience. Later, I spoke with Eleanor Manson-Sawko, the Executive Director, about how the theatre is funded, and I was tasked with organising surveys for audience members who had attended recent shows. In the afternoon, I worked with Luke Bryant, the Marketing Lead, to approach local businesses and ask if we could display leaflets to promote Unity Theatre.

Wednesday was a day of learning new skills. Emily asked me to edit interviews from artists who had performed at the Up Next Festival. Although editing was a new challenge for me, Emily made the process easy to follow, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the final results come together. In the afternoon, I worked with Xenia Bayer, the Technical Manager, organizing coloured gels for the lighting—a surprisingly therapeutic task!

Thursday was filled with more editing, fine-tuning the interviews I had worked on the day before. In the afternoon, I had the privilege of attending the technical run-through of This kind of Black by Reece Williams. Watching the rehearsal and feeling the energy of the performance was one of the highlights of my week. Between the technical run-through and dress rehearsal, Xenia explained the complex process involved in setting up the correct lighting and sound for touring shows, which I found extremely interesting and informative.

On my final day, I had the chance to write a grant entry for the Race Furniture competition, aimed at securing new seating for the theatre. Although I had never written a grant before, I found the task relaxing and a great learning experience. Reflecting on my week, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented and welcoming team. Every member of Unity Theatre made me feel comfortable and supported throughout my time there. This experience has solidified my desire to pursue a career in the theatre, and I’m certain I’ll be back for more in the future. Thank you to everyone at Unity Theatre for making this such an unforgettable experience!

 

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