The creative sector is a precarious industry to work in at the best of times, particularly those wishing to pursue a career in front of or behind the scenes. Increasingly, only those with a safety net can afford to pursue a career in the arts and as a result those entering the industry from a BAME background is much less than those from more affluent positions. A 2018 report found just 4.8% of workers in the music, performing and visual arts sector are from a BAME background. More recently, a 2022 report by the Office for National Statistics revealed that the numbers of working-class actors, musicians and writers has halved since the 1970s.
Young Technicians Course
Launched in 2021, the Young Technicians Course is a free 12-week introductory training course which offers 16–21-year-olds the opportunity to develop practical skills in stage management, lighting and sound with industry professionals. The training is offered in partnership with RADA and Backstage Niche, an organisation set up to help to ‘represent the diversity of life behind the curtain.’ No experience is necessary, and the aim of the course is to provide access to those young people who show an interest and enthusiasm for technical theatre, but may not have had the opportunity to explore this previously. The scheme is led by Constance Oak, a freelance stage manager and facilitator alongside a range of technicians and designers, to help the young people on the course to experience a broad range of skills and disciplines.
Under-representation
The course aims to address the imbalance and under-representation of backstage professionals from the Global Majority; lower socio-economic backgrounds; those who are care experienced; those who identify as female, non-binary, transgender; those who are deaf or disabled; and those from areas of low arts engagement. It also prioritises applications from young people in Newham and the surrounding East London boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Havering.
One of the aims of the course is to provide young people with a group of technical artists/technicians and mentors who are representative of the communities in Newham and East London. In response to the current situation in the creative arts employment market, another main aim of the course is to offer an opportunity to those who are currently underrepresented in the industry.
Stratford East stresses the importance of the course opening the door to participants as well as being led by facilitators from similar cultural and social backgrounds: ‘We believe it's crucial to create opportunities for young people to engage with artists who culturally and socially represent them. The programme was born out of a real crisis within the backstage industry. There was a massive talent drain from the theatre industry post-Covid. This, and a real lack of diversity within the industry, has led to us creating our own programme to nurture and develop the next set of backstage artists.’ An important element of the course is the partnership with Backstage Niche, a company set up in 2020.
Course details and content
The 2023/24 course ran on Thursday evenings with some Fridays and Saturdays from November 2023 to February 2024 at Stratford East and RADA. Backstage Niche offered support in terms of sourcing top notch backstage artists to deliver the work and used their own connections within the industry to offer opportunities to the young people involved. Working alongside RADA meant the group had access to their excellent training facilities (they offered their space and teaching expertise for this year's iteration) as well as clear training pathways after their completion of the Young Technicians course. Alongside learning about technical and design skills, participants also have the opportunity to hone skills in teamwork, collaboration, public speaking and presentation skills, backstage etiquette and community building.
The participant experience
Those that have taken part in the Young Technicians' Course have clearly found it an overwhelmingly positive experience and many have gone on to study technical theatre or work in the industry. It is clear that the course can complement the studies of participants with one young person reflecting on the use of the course to go alongside their academic studies. ‘The course has supported my studies in A Level Drama where I'm doing tech. I've gained a community and friendships. I always feel comfortable in the environment created at Young Techs,’ says one participant.
The practical skills gained in a broad range of areas is of benefit to those who complete the course, with another participant commenting on how the training connects to employment. Another young person cites: ‘I wanted to expand my horizons in sound/lighting/SM and gain skills to help me get a suitable job. I understand how everything works now, compared to when I first started. I feel more confident to talk to other people now. It was an eye-opening experience.’
Previous participants have gone on to accept work experience and work professionally in the industry. Two graduates are currently working as freelance technicians whilst another is working at The Kiln Theatre in Kilburn. Stratford East also offers every young technician paid work experience. This includes working on their Young Company production, an opportunity to work as a casual technician on in-house productions and other paid work experience with key industry partners such as White Light.
Applying
Applications for 2023/24 are now closed but after three successful courses, applications for 2024/25 will open in May/June 2024. Stratford East also offer three strands of programmes for aspiring actors – Junior Youth Theatre (for ages 11–15), Youth Theatre (16–21), and the Young Company (18–25). These are all training initiatives with the goal of supporting young people with the skills they need to succeed in the performing arts industries and beyond.
The theatre also offers a programme dedicated to nurturing the next generation of theatre and event producers called the Young Creators as well (for ages 18–26). At the moment the course is only offered to young people from Newham and the surrounding boroughs – however, Stratford East do work in partnership with other organisations such as Icon Theatre (based in the Medway) offering technical training insight days to their young people.
Spotlight on Industry Professional Constance Oak© COURTESY CONSTANCE OAKConstance Oak trained as an actress but has most recently worked as a freelance stage manager and facilitator. Constance has worked for a number of major venues including The Royal Court, National Theatre and the Young Vic. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she facilitated a number of online projects and continues to work closely with organisations such as Backstage Niche and PIPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts).
Spotlight on Industry Professionals Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng from Backstage Niche© COURTESY CONSTANCE OAKBackstage Niche was set up in 2020 by Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng, a Rose Bruford Stage Management graduate who is a also a trustee of the National Youth Theatre and sits of the board of governors for Rose Bruford. Professionally, Darkwa-Ohemeng has worked at The Royal Court, Young and Old Vic, The Soho Theatre and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. She is currently Assistant Company Manager at The Aldwych Theatre working on the show Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Darkwa-Ohemeng says: ‘I started this company because the representation of me was absent backstage. The first aim of the company is to inform and encourage the younger generation from various Global backgrounds to consider the exciting possibilities of a career in backstage theatre. Planting a seed in their minds at a young age and exposing them to the vibrant world of theatre which exists behind the curtain and not just onstage.’
stratfordeast.com/get-involved/young-people/young-technicians