Stepping into a brand-new environment like with my time at Tinderbox Theatre Company can be nerve-wracking. I had accepted a place here without any prior understanding of how a theatre company works. Yet, I was excited to learn more about something that I enjoyed seeing. I can admit now that I had never stopped to wonder what took place behind the scenes at theatre companies until I came across this placement opportunity. I had accepted on terms that I would learn about the different components that helped make the company run smoothly. This included directing, technical theatre, sound design, social media, and financing. Personally, I was most excited to delve into the sound designing aspect of theatre shows since this was what my degree relates more to. I had not engaged in sound design which was about the art of theatre, so I was eager to learn how it differed from sound designing for TV and film. I was hoping it would give me more clarity in choosing a pathway after graduation.

Getting to grips with the other aspects of theatre I found quite difficult. Being thrown into a new environment with a new art medium that I hadn’t explored was overwhelming. However, after the first couple of weeks of feeling slightly lost I managed to apply myself I started to enjoy certain aspects more. For example, I garnered a particular interest in technical theatre when it came to the later stages of my time at Tinderbox. I was able to learn from lighting designers and sound operators by asking them questions. I was taking the initiative to learn more and get the most out of this experience. I struggled with getting to grips with the lighting design, so I decided to do some extra reading.¹ (Morey, 2014) This helped me solidify what I had been taught by the lighting designer and fully understand how to interpret a lighting plot and make cues accordingly.

Through this experience, I found that I find it hard to absorb knowledge when being told and shown at the same time. I find that I learn by making sure I have a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge which I can then apply to what I have done practically. Without going through the phase of being uncomfortable in a new environment and not understanding a lot of the technicalities, I wouldn’t have been able to find out that I enjoy technical theatre. In the future, if I was placed in a similar position, I would try and do some research before I enter new environments. It would be easier for me to build my knowledge on things I enjoy and am passionate about.

A time that I had to learn a new skill was when I had completed all my tasks for the day early. I headed back up to the main office and was consequently allowed to record footage of the actors and actresses at rehearsals for social media footage since the social media manager didn’t have time to. I had no prior experience to using a camera to record footage for social media use. I was given a couple of basic pointers on how to work the camera and I headed off. When I arrived at the rehearsal room, I was feeling quite nervous. I was aware that I shouldn’t get in the way of their work and interrupt their follow. I should instead try blending into the background whilst still managing to obtain footage that was immersive and gripping. I was filming for two hours and tried to get as many shots as possible so the editor would have a large selection of different shots. Through trial and error and the pointers I had previously received I managed to capture an array of content.

I knew that the editor wanted to merge footage of rehearsals with a previously recorded interview with the director of the play. From this, I gathered that the tone of the video would be dramatic and enticing to help ensure they were building an audience. Therefore, I decided to capture shots that included a lot of movement. These consisted of mainly wide shots of groups of people and their movements. I then moved on to the close-up shots of the hands, faces, and on occasion the director’s note sheets. I struggled with knowing what to film and what not to but after some time observing I fell into a rhythm and was able to capture footage that was used in many of the social media posts.

After I had recorded everything, I was able to see what shots were useful and what were not and how they were used. This time with the editor to see the behind-the-scenes of how the social media sector of a theatre company works was very insightful. This enabled me to have a better understanding of what I needed to record next time as I knew what material was being used for the final product. Through this, I have learnt that the use of social media to promote creative work is very important, especially as we are in a new digital era.³ (Gregory, 2008) Content that is produced and published through social media has a larger effect now than it ever has. Therefore, ensuring the content a company is releasing is on brand and enticing is necessary. Especially with smaller companies like Tinderbox as the number of tickets they sell has a direct impact on them.

In hindsight, after overcoming that challenge, I can walk away with a new skill in creating social media content for professional companies. I can identify what needs to be created to enable a more engaging platform. Now that I understand how to build a bigger long-lasting platform, I also understand why it is important. If I had not overcome that challenge and had not taken on the opportunity to film then I would not have developed new skills. When I started to gain more confidence, I also started to build stronger relationships with the people around me. Through this, I learnt that building relationships in the workplace is very important for maintaining a harmonious environment. It allowed co-workers to trust a placement student with tasks whilst also allowing me to present to them what I am capable of. I find that thinking ahead, this skill of being able to build connections with people will be useful for future job opportunities.

Throughout my entire work placement, I have faced challenges, as mentioned above. I feel that although I had struggled with being in new environments and having to learn new skills off the bat, I have managed to persevere. I found that what particularly helped me to persevere through feelings of personal inadequacy was extra work outside of the hours of my placement. Reading into things that I didn’t understand and using resources that had been mentioned by the directors. Through this, I was able to not only gain knowledge but confidence in myself and my skills. With this newfound confidence, I managed to get over the hurdle of feeling overwhelmed in a new environment. I was being more helpful and adapting to the pace of the workplace quickly. As someone aspiring to step into an arts industry, (preferably music) relationships are important. They are often relied on as they help build a community which is what the arts are predominantly about. ⁴ (Phillips, 2020) Therefore, if there are any forthcoming opportunities, I would take the initiative to put myself forward and demonstrate the skills I have. If there are any shortcomings in my skill set, I will put in the effort to make a start. Overcoming challenges allows the space to grow your skill set, find new passions and gain confidence. All of which are beneficial for personal and professional development. Learning this, in the future I will be more accepting of new challenges.

References

¹ Morey, M., 2014. Technical theatre: Bridging the gap between academic and vocational training while preparing students for careers and life. (Accessed: 01/03/24)

² Rhine, A., 2017. Theatre management: Arts leadership for the 21st century. Bloomsbury Publishing. (Accessed: 01/03/24)

³ Gregory, G., Healy, R. and Mazierska, E., 2008. Careers in media and film: the essential guide. Sage. (Accessed: 28/02/24)

⁴ Phillips, R., Seifer, B. and Brennan, M.A., 2020. CONNECTING INDUSTRY AND THE ARTS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Culture, Community, and Development, p.227. (Accessed: 02/03/24)

⁵ Gibbs, G., 1988. Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford Further Education Unit. (Accessed 03/03/24)