Across two weeks, Northern Stage welcomed 32 young people aged 14-18 through its doors to gain hands-on, practical insights into the world of technical theatre. Throughout the week, participants also worked together towards a final showcase where they could put their newly developed skills to practice.
We caught up with some of the participants to see what drew them to take part in our work experience programme and how they found their time learning the ropes of backstage theatre with us.
This is Libby’s story.
What motivated you to take part in work experience?
“It was just the idea of getting the experience in a completely new field. I’ve done a bit of it before in school, but it’s never been to this extent – it’s never been as professional. Obviously I knew a bit about Northern stage and how it was such an inclusive and welcoming environment, so I just thought it would be a lovely space to come and learn a new skill where I could be free to make mistakes, but also free to learn more. Yeah, it was just a welcoming experience.”
How have you found working with others on the show?
“It was hard at first because in a room full of new people, what do you actually say first? But when people started building up the courage to actually talk, it felt like it reflected on all of us and I started building up that confidence and courage as well. And it was just great to see how many people have different ideas and how all of those ideas can build something together? It was just amazing.”
Have you learned any of the helpful or transferable skills that you’ll use in the future?
“Probably quite a bit of leadership I would say. Because obviously when you’re in a room for people who are new, someone’s got to step up and say something. So it was a lot of what do you think? Or is there anything that you think that we can do? It was just just trying to make sure that everyone was getting a say and that everyone’s idea could find a way into the piece. And obviously a lot of teamwork as well, like building a team where people felt comfortable enough.”
What have you enjoyed the most about work experience?
“Probably actually being able to create something and seeing the message that it’s sending. Susan wrote the piece but gave us the freedom to use that script and build something and build a message and it’s just always been my favourite part of the theatre – the message behind the piece and why it’s being built up and the thought that goes behind it.”
What do you feel has been an achievement for you this week?
“Probably the confidence I’ve built to actually be able to want to run the lighting because I found that really difficult – like, trying to listen on the comms and actually be able to press the button.It’s a lot about the communication, and now, for one of the shows, I’m actually doing the lighting. I was trying to avoid it at all costs…but now we’ve done the tech runs and I’m feeling like, well, I can do this, so if I get through the show, that’s probably my biggest achievement.”
Did you come across any challenges this week and if so, how did you overcome them?
“Probably talking people. Like having the confidence to actually build that friendship. It was about having that confidence to actually be able to say, well, this is going to be hard but let’s try and do this together.”
Did anything about work experience surprise you? Or did you do anything you weren’t expecting?
“I think how hands on it was. That was kind of like a bit of a shock, I thought it would be a lot of just listening and meeting new people and I didn’t think that it was going to get to a point where we actually get to do something and make something. I thought it was just going to be a lot of behind the scenes and just a lot of learning how to do things, but not actually putting it into practice. I didn’t realise that part of it and it was just like a nice surprise to actually be able to make something.”
Has work experience inspired you to explore careers in the arts in future?
“Yeah, because I would have never thought about doing the technical side of theatre before this because I was doing the acting side. We learned about the DSM and stuff like that, so it would be…t’s just a completely different path that I never thought of that I can now consider.”
How would you summarise your time doing work experience at Northern Stage?
“Inclusive, exciting and hands on.”
Inspired by Libby’s experience on our programme?
Work experience will be taking place again next summer, and you could be learning the ropes of technical theatre!
Applications for work experience in July 2026 will open in December. Keep a lookout on our website and social media to hear about when applications are opening along with other opportunities to get involved at Northern Stage. You can also sign up to our mailing list, and we will email you when applications are open.
If you have any questions and would like to know more about our work experience programme, you can email workexperience@northernstage.co.uk.