Theatre is like an iceberg. For every role on stage there are probably at least half a dozen technicians you can’t see. And the industry has been telling us for decades that there are skills shortages in these areas. So we need to educate our dramatically inclined students (and their parents) about these opportunities bearing in mind, too, that lighting technicians, stage managers, make-up artists, costume makers, scenery builders, designers, writers, directors and the rest are often paid more than performers. Moreover, the skills are transferable. Such technicians often also work in film, TV, video production, concerts and events.
Parents and students are often put off by the prospect of drama school – even for technical rather than performance training – by the accruing debt and a perception of uncertain…
