In the spirit of The National Theatre Connections festival with it’s dedication to giving young and aspiring artists an opportunity to work within a professional environment, here is the second of our blog series with individuals holding senior positions within our organisation.
We hope to provide you with some insight into possible career paths, show you the wide variety of arts careers out there and offer some advice of how to break into this competitive industry. Here is our interview with Box Office Manager, and organiser extraordinaire Rebecca Mead…
How would you describe your job?
Busy and varied, two days are never the same.
How did you get into the arts, and this particular career?
I studied a Bachelor of Arts and worked a lot in administration. I did a stint at the Edinburgh and Perth Fringe Festival, as well as working (some voluntary, some paid) at a number of arts organisations on various projects and events.
What do you like the most about your job?
I’m a people person so I love dealing with members of the public and working within a team. I love working for an organisation that does so much for the community. I also live in Deptford so to be able to see the work we do directly impacting the local community is something I feel very passionate about.
What is the trickiest part of your job?
Probably the same as what I like the most! You’re sometimes presented with challenging situations, but at the same time it’s also what’s most rewarding about working within a community based theatre. Knowing that you’re an all-inclusive venue and doing what you can to support the people around you, is a wonderful thing.
Do you have any advice for others who want to pursue similar careers?
I would say that signing up to an internship, work experience or voluntary scheme, if you have the opportunity to do so, is invaluable. I believe that hands on experience, as well as the chance to network with people within the industry, is the best way to get your foot in the door. This is just one way of doing this though, as there are many other avenues you can explore to what suits you best.
Thanks Rebecca!
From the 9th to the 12th May the Albany will be hosting 8 performances by young people as part of The National Theatre Connections festival. They will be performing plays that were commissioned by the National Theatre specifically for young people to perform. To find out more click here.
To find out about some of our other work and opportunities for young people click here.
The Albany, Deptford 