All the World's a Stage (and someone has to design it)

“That sounds like a fun job, how did you get into it?”, is a question many of us get asked here at Theatreplan, and the answer is probably different for each and every one of us. Our common connection: a love of theatre and a passion for problem solving.

Coming towards the end of my undergraduate degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I was a little unsure of where the road would take me. Would I follow many of my contemporaries out on tour? Work as venue technician? Or head into the west end? One of the final modules I had to complete for my degree was a work placement. Having shadowed Ben Cracknell at the West End production of Annie the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, I still had a few weeks left to complete, so I found myself in the lighting department at BDP, learning all about the world of architectural lighting for a major refurbishment of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I was in my element.

Following the completion of this work placement, I had very much caught the bug for buildings and felt like it was something I could really get under the hood of (Enter Theatreplan. Stage left). I arrived for an interview at the Colonnade one warm summer afternoon and left with the offer of an internship; to say I was thrilled would be an understatement. I’d always hoped theatre buildings had been designed by people who understood how theatres operate but hadn’t necessarily fully understood the role of a Theatre Consultant. Now, I’d been given the opportunity to learn about the role, on the job.

History is littered with people who were “the first”: First Man on the Moon, First Female Prime Minister, First Person to ride on the Elizabeth Line. For me that title is “Theatreplan’s First Intern.” As I had a few weeks before I started the job, I decided to give myself a crash course in AutoCAD, so that hopefully I knew what I was talking about once I’d joined the team. Spoiler alert - I learnt more about little tips, tricks, and keyboard shortcuts in my first few weeks in the office than any online course could have taught me.

The first few weeks on the job were intense; getting to know the team, learning about what RIBA Stages are, as well as all the different roles within a design team. But the team’s passion for their projects really did shine through and fostered an exciting working environment. It wasn’t long before I was deep into project work, attending design team meetings for a multipurpose concert hall, sketching up elevation details for a 16,000-seat arena, and trying to solve storage requirements for a new studio theatre.

My new colleagues could not have been more supportive, guiding me step by step through what, at the time, felt like a whole new world. Three months into the job, I was told my internship would be coming to an end as Theatreplan wanted to bring me on full time. I was ecstatic! Things got even more exciting when, a few months down the line, I found myself deep in the bowels of the Sydney Opera House, embarking on the early stages of the Concert Hall Renewal project. To think how far I’d come, barely ten months out of drama school and having the privilege to be involved in a project at one of the world’s most iconic performance venues.

The learning didn’t stop there. Over the last eight years, we have seen a lot of change. - the rise of BIM (Building Information Modelling), a global pandemic, an increase in venues wanting to stream their work, a shift to venues wanting to be more adaptable and a greater focus on how arts buildings can better serve the needs of their local communities. Not to mention constant technological developments which allow us to improve upon and refine the solutions we deliver. To be a good consultant, I’m not sure the learning will ever stop. I certainly don’t want it to.

As an intern, I learnt a great deal from my colleagues, and as we talk about current projects, trade shows we’ve attended or how we might approach certainly solutions, we are continuing to inspire each other.

Looking to that drama school graduate who embarked on the beginnings of a career in theatre consultancy, my time so far at Theatreplan has been a period of immense growth both personally and professionally but also for Theatreplan as a company. Eight years on, I’m now a fully-fledged consultant with my own projects in several territories. But more excitingly, I’m learning again as I undertake line management responsibilities for our incredible team of Revit Architects and Theatre Planners. During the last few years, we’ve welcomed more staff and interns along the way, and it has been and continues to be a privilege to play a small role in their theatre consultancy journey.

This certainly isn’t a career I knew much about before I joined the team, but one I am increasingly grateful for with each day that passes. There aren’t many jobs where you get to work with some of the world's leading design practices on buildings which have huge significance to the communities they serve or the global cultural landscape, whilst rocking up to work with some of the most down to earth and passionate colleagues someone could wish for. But this job offers just that, and if my internship has gotten me this far, I look forward to seeing what we can do as Theatreplan continues to grow.