Student Name: Katie
Pathways Programme: Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage
Internship Role: Production Assistant
Internship Employer: Exeter Northcott Theatre
Summary of Organisation: Each year more than 100,000 people see events at the Northcott Theatre and at the Barnfield Theatre in the city centre. Thousands more participate in our creative activities: we offer vital support for South-West theatre makers though our artist development programme; we offer life-long creative opportunities to children as young as five all the way through to adulthood; and we work closely with communities, school and other charities across the South West to give opportunities to people who need them most. Weāre here to bring people together for brilliant creative experiences; to tell extraordinary stories, and to understand each other better. We are a medium scale business with roughly 30 full time employees. We make theatre run workshops, support local artists and much more. We are a vibrant and supportive place to work and be creative and learn.
Please briefly outline the project/tasks/responsibilities you worked on during your Professional Pathways internship:
“I had the opportunity to join the Exeter Northcott’s upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet where I worked as a Production Assistant in the lead-up to opening night. Some tasks I worked on during my internship were creating promotional marketing material for the production, consulting on costumes for scenes of the play, and providing insight on directional choices in the production.”
How has the Professional Pathways programme helped you in taking the next steps in your career?
“The programme has helped me considerably in taking the next steps in my career. The training has improved my confidence in my leadership ability in group settings through completing the group project brief, whilst the internship has provided me the practical hands on experience in the workplace to increase my employability.”
How do you think this experience will impact on your employability as you enter the job market as a recent graduate?
“I believe that my experience in completing the Professional Pathways programme will positively impact my future employability as it demonstrates my ability to be proactive in expanding my skillset relevant to my future career while gaining experience with industry experts.”
What achievement(s) were you particularly proud of during your Pathways internship?
“Following the completion of my internship I was particularly proud of seeing the production come together after having seen the work and heart that was put into it behind the scenes.”
Given the Professional Pathways internship is 35 hours in total, what advice would you give to other students to ensure they gain as much as possible from the experience?
“In my opinion I was able to gain more from my experience by asking as many questions as possible to different people within the theatre about their role. This allowed me to tailor my interests within the industry and gain a better understanding of how each role contributed to the production.”
What advice would you give to a student who has to complete an internship via remote or hybrid working?
“While I did not complete my internship via remote or hybrid working (I was in the workplace for my 35 hours) I would advise to time block your working days including all tasks to be completed. This makes it easier to keep track of all responsibilities and ensure they are completed in a timely manner.“
Why would you recommend the Professional Pathways programme to other students?
“Completing the Professional Pathways programme has allowed me to gain experience in the theatre tech industry; this would not have been possible without the programme. I would recommend Pathways to other students as it has improved my confidence, taught me sector specific skills, and allowed me to work alongside experienced individuals.”