TheatreCraft, the UK’s largest free careers event for young people interested in off-stage theatre jobs, has announced four inspirational, industry-leading 2018 Ambassadors as part of an ambitious line-up of talks and workshops led by theatre professionals from across the UK – with extra places added today due to huge demand.
This year’s event takes place on Monday 19 November, hosted by the Waldorf Hilton Hotel – with events at surrounding venues including the Adelphi, Aldwych, Lyceum and Novello Theatres.
The 2018 TheatreCraft Ambassadors are Theatr Clwyd Artistic Director Tamara Harvey, Olivier and Tony Award-winning set and costume designer Christopher Oram, Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre Indhu Rubasingham, and Royal Shakespeare Company Lead Producer Griselda Yorke.
Indhu Rubasingham said, “TheatreCraft is imperative; an extraordinary event I wish had been available to me when I was starting out. It aims to inspire and demonstrate to young people the spectrum of jobs in the industry that are not only onstage. This was something that took me a long time to be aware of. I was passionate about theatre but didn’t know there was a place for me if you didn’t want to be an actor. Events like TheatreCraft can only help to generate and foster the next generation of creatives, technical and administrators… all of which are vital for a healthy and strong creative industry.”
For the first time, Super Panels of leading theatre industry figures – including the TheatreCraft Ambassadors, chaired by journalist Matt Trueman – will come together to discuss their careers and answer questions from young people looking for advice on starting out in the industry. A producing Super Panel will include acclaimed producer (and Society of London Theatre president) Kenny Wax, who is behind such West End hits as Six, The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery; Hanna Streeter, Paines Plough Senior Producer; Cassie Leon, Cocoa Butter Club Producer; and Nisha Oza, Tamasha Theatre Company Assistant Producer. Super Panels on arts fundraising, marketing and PR and technical theatre will also take place.
Also for the first time, a 100 ticket giveaway will be held, giving attendees the chance to see a West End show that same evening, with tickets to 42nd Street, A Very Very Very Dark Matter, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Heathers The Musical, Kinky Boots, Motown The Musical, The Mousetrap and Tina – The Tina Turner Musical up for grabs.
TheatreCraft 2018 also offers an ambitious variety of workshops and talks for advice and inspiration on everything from marketing, producing and touring a show, to costume and make-up, movement, video design, theatre photography, playwriting and how to pitch creative ideas – as well as networking opportunities with peers, potential employers and industry experts.
The Marketplace, a bustling careers hub, will be held in the Waldorf Hilton Hotel’s Palm Court, with over 60 exhibitors including the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Old Vic, Royal Shakespeare Company, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, RADA, LAMDA, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, BECTU, Stage One, Mousetrap, Spektrix and White Light.
A full list of events is available here, with more free places on TheatreCraft talks and workshops released.
TheatreCraft is organised in partnership with the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust, the Royal Opera House, the Society of London Theatre and Mousetrap Theatre Projects. The event is generously sponsored by the Waldorf Hilton Hotel, White Light, John Good, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres and Nederlander Theatres.
To book a free place at TheatreCraft 2018 visit the website.