Offstage Choices at the Piccadilly Theatre Monday 8 November 2010
The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural (NSA), working with The Stage, has launched its 2010 Offstage Choices programme, offering 13-15 year olds the opportunity to work alongside professionals and experience and learn about life behind the curtains.
Venues up and down the country are opening their doors delivering practical and informative one day programmes for young people focusing on backstage, technical and administrative roles available in the industry.
On Monday 8 November, the Offstage Choices programme comes to the Piccadilly Theatre in London -home to hit musical, GREASE.
Participating schools include Westminster City School, Quintin Kynaston and St Augustine's High.
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Bert West, Education Curriculum Manager, NSA, said: "Offstage Choices is a fantastic opportunity for us to broaden young peoples' perceptions of what a career in the backstage theatre and live music industries actually entails. Equipped with this knowledge, gleaned from experienced professionals, thousands of young people will be in a stronger position to make the appropriate career choices for them.
"Many of those who come through the Offstage Choices doors will be unaware of the types of roles that exist in our sector. What we want is to get young people thinking about how they can marry the skills and passions they already have with the job opportunities available in our sector, helping to plug some of the skills gaps that we are currently facing."
Whilst the sector continues to attract a high number of degree-educated students (above the national average compared to the UK working population), employers continue to cite skills shortages as a barrier to improving levels of productivity.
Rosemary Squire, Joint Chief Executive, Ambassador Theatre Group (Operator of The Piccadilly Theatre) added: "We are acutely aware of the skills shortages that currently exist in our sector, and this is why we are committed to working with the NSA on Offstage Choices, as a practical outreach programme - we need to think about engaging with and inspiring the next generation now, nurturing their key skills and highlighting future career opportunities."
Employers involved in this year's events include the Ambassador Theatre Group, Sage Gateshead,
West Yorkshire Playhouse and HQ Theatres, as well as a wealth of other prestigious UK venues. They are partnered by a network of 20 Founder Colleges who work closely with the NSA to promote opportunities and training within the creative and cultural sector.
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