Conversations, dispatches and ideas from the Bush Theatre.
I arrived, ready to start my work experience with little idea of what to expect. My knowledge of working in the arts and theatre is very limited. I was keen to get work experience in a theatre because I couldn’t find many resources to fully understand what it is like to have a role ‘behind the scenes’ in the arts, but these past four days at the Bush have genuinely answered all questions I had coming in.
On the first day I was taken on a tour of the theatre, and instantly became very excited to learn more about how it is run and talk to the people that work here. I was introduced to the staff in the office, but throughout the week I was constantly meeting new people, whether that be in person or virtually. Everyone who works here was welcoming and more than happy to answer any questions I had!
The first day was back-to-back introductions to all the departments, so for the rest of the evening I had lots of information floating around my head about the different aspects of the theatre, as well as an internal debate about which I found the most interesting. Still, at the end of the week, I can’t decide on one and I would be more than happy to work in any of the roles (though I probably do not have the mathematical capabilities for finance).
Still, at the end of the week, I can’t decide on one and I would be more than happy to work in any of the roles.
The rest of the week was filled with completing tasks for each department which were all equally as interesting and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed being able to read the script for an upcoming show, and am extremely excited for when it runs at the theatre later this year! Feedback and discussions with the staff gave me lots of confidence in my capabilities and allowed me to see the tight-knit friendly community of people at the Bush Theatre.
I have just come back from watching a technical rehearsal of the upcoming young company show, which I can tell, from the few scenes I watched, is going to be amazing! This just solidified how many new and exciting things the Bush creates. The wide range of activities I’ve done this week makes me feel so much more knowledgeable about theatre and has allowed my interest to grow immensely.
Undertaking work experience here at the Bush is perfect for anyone with an open mind, ready to learn about the inner workings of the theatre. It was extremely helpful to me to be able to talk with staff about their route to working at the Bush.
I seem to have undertaken my work experience at an exciting time at the Bush – during the 50th anniversary year. Everyone has such a passion for the Bush Theatre and are all so excited about the upcoming projects. One thing that is important to note before undertaking work experience here is that you will leave with the need to watch at least 3 plays you have either read or just heard everyone talking about (I will be booking tickets to ‘The P Word’ very soon).
In my opinion, it can be hard to find work experience in the arts, but the Bush have such a strong interest in helping the community have access to theatre. When I read the overview of community plans and was even able to experience that first-hand, I could see the genuine desire to make the arts accessible for all. I am so grateful to the Community team for organising this week, but also every other person who has answered my questions.
Undertaking work experience here at the Bush is perfect for anyone with an open mind, ready to learn about the inner workings of the theatre. It was extremely helpful to me to be able to talk with staff about their route to working at the Bush. Not only was this helpful for me as I started to make decisions on my next steps but also it is extremely interesting to hear the variety of routes into the arts. It has helped me to understand the options available when pursuing a creative subject in further education and helped me become more confident in becoming a part of the industry.
The Bush Theatre work experience is something I’m extremely grateful for and that I would recommend to everyone.
The Bush Theatre host 12 West-London based students on week-long work experience placements throughout the summer months, through direct referrals from local schools and our partners Changing Education.
If you would like to express interest in joining the Bush’s work experience in 2023, please email our Community team on [email protected].
