探花直播

Final year BA (Hons) Applied Performance (Community and Education) student Naomi Cooper, took part in a six week work placement with the Play House Theatre in Education Company, based at 探花直播 Rep theatre, and answered a few questions for us about the practicalities and benefits of her time on placement.

Where did you complete your work placement?

I completed a six week placement last summer term with The Play House Theatre in Education Company, based at 探花直播 REP. The company also tours primary schools all around 探花直播.

How did you secure your placement?

I emailed the company but was also recommended to them by my tutor, so I could secure the placement early before anyone else got in there! That would be one of my biggest tips in securing a decent placement 鈥� get in there early!

How did your tutors encourage you?

I have been able to tailor many of my modules to what I want to do, to get the most out of them. I鈥檓 also lucky that Peter Wynne-Willson, (Programme Leader) along with other tutors here, specialise in Theatre in Education and working with children, so they can offer great advice. We have had many opportunities to meet and work with industry professionals and I think Peter is really hoping to expand this element of the course.

What kind of things did you get involved with on your placement?

I spent the first two weeks of the placement rehearsing with Malcolm Jennings, a Teacher-Actor who works for the company. I then went on tour with him, performing twice a day, Mon-Thurs for the other four weeks. We performed a participatory programme called 鈥淧aperchase鈥� which was all about exploring the English curriculum and Personal Social and Health Education. We used speaking and listening techniques and of course, drama. I spent Fridays talking to the other members of the Play House team about the workings of the company and learnt about all the little details that go into running a small theatre company. I found these talks really useful as this is what I would like to do once I graduate.

Has your placement helped you with your course?

I took my placement at the end of my second year. It helped me to confirm the path I want to go down and meant I could really personalise my final year modules and projects, so that I got the best out of them. My dissertation was a Theatre in Education Project plan, my final performance project was a piece of Children鈥檚 theatre, and my final project was working in a special school, gaining some Special Educational Needs experience. Without my placements, I don鈥檛 know if I would have made those decisions and I don鈥檛 think I would feel as ready to graduate as I do right now.

Do you now have a better idea of what you鈥檇 like to do after your degree?

Definitely! I came onto the course with an interest in Children鈥檚 Theatre and Theatre in Education, so I don鈥檛 think I could have picked a better placement. I鈥檓 very lucky to have been able to perform on tour with them and although it was hard work and tiring, it was so rewarding and has confirmed that this is the path I would like to take.

What is the best piece of advice you took from your placement?

A work placement is the best place to put yourself outside your comfort zone and learn as much as you can because it is a safe, encouraging space (Or it should be, if you鈥檝e got a good host)! 听You鈥檙e not expected to do, or know anything you鈥檙e not comfortable with, and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions, or say if you don鈥檛 understand. Your hosts know you鈥檙e a student and you鈥檙e still learning. However, you鈥檙e in a working environment and that鈥檚 the best place to get a realistic representation of the world you鈥檙e wanting to enter. You鈥檒l get an idea pretty quickly of whether this is for you or not!

What advice do you have for other students thinking about their placements?

Research! If you know what you want to do, then start looking early. Don鈥檛 waste your placement opportunity. On the other hand, if you don鈥檛 know what you want to do (and that鈥檚 fine) don鈥檛 stress! If you don鈥檛 like your placement, you can still learn from it. At least you know that that particular job isn鈥檛 for you! Also use your tutors. It was my tutor that recommended me to my placement host. They have contacts and you never know who they know! They are more than happy to help you find the perfect placement.

Did you make any good industry links that could help you with your career?

YES! I have secured a paid internship at the Play House for the coming year! It was an audition process but I do believe my placement there really helped, as I already knew the workings of the company and the staff. I鈥檓 very excited! If I hadn鈥檛 have won that particular internship, I would still have been added to their pool of freelancers, who they rely on a lot for their programmes. Another module we did this year was run and moderated by Gareth and Phil from the Little Earthquake Theatre Company. We got to know them well throughout the module and now have them as contacts should we ever need any advice and tips. When I finish my paid internship, I want to travel back up North (I鈥檓 from the Lake District) and basically do what the Play House does, but back at home and I feel well equipped to be able to do that now. The contacts I now have, although they鈥檙e based in 探花直播, are always there at the end of the phone or email and can offer advice. They might even know people up north who they can introduce me to! It鈥檚 all very exciting.