Successes — Case Studies

Abstract

Mutiat undertook her work placement in her second year at university, at the age of twenty. She accepted unpaid work in theatre administration, eventually coordinating the arrangements for a community play scheduled to be performed in a new theatre still under construction at the time her placement began. Her commitment involved working one day per week for a minimum of ten weeks, based in an office opposite the theatre site, but in fact Mutiat volunteered to continue for several months because she did not want to leave with her work incomplete. She had originally sought a placement in a theatre as this was in keeping with her long-term career ambitions:

The reasons I applied to a theatre to carry out my placement was because I have a great interest in theatre work and have extensive experience working on productions, mainly on stage. I’m also studying drama and theatre studies with cultural studies. In cultural studies we analyse society and look at institutions like the Arts Council and areas of funding so I felt having a placement in the theatre would complement both my subjects. Another reason I applied to the theatre was because, as most of my theatre experience came from being on stage, I felt that it would be a great opportunity for me to see how the theatre worked backstage and behind the scenes.