Off Stage Academy Plus
Our Off Stage Academy Plus course (a.k.a Kiln SPARKS Residency) is back for its third year running. This is a paid development programme run by New Vic Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, in association with New Earth Theatre for technical and production skills supporting entry-level and early-career Global Majority* backstage talent.
The programme aims to expand the industry’s knowledge base for making theatre in-the-round and increase the pool of Global Majority backstage talent by providing the opportunity to work in a midscale, producing theatre.
This year we are offering a paid 3-day programme 16-18 July at the New Vic Theatre. Participants will meet and shadow the inhouse technical and production teams and representatives from New Earth Theatre. After the completion of the initial 3-day programme, candidates will be able to express their interest for a further paid extended placement working with the teams on the New Vic Winter ‘25 or Spring ‘26 Season.
The opportunity is for: entry-level sound and lighting technicians and Stage Managers who would like to expand their knowledge of technical processes; Early-career Production Managers who would like to expand their technical knowledge; Early-career Sound and Lighting Designers who have not yet worked in the round. We're particularly keen to hear from applicants based in Staffordshire. There are 4 reserved places available for BESEA’s** out of a total of 8 places. The course will be led by Vicki Amedume. Participants in the 3 day programme will receive £250 plus per diems, accommodation, and travel expenses.
Course Dates: Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th & Friday 18th July
Course Leader: Vicki Dela Amedume
Location: New Vic Theatre, Newcastle Under Lyme
Experience Level: Some previous experience of working in a backstage role and/or operating technical equipment in a theatre setting is desired.
Applications will open shortly via New Vic Theatre, please check back for further details
*Global Majority refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'. **BESEA: British East and Southeast Asian.
**We use the term BESEA to mean anyone from the following countries and their diasporas who live and work in Britain. These countries make up an area that is known as East and SouthEast Asia; Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
