Off Stage Academy Plus

Kiln SPARKS Residency is back! 

A paid one-week residency at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle Under Lyme run by New Vic Theatre in association with New Earth Theatre.

The one-week residential course aims to expand the industry’s knowledge base for making theatre in-the-round and diversify the pool of Global Majority* backstage talent by providing the opportunity to work in a midscale, producing theatre. 

SPARKS is suitable for entry level and early career global majority people; 

• Entry level sound and lighting technicians 

• Company 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  

There are 4 reserved places available for BESEA’s** out of a total of 8 places. 

The course will be led by Vicki Amedume and participants will train in person with the New Vic Tech and Production teams and freelance creatives. Each successful participant will receive a £450 bursary plus per diems, accommodation and travel expenses to cover for the week. 

After the course, the New Vic will fund a paid bespoke placement for two trainees to further their experience. 

*Global majority is a collective term for non-white people of African, Asian, Latin American descent (including people with dual or multiple heritage), who have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’ and, who constitute approximately 85 percent of the world's population. 

Course Dates: Monday 10 June - Friday 14 June 2024 
Course Leader: Vicki Dela Amedume 
Location: New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Photo: Kiln Sparks participants explore how to control lighting design and audio visual elements on stage. Credit Andrew Billington

Applications now closed. New Earth Academy applications will re-open in spring 2025.