Climbing new heights in theatre training
Liverpool has a long and illustrious theatrical history. At the same time, it is a city well known for its ground-breaking inventiveness.
These two traditions came together last month on the stage of the famous Empire Theatre on Lime Street to see a significant step forward in theatre training on Merseyside.
It was made possible through an innovative partnership between theatre employers, employees, a trade union and a professional craft association.
The result saw eight candidates successfully complete the ABTT Silver Award in Stage Sound on a 5 day course organized by the Media and Entertainment union BECTU.
Earlier this spring the Everyman Theatre had generously hosted the first three days of the Award in their training room in Hope Street. Here, candidates studied audio and electrical theory, as well as having practical sessions using different types of communications equipment and making their own electronic projects in the soldering workshop.
These modules were delivered by experienced tutors, members of the ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) who are all working theatre professionals themselves.
It is part of a ‘pilot’ scheme in the North West, Midlands and South West regions to offer professional stage training. The courses were subsidised by BECTU with financial support from the ULF (Union Learning Fund) and employers. These three modules formed the first three parts of the five part Silver Award.
The importance of the ABTT Bronze, Silver and Gold awards is that they are the best established and most widely recognized available to theatre technicians. Attaining them is seen as a landmark in a technician’s professional development and a pre-requisite for keeping skills and knowledge up-to-date.
The candidates, comprised full-time staff or casuals at the Everyman/Playhouse and Empire Theatres, were all keen to complete the course, be assessed and get their qualification.
“Unfortunately the completion of the award had to be put on hold over the summer due to peoples’ holiday and work commitments, the unavailability of tutors and lack of a suitable venue.” says John Crumpton, BECTU’s Northern Learning Organiser and responsible for overseeing the project.
Administrator and ULR at the Everyman, Victoria Adlard, played a key role in the venture:
“We were happy to host the two remaining modules but both involved working at height safely and for this specialist training the Everyman was not high enough and the Playhouse unavailable. Fortunately there’s always been good links between us and BECTU reps at the Empire and they came to the rescue.”
Steve Rose and Alan Blanche were able to persuade their employers, Ambassador Theatre Group, of the benefits of such training for their workforce. Deputy Theatre Manager Christiaan de Villiers was amongst those convinced and offered the Empire Theatre as the perfect solution as to where to hold the training.
“We all understand that having a better trained, more skilled and competent workforce adds real value to the business. At the same time it helps to positively motivate employees who see the company prepared to invest in the skills of their workforce. I think this is a great opportunity and will be happy to support this going forward”.
So with arrangements agreed, the candidates were informed of the two dates planned for late September and preparations got underway. On the first day, tutor Ted Murphy described to the learners several near ‘misses’ and actual accidents caused by unsafe practices in theatres he’d worked in. His message was that if people understood the relevant H&S regulations and code of practices, relating to working at height, then the theatre industry would be a safer and healthier environment.
Later in the morning learning became very much ‘hands on’, focusing on the correct use of ladders, the theatre’s tallescope. In the afternoon the group set about the task of building a BOSS tower under Ted’s careful supervision. Ted enjoys training and his trainees enjoyed learning. Their verdicts are positive with comments such as:
‘He explained how the regs relate to our industry’, ‘Learnt correct procedure for erecting access tower, ‘‘Good to have a tutor with relevant (precautionary even) experience’, ‘It was one of the best courses I have done’ and finally ‘I found a few things I didn’t know’,
Ted agrees:
“I think they’ve learnt things here today that they didn’t know before.
BECTU has given an opportunity to people to understand how to work safely for a better workforce and that’s better for everybody.”
On the second day Chris Higgs was the tutor. He’s very experienced rigger who’s worked in every major theatre in the UK. He’s also an excellent trainer and learners ‘took to him’ very quickly. He imparts his extensive knowledge with humour but like Ted, he has been affected by seeing close workmates lost to injury and death from falls.
He doesn’t want this to happen to any of his trainees.
So when he’s serious they listen.
And they need to, as in the afternoon the group put on their helmets, harnesses and other safety gear. Everyone has the chance to learn safely, hanging from fixed points on stage and in the circle and even the faint-hearted ‘have a go’ and grow in confidence as the day wore on.
So what comes next?
Alan Blanch, Back stage Health & Safety Rep and ULR at the Empire speaks first:
“Overall I felt this was an excellent scheme and I hope both the ABTT and BECTU will continue to bring courses to our venues in the near future”
Vicki Adlard, ULR at the Everyman Theatre, agrees wholeheartedly and in addition plans to introduce learning requested by front of house staff.
“A number of people have asked about learning British Sign Language as they’d like to use BSL to welcome and ‘converse’ with audience members who have hearing difficulties. I’m looking into how we can do the lessons before Christmas as a way of adding to our seasonal greetings.’
We’ve now established a Collective Learning Fund at the Everyman with support from unionlearn for future training projects. No doubt I’ll be getting in touch with the lads at the Empire to see how we can work together again soon.”
