Colchester Institute Technical Theatre degree students visited the Mercury Theatre Colchester this week as the partnership to improve student access to the theatre’s facilities commenced.
In March, the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Institute announced that from September 2016, students on the College’s Technical Theatre degree programmes will have access to the Mercury Theatre’s backstage facilities, to help learn their craft in a professional theatre environment. Students already on the course will have access, as well as those signing up to study for the first time.
And the prospects for future employment look good – two members of the Mercury’s in-house technical team, as well as Workshop Manager Rob Parker, are all graduates from the College’s Technical Theatre programme.
One quarter of the students’ taught time in years 1 and 2 of their degree programme will be spent at the Mercury, gaining professional work experience. There is also the possibility of further work experience in year 3. Students will work across all technical disciplines – stage management, lighting, sound, set construction and crewing under the tutelage of Colchester Institute staff, with access to the Mercury’s in-house team.
Mercury Theatre Executive Director, Steve Mannix said:
“There is a skills shortage in technical theatre in this region – this important partnership with Colchester Institute will help to train the next generation of technicians. We hope that having trained with us, we can maintain a relationship with graduates over the long term, helping to grow their skills and also demonstrate the attractiveness of working here in the East of England.”
For more information visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
