Three new apprentices have joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. Rosie Hale (19) from Welford-upon-Avon; Kirstie Meredith (20), originally from Brighton but now living in Warwick; and Dan Shenton (19) from Solihull, are now working as part of the RSC’s Front of House team. 

During their yearlong apprenticeship as Front of House (FOH) Assistants, Rosie, Kirstie and Dan will learn ‘on the job’, whilst being mentored by members of the FOH team. They will gain experience in welcoming visitors to the RSC’s theatres, responding to queries, seating people for performances, as well as selling merchandise and ensuring visitors’ safety. Working with Stratford-upon-Avon College, each apprentice will take a level 2 qualification in Supporting Cultural and Heritage Venue Operations.

The RSC apprenticeships come at the same time as Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (CW LEP) “100 in 100” campaign, the aim of which is encourage 100 companies to sign up to take on 100 apprentices in 100 days. Vikki Heywood, the RSC’s Executive Director, and LEP Board Member, is supporting the campaign as an Apprentice Ambassador.

Vikki Heywood said: “I’m delighted to welcome Rosie, Kirstie and Dan to the Royal Shakespeare Company. We already have three apprentices working within our theatre crafts workshops, so I’m excited that we’re now able to offer apprenticeships in the Front of House department. The RSC is passionate about encouraging everyone to visit our theatres, and we’re equally keen to provide training and employment opportunities for people who might not normally have access to them. These apprenticeships have opened up a career path to those who might have thought a job in theatre wasn’t for them. I fully support the CW LEP’s “100 in 100” campaign, and encourage local companies to get involved and join the campaign by taking on apprentices.”

Peter Young, Curriculum Area Manager, Stratford-upon-Avon College, said: “We are delighted to be working with the RSC on their apprenticeship programme. For them to be giving young people such a chance clearly shows that apprenticeships can be an exciting opportunity for someone to develop their career.”

Rosie Hale (19) said: “Working as part of the RSC Front of House team is very rewarding and also a lot of fun. We’ve been shadowing other people who work in the department, and it’s very useful to see the way in which they deal with things. I’m learning a lot that way. I love interacting with the public, and working at the top of our Theatre Tower is one of my favourite parts of the job, as you get to talk to visitors. So far the apprenticeship has been a great experience, and it’s also really good that you get a recognised qualification at the end of it.”

Kirstie Meredith (20) said: “I wanted to do this apprenticeship so I could learn through professionals and perform at the highest level of customer service. In the future I’d like to be a duty manager. I’m really enjoying my time at the RSC, and have learned so much from the Front of House team. I’m very interested in theatre and volunteered at two different theatres in Portsmouth over the summer undertaking marketing and education responsibilities. I’ve travelled all the way from Brighton for this opportunity and now live in Warwick – this is how committed I am!”

Dan Shenton (19) said: “Before coming to the RSC I worked in catering, but I see the apprenticeship as a way of giving me the chance to develop a career for myself with real opportunities. I’m particularly enjoying spending time with our visitors and audiences – they are very friendly and always interested in what the RSC is doing. Even though I’ve only been here a few weeks, I think the apprenticeship is going to be really beneficial.”

 

For further information please contact:

Dean Asker

Press and Communications Offficer

01789 412660, 0778 9937759

dean.asker@rsc.org.uk|