A participant on one of Solihull College & University Centre’s creative bootcamps has secured work with a top regional theatre on their Christmas Pantomime Sleeping Beauty.
Eden Garrattley, who took part in the Creative Venue Technician Bootcamp is now working in her dream industry and will be employed by Wolverhampton Grand Theatre as an Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) on one of the UK’s top pantomimes, which stars Celebrity Big Brother finalist and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Danny Beard and stars of stage and screen, running until 4 January.
The creative bootcamp programmes are run in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and are designed for adult learners who want to progress or begin a career in the creative industries. The Creative Venue Technician Bootcamp in particular focuses on training participants to work in backstage and technical theatre environments. During the 12-week programme, Bootcampers work practically with a range of top theatres, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre being one, alongside others such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Warwick Arts Centre and the NEC.
Eden, who lives in Birmingham, joined the bootcamp to have the opportunity to learn new technical skills and work with industry equipment in local theatres and venues. At the time, she had recently graduated with a degree in TV Production but always been passionate about theatre and wanted to deepen her understanding of how a live production is brought to life.
She really enjoyed her experience on the Bootcamp; especially the practical training: “My favourite part was the hands-on experience and the chance to learn directly from industry professionals.”
Eden is incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work as an ASM on Wolverhampton Grand’s upcoming pantomime, Sleeping Beauty: “Stage management was what first sparked my passion to start working in the theatre industry, but I haven’t had many chances to gain hands-on experience in this area until now. I’m really grateful to The Grand for trusting me with this role and giving me the chance to take this next step in my career.”
Associate Director of Operations & Safety at the Grand Theatre, Ray Tizzard, is thrilled to see Eden take on her new role. He comments: “Eden has developed a strong set of skills and newfound confidence through the program, which has ignited a genuine passion for technical theatre. The combination of hands-on experience gained during the bootcamp and her work as a freelance creative technician has equipped her with the practical knowledge and professional mindset needed to take the next step in her career. We are delighted to see her progress as she begins work on her first professional production at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. As an organisation, we are committed to nurturing and supporting emerging talent within the sector, and Eden’s journey is a testament to the value of investing in the next generation of theatre professionals.”
Overall he was keen to work with the College and WMCA on the Creative Technician Bootcamps: “It plays a vital role in addressing the current skills gap within the creative industries. Theatre, in particular, can be a challenging field to enter, and this initiative helps to open doors by equipping bootcamp participants with the skills and experience they need to succeed. It is essential to pass on knowledge and expertise to the next generation in order to preserve and strengthen the skill set within the theatre industry.”
Head of Creative Bootcamps at Solihull College & University Centre, Sophie Jolly, is extremely proud of Eden, the success of the Bootcamps and the positive effect they are having on the industry: “We are thrilled for Eden – a true testament to the success of our bootcamps. During their training Bootcampers have worked across venues in the West Midlands, building valuable connections and expanding their freelance portfolios through workshops, shadowing opportunities, paid placements, and networking. This is a genuinely collaborative effort to support and grow a new talent pipeline – and what a fantastic place to work at The Grand!”
Eden is keen to recommend the Bootcamp to others who have an interest: “If there’s a skill you want to develop or a career path you’re interested in, I would absolutely recommend taking part in a bootcamp. It offers valuable opportunities that might be harder to access otherwise, along with the support you need to take the next steps in your career. Beyond the learning experience, you also get to build a strong network and community of like-minded people — something that’s incredibly important in any industry.”
So if you want to change your career path, you may not need a fairy godmother, just take a look at Solihull College & University Centre’s Bootcamps!
