Lighthouse Young Technicians recently presented a showcase of digital light art in the Amphitheatre as the latest intake of students completed the final element of their 12-week training course at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts in Poole, UK. “The work was absolutely brilliant,” says Lighthouse Chief Executive Elspeth McBain. “It totally transformed the landscape, which is what technicians do, and reminded us of what is possible in the outdoor space beside our venue.”
Aimed at young people aged 16-19 interested in getting to grips with lighting, sound, and stage management in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings, this course is an opportunity to experience technical theatre in a real-world environment tutored by working professionals.
Students are guided through a structured 12-week course by professional technicians, gaining skills and experiences that could be the first steps on a career in technical theatre – Lighthouse currently has an apprentice technician and a Kickstarter trainee technician who came through the Young Technicians course.
“What impresses me about every Young Technicians intake is how quite disparate young people get together and become friends, a genuine cohort – it’s like they are finding their tribe<” McBain says. It’s something that several parents have picked up on as well. What we are doing with Lighthouse Young Technicians is unique, certainly in this region, as we are involving students in real-world, live situations. We are very fortunate in that we have technicians such as the lighting designer James Smith who are not only incredibly talented but also passionate about helping the next generation into the industry.”
McBain concludes, “The challenge for us now is to provide the next stage of technical education from the introductory level to the more formal apprenticeship training.” A new intake of Young Technicians is planned for the autumn.
Further information from Lighthouse Poole: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
