Written by Alexandra.

Before this week, I thought I had a fairly good understanding of how a theatre worked. Over five days, I stepped into departments I had never previously considered and discovered the intricate network of people whose work makes everything possible. Despite their vastly different responsibilities, every department shared the same aim: creating meaningful experiences for audiences and ensuring that theatre continues to thrive as both an art form and a community.

Something I continually heard that resonated with me was "You never stop learning," a sentiment echoed and implied by almost everyone we met. Whether someone had worked in theatre for five years or thirty, there was a shared understanding that every production presents new challenges and opportunities to grow. I also loved hearing that "no" is seldom the end of a conversation in theatre – it is simply a redirection. Rather than seeing obstacles as dead ends, creative teams learn to adapt, rethink and find another solution, an attitude that seems fundamental to such a collaborative industry.

Even the superstitions offered an insight into theatre's rich history. Whilst doing stage work, I learned that whistling backstage is traditionally considered bad luck because, before modern communication systems, stagehands would cue each other through whistling. An unexpected whistle from an actor could trigger the wrong cue, creating potentially dangerous and confusing situations, and while technology has changed, the superstition has endured. These seemingly small lessons reminded me that theatre isn’t built solely on technical skill and creativity, but also on traditions, resilience and a collective respect for the generations of practitioners and their lessons from who came before.

Our session with Bedazzle Arts, where we learned some Makaton and explored ways of making theatre more inclusive, was an especially poignant reminder that the arts should be accessible to everyone. It reinforced the idea that a theatre's greatest achievement is cultivating a space in which every member of the community feels welcomed, represented and able to participate. I came away with a refined understanding of how a theatre operates, and with a renewed appreciation for the collaborative spirit that keeps the arts alive.

Written by Anna, Kate, Mia, & Ollie.

This week we had the privilege of getting a glimpse into what working in the creative industry is like. Exploring many different departments, such as technical, marketing and costumes, we have learnt so much. Our perspective on creative careers has widened significantly. At first, the scale and prestige of the theatre was daunting, however we soon discovered that there was a tangibly welcoming sense of community within The Arts Theatre team. This immediately put us at ease and allowed us to enjoy our experience.

For a theatre that produces and receives a range of productions, we thought that there would be a large permanent team backstage. We learnt that there were only four full-time employees that worked within the tech department! Within the theatre industry, many people work freelance to work on as many amazing projects as possible. We met Ciaran, a freelance flyman, who is also a camera operator on film and television sets. We were surprised to find, as the flyman, he has the final word backstage, even over his boss (when he says stop, everyone stops, and that keeps everyone safe)! On stage with Senior Technician Liam, we learnt about the range of lights used here, from conventional Halogen PAR Cans to LED Fresnels. We then had the opportunity to rig one of the 50 counterweight bars that hang from the grid, which is a staggering 15 metres above the stage... although it felt higher... yes, we went up there.

One of our favourite moments was having a behind the scenes tour of the theatre! We started in the auditorium stalls where we learnt about the history and refurbishment. In fact, only six trees were used to create all the wooden paneling! We then travelled down one of the many staircases (as pointed out by the Development Manager Luke), to get to the basement, where all the dressing rooms are located. We sat on a sofa (that predates us!) which has seated actors like Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Emma Thompson!

We had a wonderful time taking over The Arts Theatre. We met lots of new people and gained a detailed insight into the industry. The recurring theme across the week was that every job within a theatre is, in some way, creative. With thanks to The Arts Theatre, we can now confidently approach our future creative careers with enthusiasm and knowledge!

Written by Barney.

My favourite part of the week was when Terry Baker talked to us about her experiences working in the wardrobe department. We heard all about the interesting shows she has worked on and how she has managed live wardrobe malfunctions. We also did a quick-change activity where we selected costumes and had to help everyone get into theirs as quickly as possible, which gave us a fun insight into the work of the costume department.

Written by Peter.

A week at The Arts. Where to start?

A tour with Luke, his knowledge was no fluke. That got the week off to a flying start.

Speaking of flying, let me tell you about Flyman, Ciaran.

He scales that ladder with ease, with poise, waiting for the call of his name, that simple noise.

"Bring the bar in!", we said as he hoisted the hemp. Always with a smile, not a sign of contempt.

Up high on a platform, he executes his job with no flaws, once that curtain hits the ground, we hear him cry out, "It's all yours!".

Programming was a riot, as we strategised our selection of shows, though hitting the right balance of family, musical, historical drama was quite tricky, I think we'll leave it to the pros!

Sound and Lighting with Liam and we entered a world of cables and wire. After the way I rigged up that Fresnel, I hope they're looking to hire!

Communications with Nicky, the time came to decide between fonts, and I'm glad they went with what they did. A charming blue and striking capitals too made the branding eye-catching, not mid.

Back to Luke again, this time in the boardroom for a masterclass in tone. We built up persuasive sentences full of vigour and enthusiasm that brought me chills right down to the bone.

Marketing with Bella and Caitlin, brainstorming how to get our shows seen. Banners, buses, and big bright posters would be sure to cause a scene.

Costumes with Terry and what a joy she was, bringing anecdotes galore. An unsung hero of the theatre and the last one to leave, except for those on the stage door.

Bedazzle Arts reminded us that the stage is for all, no matter who we are, learning to the Makaton alphabet was my highlight of the week though I usually get stuck around the letter R.

All these people help make theatre what it is, what would the theatre do without them, it would cease to exist. Because the world needs Cambridge and Cambridge needs the arts, to make shows like Dear Zoo, sure to capture our hearts (and giving us free ice cream, that very much captured my heart)!