Chloe & Freya: From 6 to 10 July 2026, the first group of work experience students interested in a creative career came to The Arts Theatre Cambridge. In our week we have learnt so much, from communications to lighting, and from sound to costumes. This experience has opened our eyes to the diversity of opportunities in a theatre. At first, we were a little nervous, however, we quickly got to know one another, and everyone from The Arts Theatre who spoke to us and gave us insight into their work was unbelievably passionate about the arts which was inspiring to see. Not only this, but we also got a chance to be involved in their day-to-day by setting up lights, doing quick costume changes, making programming decisions, and so much more.

This experience has been once-in-a-lifetime and has taught us all so much. We would like to thank everyone at The Arts Theatre for being so kind, inviting, and enthusiastic. We hope this encourages people to apply for future opportunities at The Arts Theatre. We know you won't forget it!

Chloe: What excites me about a career in theatre is the technical side of the arts, specifically lighting. In lighting, I find you can completely change the atmosphere and mood of a performance which can be key for setting a scene for an audience.

Freya: What interests and excites me about a career in the theatre is the artistic side of things, specifically the set and prop design. I really enjoy the little details in the design that can pull a show together, in terms of how it looks. Like Chloe, I would also like to learn more about the technical side of theatre, such as lighting and sound.

Elle: My dream has always been the stage, and it’s my upmost priority to make my dream a reality. Musical theatre fills my heart with joy, like nothing else could, and the musical Hairspray showed me that anyone has the power and right to perform with pride and sparkle. Being given the opportunity to be here has brought me one step closer to the theatre – my home.

Iris: The set designs and costumes have sparked my interest in theatre. I have felt inspired by the importance of creating a fitting and all-encompassing theatrical environment that reflects the creativity and radiance of the shows being performed. Although the interests of the group involve taking different journeys, the crossing of our paths has been all thanks to work experience. It has taught us that we are never alone in the creative industry – and that is what we are grateful for.

Ellen, Rhoda, Will & Mark: During our work experience week at The Arts Theatre, we spoke to the heads of each department. We also got to meet Terry Baker, who talked about her work in the wardrobe department of pantomimes. We discovered how different uses of costumes can help with the immersion of context and time period. We also learned how they can be adapted and physically altered to make quick changes faster in performance. Velcro is used the least as it can damage the fabric; poppers and magnets are generally the best!

Kezia, Nina, & Louis: Our experience at The Arts Theatre has allowed us to each, personally, develop our own interests in aspects of the theatre that we hadn’t been exposed to before. Although the actors are the pulse of every play, the significance of theatre tech cannot be understated. Throughout this week we’ve had the opportunity to talk to many people, dedicated to their craft, who work from the early hours of the morning through to late night. In particular, we got the chance to expand our sound and lighting skills through two workshops with Senior Technician, Liam. We learnt so much about the various roles that go on backstage and the kinds of systems and technical equipment that are industry standard. We also learnt about the intensive renovations and rebranding that the theatre has undergone through Nicky, the Head of Communications. Nicky showed us prototypes of the new logo, and the process of evaluating the pros and cons of each to align with the core philosophy of providing accessible, inclusive art for all. We also learnt more about this during our workshops with Programming and Marketing.

Overall, this week has been a pivotal experience in our theatre journey which has allowed us not only to develop our skills within the theatre, but to spend time with other likeminded creatives. The importance of accessible education in creative careers is something we can all agree on because the world needs Cambridge – and Cambridge needs The Arts!