Part of the Etc.
Dreams of working on one of the West End’s biggest shows are about to come true for Heather Bain.
And while you won’t see the 23-year-old on stage or taking a bow during the curtain call, the role is sure to be a roaring success.
The theatre technician from Guisborough has bagged her biggest gig yet, securing a job as stage crew with The Lion King at London’s Lyceum Theatre.
“I still can’t believe it, it’s just madness,” said the former Laurence Jackson School pupil, who has spent the last year honing her craft as an apprentice at Stockton Riverside College.
“It’s the dream job and even when I applied I didn’t really expect to hear back.”
As it turns out Heather, who cut her teeth volunteering at Middlesbrough Theatre and doing seasonal work at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was just what the production team were looking for.
Fresh from Stockton Riverside College’s festive production of Peter Pan, her skillset and enthusiasm for the job made her the ideal candidate for the role.
The Lyceum Theatre, a 2000-seat West End theatre, has been home to the musical version of The Lion King since 1999.
Looking forward to getting started, Heather said: “It is pretty nerve wracking going into an established show like that but I am really excited.”
Discovering her love of working life backstage helping out during a school production, she has never wanted to do anything else.
Having tried a few different things after leaving school, she said: “This is what I have always wanted to do, but it was just finding a way to get into it professionally.”
No surprise then that when the chance came up to work as an apprentice theatre technician at Stockton Riverside College Heather snapped it up.
“It allowed me to turn my part-time hobby into a full-time job,” she said. “And the experience and additional knowledge it has given me, as well as the qualification, meant I have every aspect covered.”
Even with years of experience behind her, having worked on a vast range of different shows, Heather said the technical demands of The Lion King will still be a challenge.
Working eight shows a week as part of a stage crew of 18, she said: “I can just imagine what it will be like on that first show waiting for the lights to go up.
“I love The Lion King, and have done ever since we did The Circle of Life as part of a variety show at school. That makes it extra special to me. It really is the dream job.”
Fancy a career working backstage? Stockton Riverside College currently has a vacancy for an apprentice theatre technician (level 2), for details call Chloe Woods on 01642 865 557 or apply on the national apprenticeship service website. Applications close on Sunday March 5th.
Want to know more about apprenticeships? Come along to Stockton Riverside College's apprenticeship open evening on Wednesday 8th March from 5:30pm - 7:30pm.
And while you won’t see the 23-year-old on stage or taking a bow during the curtain call, the role is sure to be a roaring success.
The theatre technician from Guisborough has bagged her biggest gig yet, securing a job as stage crew with The Lion King at London’s Lyceum Theatre.“I still can’t believe it, it’s just madness,” said the former Laurence Jackson School pupil, who has spent the last year honing her craft as an apprentice at Stockton Riverside College.
“It’s the dream job and even when I applied I didn’t really expect to hear back.”
As it turns out Heather, who cut her teeth volunteering at Middlesbrough Theatre and doing seasonal work at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was just what the production team were looking for.Fresh from Stockton Riverside College’s festive production of Peter Pan, her skillset and enthusiasm for the job made her the ideal candidate for the role.
The Lyceum Theatre, a 2000-seat West End theatre, has been home to the musical version of The Lion King since 1999.
Looking forward to getting started, Heather said: “It is pretty nerve wracking going into an established show like that but I am really excited.”
Discovering her love of working life backstage helping out during a school production, she has never wanted to do anything else.
Having tried a few different things after leaving school, she said: “This is what I have always wanted to do, but it was just finding a way to get into it professionally.”
No surprise then that when the chance came up to work as an apprentice theatre technician at Stockton Riverside College Heather snapped it up.
“It allowed me to turn my part-time hobby into a full-time job,” she said. “And the experience and additional knowledge it has given me, as well as the qualification, meant I have every aspect covered.”
Even with years of experience behind her, having worked on a vast range of different shows, Heather said the technical demands of The Lion King will still be a challenge.
Working eight shows a week as part of a stage crew of 18, she said: “I can just imagine what it will be like on that first show waiting for the lights to go up.
“I love The Lion King, and have done ever since we did The Circle of Life as part of a variety show at school. That makes it extra special to me. It really is the dream job.”
Fancy a career working backstage? Stockton Riverside College currently has a vacancy for an apprentice theatre technician (level 2), for details call Chloe Woods on 01642 865 557 or apply on the national apprenticeship service website. Applications close on Sunday March 5th.
Want to know more about apprenticeships? Come along to Stockton Riverside College's apprenticeship open evening on Wednesday 8th March from 5:30pm - 7:30pm.
