Up-and-coming theatre professionals join New Vic team for Kiln Sparks backstage training week

14th June 2024

This week the New Vic hosted Kiln Sparks, a five-day residential course in backstage theatre making. Eight emerging theatre talents took part in the programme which provided an opportunity to learn about theatre making in-the-round.

Participants explored the operation of lighting and sound desks, worked alongside directors, tried their hand at theatre design and stage management, whilst examining specific considerations to making theatre in-the-round. As part of the training, the group were able to watch current production The Haunting from the control box and backstage and observe how the technical process worked in real time.

Kiln Sparks was led by New Vic Associate Director Vicki Dela Amedume MBE alongside Assistant Director Mandeep Glover. It also featured workshops by the New Vic technical team and visits from New Earth Theatre Executive Director Lian Wilkinson and Artistic Director Ailin Conant, design practitioner Victoria Smart, sound practitioner Jamie Lu and direction practitioner Natalie Wong. 

The programme was created with the aim of helping to diversify the pool of Global Majority backstage talent and expand the industry’s knowledge base of making theatre specifically in-the-round.

Check out some pictures of what the group got up to below (photography by Andrew Billington):

Photo Gallery

Kiln Sparks backstage training week participants in the costume store. Credit: Andrew Billington

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