17 November 2017

Emma is currently working as the interim Stage One Administrator and SOLT Receptionist. Prior to this she was on the 18 month Stage One Trainee Producer Placement at English Touring Theatre, which she began after graduating from UCL with a BA Philosophy, during which she produced a range of award winning Musical Theatre and Drama. Alongside Stage One, she is a freelance producer for Flute Theatre, and has just finished working on their co-production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for young people with autism with the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.

At the moment you are…

I’m the Administrator for Stage One and Receptionist for the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre. It’s been a baptism of fire working across three very busy organisations but it’s been an invaluable insight into the hub of British Theatre, as well as being immersed in supporting an immensely talented group of new theatre producers. I’m also booking a European tour for Flute Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night, and finalising plans to take A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the US in January.  

Last show you saw and loved?

Earlier this week I saw Network at the National and it absolutely blew me away. Bryan Cranston was completely electric- it’s a shockingly prescient and culturally relevant tale, considering the film came out 30 years ago, and Jan Versweyveld’s design is the most stunning I’ve seen in that space for a while. 

What do you think is the best thing about the Theatre Industry? I’m always struck by how supportive everyone is of each other’s work- it’s a fantastically caring and warm industry. It’s also brilliant being surrounded by people who  do their jobs simply because they love them, and because they are passionate about making high quality, successful theatre.

What does Stage One mean to you? Stage One has been the most invaluable support, right from the start of my career in theatre. It’s a fountain of knowledge and resources vital to anyone looking to make a career in producing. My time at ETT not only gave me the skills to produce, but grew my confidence and let me put everything I’d learnt into practice. It’s also meant that I’ve met a wealth of talented, lovely and likeminded people- Stage One really is a priceless network to have. 

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

I had the joy of working with Rachel Tackley at the start of my Stage One Traineeship at ETT, and her parting gift (now immortalised and framed on the ETT office wall) was the following: “It’s only theatre. Can’t eat it; can’t wear it.”