Questions and Answers with Claire

What do you do?
I’m the Education Officer. I work with youth of all ages.

How long have you been at it?
About 2 years

What was your very first role in theatre?
Drama teacher to the theatre’s youngest youth groups: Q-Club 1 & 2. I worked with Q-Club for 10 years before taking this job.

What else have you done in theatre?
I have performed at the Queen’s Theatre with various local drama groups and have also worked backstage at the theatre – on the follow spot (spotlight) for a number of shows.

"Every day is different!"

Have you got qualifications?
BTEC with Chickenshed Theatre Company

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I ran a youth theatre group in Dagenham and my day job was in an office.

How did you make the move to working in theatre?
I got a lot of practical experience under my belt first.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress

What do you do all day?
I do everything from answering phone queries and writing letters to going out to schools to do drama workshops, planning and teaching youth theatre sessions and organising fun things for our youth theatre to do. I also coordinate our work experience programme, run backstage tours, the list goes on….

What’s the best thing about your job?
Every day is different!

And the worst?
Sometimes working long, long, long hours!

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Youth Theatre Coordinator

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Experience goes such a long way.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Education Officer
Reporting to: Education Manager

Primary Objectives
To play a key role in the Queen’s Theatre Education and Outreach Department in order to maintain the current level of success and develop the programme for the future.

Main Duties

Youth Arts Programme
- To lead and develop the Queen’s Theatre Youth Programme including:
- devising short and long-term programmes of work
- leading termly workshop sessions (at least one group per term)
- leading workshops during holiday periods
- managing youth showcases
- providing pastoral care
- managing the Jack Petchey Achievement Awards Scheme
- researching and securing performance opportunities and extra-curricular activities
- attendance at Press Nights where Youth Programme members are present
- supervision of Youth Programme members at additional events

Theatre in Education
- To develop and implement booking procedures for TIE productions.
- To create and develop travel information packs for all tours.
- To work with the Education Manager to
- monitor TIE productions
- develop show-linked workshops

Workshop Programme
- To work with the Education Manager by
- leading workshops in schools
- reviewing and revising the workshop programme.

Work Experience Programme
- To manage and develop the theatre’s work experience programme.

Dance Programme
- To co-manage the youth dance platform First Feat with the Education Manager.

Community Projects
- To assist the Education Manager with the theatre’s community play and other community projects as required.

Marketing & Evaluation
- To manage the evaluation procedures for reporting internally and to funding bodies.

- To work with the Marketing Officer to maintain specific sections of the Queen’s Theatre Website:
- Youth Theatre Programme
- Youth Dance Programme
- Work Experience
- Backstage Tours and Talks.

- To maintain and develop the department’s contact database and to co ordinate all distribution and mailings.

Access
- To work with the Education Manager to develop access opportunities.

- To co-ordinate and develop the annual London Open House event.

Job Descripton from July 2006