YV:IDemystify
Recruitment
IN THE THEATRE SECTOR
In partnership with Backstage Niche and Young Vic Taking Part
Wednesday 31 March, 4pm-6pm
Free, only one ticket can be booked per person
THIS PRODUCTION IS NOW SOLD OUT
See below for wait list information
Can't book tickets?
Due to popular demand, this event, ‘Recruitment in the Theatre Sector’, is now full. If you’d like to be added to our waiting list for a ticket, please drop an email to boxoffice@youngvic.org with the subject line “Recruitment in the Theatre Sector – Waiting List", to be added.
We will be in touch if we are able to allocate you a ticket. Please bear in mind tickets may only become available a short time before the event if due to take place.
About
Recruitment processes in the theatre sector can be daunting and opaque for both applicants and employers. Ultimately, both parties benefit from a candidate having the space and form to best present their potential, credentials and vision. However, certain common practices in recruitment, as well as frequent pressures on applicants, can become real stumbling blocks. Perhaps certain types of application processes inherently favour certain types of candidates. Or the business of recruitment doesn’t always reflect the nature of the job.
As a candidate, how do you best present yourself, especially when you’re making a lateral career move, upskilling, or transferring skills from a different discipline? And when applying for a theatre job can feel like a job in itself, how can organisations ensure that each stage of the application process focusses on what’s most important? This event will look at some of the systemic challenges in recruitment processes, and think through obstacles and strategies to overcome then, regardless of job types and disciplines.
This event will see Shereen Jasmin Phillips (Director of Taking Part at Young Vic) and Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng (Founder/Director of Backstage Niche) in conversation, convened by Young Vic Creative Associate Teunkie Van Der Sluijs.
Backstage Niche is a network and community of freelancers in theatre from varied Global majorities and socio-economic backgrounds, aimed at informing and encouraging a younger generation to consider the possibilities of a career in backstage theatre. Through workshops, panel talks and theatre trips, it contributes to opening the minds to a new generation of possible technicians and creative makers of the future. The thought that theatre can only be accessed if you are from a specific social-economic background hinders people from other communities to think about a career within it; by allowing that access for young people to talk to professionals that look like them and to see and hear what they do is crucial for the potential future recruits of backstage theatre. Secondly, Backstage Niche represents the niche group who work behind the curtain, and thirdly it provides support to those from a culturally diverse background studying Production Arts and entering the workforce of the theatre industry as graduates.
In partnership with Backstage Niche and Young Vic Taking Part
Backstage Niche is a network and community of freelancers in theatre from varied Global majorities and socio-economic backgrounds, aimed at informing and encouraging a younger generation to consider the possibilities of a career in backstage theatre. Through workshops, panel talks and theatre trips, it contributes to opening the minds to a new generation of possible technicians and creative makers of the future. The thought that theatre can only be accessed if you are from a specific social-economic background hinders people from other communities to think about a career within it; by allowing that access for young people to talk to professionals that look like them and to see and hear what they do is crucial for the potential future recruits of backstage theatre. Secondly, Backstage Niche represents the niche group who work behind the curtain, and thirdly it provides support to those from a culturally diverse background studying Production Arts and entering the workforce of the theatre industry as graduates.
Shereen Jasmin Phillips graduated from RCSSD in 2010 with a degree in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. She has worked within artistic and engagement departments at various London Theatres. She was Project Manager for Kiln Theatre's 2016 Takeover festival, Barbican Centre's 2017 Dialogue festival and Outreach Producer for Barbican Cinema. She was previously Assistant Producer for National Theatre's Pericles as part of their Public Acts programme and is currently Director of Taking Part at Young Vic. Shereen is also Trustee of Talawa Theatre Company, Reader at NT and a Writer – her short film was screened as part of Royal Court’s Windrush event in April 2019 and recently selected to be part of Cardiff's international film festival in October 2020.
Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng studied at Rose Bruford where she has recently been appointed as a Board Governor, in addition to this Sylvia is a trustee of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and the Founder/Director of Backstage Niche. Some of her theatre credits include: A Beautiful City, Besieged, Three NYT Playing Up, A Guide to Second Date Sex, Strong Arm Edinburgh Festival: Underbelly Venue, Putting Words in Your Mouth, Hive City Legacy Roundhouse, Halfbreed India Tour, Nine Night (Dorfman), Pericles (Olivier) National Theatre, Barbershop Chronicles USA and Canada Tour, Richard II The Globe Theatre: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner Royal Court (Upstairs) Theatre, Fairview Young Vic, Rockets and Blue Lights Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre and My White Best Friend (And other letters left unsaid) The Bunker Theatre/Royal Court Theatre: via live Zoom, Typical (film), Halfbreed (film) Soho Theatre, Live Newspaper: Edition 2 Royal Court Theatre.
Live captioning for this event will be provided by Otter.ai