Frinton Summer Theatre: Addressing sector barriers through meaningful work experience
Frinton Summer Theatre is renowned for an annual programme of high-quality professional performances presented in the suburbs of Tendring, Essex. Supported by volunteers, the theatre has reflected on the socio-economic barriers for young people seeking to gain work experience without sufficient financial support, and how this may create barriers for entry-level experience within the sector. Through the Arts and Cultural Fund, the project has provided meaningful work experience to young people in the local community and contributed to their professional development.
The Story of [practitioner Name]
Frinton Summer Theatre, located in Frinton-on-sea, was founded in 1934. The company is the oldest surviving ‘weekly’ Summer Repertory Theatre company in England and produces a season of eight productions each year during July and August. An essential part of the landscape of professional theatre both locally and nationally, Sir Ian McKellen described it as “a jewel amongst the necklace of theatres” when he performed his one-man show at the theatre in Spring 2019. Recognized as the incubator for the future talent of British theatre, the company’s long-term ambition is to create a permanent all year-round multipurpose arts centre in Frinton-on-sea. In 2019 Frinton Summer Theatre were awarded a heritage lottery grant to produce a book and a digital archive of the unique and rich cultural history of our theatre – engaging and working with the Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust. Her Majesty the Queen received a copy of our book and expressed her gratitude and support for the theatre in a letter in 2021.
The Opportunity
Importantly, Frinton Summer Theatre have identified Tendring as an economically diverse community, which has a great deal of untapped creativity. Young people and early career professionals are at the heart of the economic and creative development of the area. Each year The Frinton Summer Theatre receives requests from lots of young people to work with them. However, the challenge is that the opportunities at the theatre are often low-paid or voluntary positions. Consequently, these experiences go to those with more fortunate circumstances, i.e., those who can afford not to earn money whilst gaining valuable experience. For this reason, the opportunity in face of this challenge was to offer meaningful paid work experience to those who need it most and not just those who could afford to take part in it.
Why the group or practitioner Chose to partner with ECC
Frinton Summer Theatre indicated that Essex County Council’s ‘Everyone’s Essex’ Campaign aligned closely with their goals to provide meaningful work experience and widen participation in the community. In particular, they identified with how the strategy focused on providing opportunities to wider sections of the community, empowering entrepreneurialism and levelling up agendas which could facilitated in their own project by supporting young people in their career planning, education, development and implementation within the theatre sector.
How ECC / the culture team Responded
Frinton Summer Theatre’s application to the Arts and Cultural Fund clearly outlined a commitment to ‘Everyone Essex’ and the benefit to residents in view of widening participation and providing entry-level opportunities and work experience for young people who otherwise may be limited to pursue opportunities in the theatre sector. The importance of providing opportunity to those who would otherwise face barriers was the most important consideration within this project strand. In addition to awarding this project funding, the ECC culture team has supported the project via regular catch up’s, helping wherever needed in terms of marketing, PR, and general project advise.
“ECC provided clear outlines and guidance. Help was always on hand when developing our application and it was always encouraging to receive feedback and good wishes as we started to deliver our plan in the summer”. (Emma Filby, Assistant Producer, Frinton Summer Theatre).
The Results
As a result of the Arts and Cultural Fund, Frinton Summer Theatre were able to offer meaningful work experience to five young people from the Tendring area, to learn about all areas of production in a working theatre. This included two placements for students to shadow professional designers and stage managers during the summer season. The placements were given to two early career professionals – one who is now starting a design course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This opportunity has allowed them to learn essential skills around time management, budgeting, working with others and delivering projects within a professional setting including a paying audience.
In addition to this, Ella Rose Howe and Neve Hopkins led craft and children’s activities at the Big Top Tent in August, allowing them to use their creative skills and gain experience working with young children. The craft sessions were over-subscribed due to popularity and demand in the area and have received rave reviews and feedback locally.
“Working on the box office allowed me to learn how the theatre works from start to finish. From advertising, sales and production; I feel that I now have a very clear view of all of the logistics to put a show on. I will use the skills I’ve learned from this experience in my studies and when developing my own projects when I graduate” – Jay Hopping, who worked as Frinton Summer Theatre’s Box Office Manager over the summer, and who is now starting a three-year course in professional Acting at East 15 Acting School, University of Essex.
Additionally, those working in the front of house were able to learn essential skills to support them in finding better paid work whilst studying: “Working in the front of house bar has given me experience in making and selling drinks to the public. I am hoping to find a job in a bar in London to help support myself and this experience has given me some professional experience to add to my CV, which will make it more likely for me to get a better job to support myself through University” – Flynn McCarthy.
“From a user experience perspective, the theatre had a fun and vibrant feeling this year and customers have fed back on their approval and appreciation of the front of house crew. Communities work best when they are diverse by ways of age and economic background, and we found that a wonderful synergy between our friends group (Consisting mainly of retired local people) and our young recruits had developed which ultimately improved the customer experience.
We hope to be able to deliver a programme like this again next year. We would very much like to offer these experiences to another group of young people next year – allowing them to gain some valuable experience before heading off to university, drama school training or professional work”. (Emma Filby, Assistant Producer, Frinton Summer Theatre).
Getting involved
Here at Essex County Council, we are passionate about Arts & Culture and keen to support projects across the county. If you have an idea you’d like to share with us, take a look at the Arts & Cultural Fund webpage on the Explore Essex website here and get in touch via email us: culture@essex.gov.uk
