Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Backstage Centre…

My name is Robin Auld Director of Operations here at The Backstage Centre

After four years of funding,

planning

designing

and building

…lots of building…

The Backstage Centre opened in October 2012

Causing much celebration

A little late…

But bang on budget…

…and with an enviable level of build quality

It really is a building to be proud of

But why, when a cultural sector such as Britain’s, that is seen as vibrant, successful and expanding is it necessary to develop and build a complex piece of infrastructure such as The Backstage Centre?

IMAGE TO BE INSERTED The UK’s music and theatre industries are world-class …and therefore need world-class training

The Backstage Centre responds to an identified need for new jobs and these growing industries Growth that cannot be matched by current training offers

The Backstage Centre and others like it, in partnership with colleges and industry training providers, are crucial to further developing the technical skills and expertise needed to support the fast-growing creative industries

In a sector where there is a lack of venue space available for training activity due to constant revenue earning usage, and a sector that traditionally works unsocial hours

…and because existing training provision often lacks the scale and technical infrastructure to match venues that graduates may work in once in the profession

Students often lack access to professional practitioners and practice, as it is difficult for college students to train on professional performances and in professional and commercial venues

Meaning that students often leave college Lacking the vocational skills necessary to get a job in the sector

So The Backstage Centre offers a dedicated meeting point for technicians, producers, creative teams and learners of all ages and at every stage of their careers - from world-renowned international artists to young people taking their first career steps

Working with the Further Education sector and industry training providers, the centre will deliver training that helps to develop the technical skills and expertise needed to support the fast-growing music, theatre and live events industries to enable them to achieve their economic potential

The Centre will offer young learners the chance to experience real-time training with some of the world’s best bands and theatre companies in a large-scale industry-standard venue, strengthening their skills and giving them the practical experience of working in a real-world environment

For those already working in the industry, The Backstage Centre offers a purpose-built facility for: rehearsing and preparing productions

For those already working in the industry, The Backstage Centre offers a purpose-built facility for: rehearsing and preparing productions testing and developing new equipment

For those already working in the industry, The Backstage Centre offers a purpose-built facility for: rehearsing and preparing productions testing and developing new equipment Developing techniques and training

in an environment that gives them time and space

time to get it just right…

and the space to do the big stuff…

a main space that can suspend…

stage…

light…

film…

and perform…

So venues such as The Backstage Centre are a crucial to developing the technical expertise needed to support the creative industries

The Backstage Centre is also an important part of regional regeneration, and offers career opportunities to those for whom academic or cost considerations may deny them entry. By stimulating interest in careers that have traditionally been in the dark, The Backstage Centre offers aspirational change, allowing hard to reach young people a real career choice

So let’s have a look around

Lights please…

3 different types of ceiling grid…

Traditional theatre ceiling as found above stages all over the world

Open gantry ceilings found in many rock and concert venues

…and tension wire grids, which represent the future of safe working at height environments

Meaning students get experience on most venue types in the country

Heaps of power Dock doors that allow heavy goods vehicles drive in capability And a range of technical and training rooms throughout the building

Combine to create a facility for the 21 st century

Thank you Photos by Caz Shillabeer and Robin Auld