Behind the scenes at Theatre Royal Plymouth: students gain hands-on insight into theatre design and production

<p>The collaboration grew from conversations at an Industry Liaison meeting between Arts University Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth, the UK’s <strong>largest and best-attended regional producing theatre</strong>. Its state-of-the-art TR2 workshops house internationally recognised design and construction projects, rehearsal studios and an award-winning Creative Learning programme. </p> <p>Over five sessions at TR2, students explored the creative and logistical foundations of live performance production, from the initial brief and design stages through to team management, communication and cost control. Sessions were led by members of TR2’s Project Development and Finance teams, including <strong>Project Manager Katie Hrbek</strong> with contributions from <strong>Claire Wilson</strong>, Director of Operations - Finance.</p> <p>Participating students were selected from multiple courses following an application and interview process:</p><ul><li><strong>Woodie Rowe</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-interior-design">BA (Hons) Interior Design &amp; Styling</a></li><li><strong>Gracie Carter</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-film-screen-arts">BA (Hons) Film &amp; Screen Arts</a></li><li><strong>Mitchell Fawcett</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fine-art">BA (Hons) Fine Art</a></li><li><strong>Jo Gage</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a></li><li><strong>Isabel Kolb</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a></li><li><strong>Carys Robinson</strong> – <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting Drawing &amp; Printmaking</a></li></ul>

<p>Under Sebastian’s direction, the TR2 team opened up real workflows and decision-making processes that connect design, making and finance.</p> <p>“I think the most interesting part for me was to see how all the departments and teams work together. The whole ecosystem.” — <strong>Mitchell Fawcett</strong>, BA (Hons) Fine Art</p> <p>The cohort described the experience as a “microcosm” of how a creative business operates, mirroring specialist roles and collaboration across departments. A tour of the workshops brought earlier sessions to life.</p> <p>“The day we had a tour of the workshops was incredible. Having seen the drawings in the past sessions and then the progress in the different workshops was really inspiring.” — <strong>Isabel Kolb</strong>, BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</p> <p>A dedicated finance session also helped students better understand the commercial realities behind creative ambition when it comes to creating for the stage.</p> <p>“It was fascinating to learn about the side of theatre the public rarely sees. When I saw a poster with the four biggest-selling shows of the year, I realised I’d bought tickets to three of them!” — <strong>Jo Gage</strong>, BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</p> <p>Sebastian’s complex Venn diagram mapping TR2 roles helped students see how responsibilities overlap in practice, from welding and woodwork to scenic painting, project development and finance.</p>

<p>Working alongside different disciplines sharpened the students’ practices.</p> <p>“I think that they were able to keep creativity and art at the forefront of everything they do in TR2. One member of staff even mentioned that it was like an extended art college.” — <strong>Mitchell Fawcett</strong></p> <p>Students reported tangible outcomes for their creative development.</p> <p>“I’ve definitely felt inspired by the experience. In fact, I’ve since started a welding course to add new skills to my own creative practice.” — <strong>Jo Gage</strong></p> <p>Several participants were already regular Theatre Royal Plymouth audience members, reinforcing the project’s civic relevance and connection to local culture.</p>

<p>Sebastian Soper, Head of Project Development at Theatre Royal Plymouth, said: “What a wonderful project we enjoyed working with Arts University Plymouth students at TR2. The ability and intellectual curiosity of the students at Arts University Plymouth never ceases to amaze us. We worked with six students from a wide range of courses, which reflects many of the educational journeys within members of our own team.</p> <p>"It was great to spend time speaking with the students. Their insight into trends and technology offered an interesting perspective on how we work now and how we might work in the future. We were able to let the students explore our process from origination to delivery, looking at everything from drawing and model making through each stage of production, including costing and finance. We would gladly work with students from Arts University Plymouth again if we have the chance. I’d thoroughly recommend working with them in this way.”</p>

<p>Arts University Plymouth’s close partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth reflects its broader mission to <strong>extend creative opportunities through collaboration</strong> and prepare students for sustainable, fulfilling careers in the creative industries. As Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth is home to a thriving cultural ecosystem, from <strong>MIRROR</strong> and <strong>The Box</strong> to <strong>KARST</strong> and <strong>Ocean Studios</strong>, making it an ideal environment for students to connect learning with professional practice.</p> <p>Arts University Plymouth has been named the <strong>top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK for student satisfaction for four consecutive years (2022–2025)</strong> and ranked <strong>#2 in the UK for Teaching Excellence (Daily Mail University Guide 2025)</strong>, underscoring its commitment to a world-class student experience.</p>

<p>Following the success of this first programme, both institutions are exploring future opportunities to connect Arts University Plymouth students with Theatre Royal Plymouth’s creative and technical teams, building on a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers, designers and creative professionals.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theatreroyal.com/">Find out more about Theatre Royal Plymouth and TR2</a></li><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses">Discover creative degrees at Arts University Plymouth</a></li></ul>