A part-time and flexible alternative to expensive and lengthy degrees and diplomas, the Serena Fenwick Programme aims to give you the basic level of knowledge, skills, contacts and recognition to go out and apply for your first proper job in stage management.
The Serena Fenwick Programme is designed as a turbo-charged introduction to professional stage management. It starts by assuming that you know nothing about opera or stage management, but you’ll leave with a solid professional understanding of how a stage management team operates and a good level of practical skills. You’ll also have made connections and contacts within the industry that will help you get those all-important first few stage management jobs.
Training will cover things like:
+ the basics: terminology, theory of stagecraft, theatre and opera conventions
+ what is an SM, ASM, DSM, CSM etc.
+ stage management paperwork
+ touring
+ marking up a rehearsal room
+ what makes opera stage management different
+ score reading, music and cueing
+ propping (including tricky things like food, blood and weapons)
+ related tasks like payroll and event management
+ networking and contact-building
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Taking part in any BYO programme is free, and there is no application fee beyond your membership to BYO hub.
We offer reduced or free BYO hub premium membership to care leavers, people granted asylum in the UK, people seeking asylum in the UK, full or part time carers, people with no immediate family or no connection to them, single parents, people with physical or mental disabilities and people with long term illnesses. Email hub@byo.org.uk to explain your circumstances. If your circumstances aren't listed but you feel like you need help, email us anyway.
You don’t need any ‘proper’ stage management experience because we’ll be starting from the very beginning. But a bit of understanding would be useful – maybe you’ve done some backstage jobs in student or amateur theatre, or you’ve been involved in small-scale theatre in some other way. Maybe, even, you’ve had an entirely unrelated job that needs the same qualities, things like: reliability and resilience, good communications skills (especially under pressure), being super organised, flexibility and initiative. You’ll also need to be serious about a career in stage management – by the time you finish the programme you’ll be ready to take your first professional stage management jobs. We’ll support you in those next steps so we want people on the programme to be eager to take them.
To be able to apply for the Serena Fenwick programme for stage managers you need to have a premium hub membership, and you'll need to make sure your membership remains active throughout that process. It costs just £33 a year and unlocks access to all applications and live and online events that run throughout the year. If you're not already a premium member you'll be asked to become one before you can fill out the application form.