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Meet Charlotte James

Sound Technician

Charlotte is an apprentice sound technician at the Royal Shakespeare Company

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What I do

My job is all about helping to bring live shows to life with sound. That might mean setting up microphones for a live band, playing pre-recorded sound effects at just the right moment during a play, or working with composers and sound designers to make sure the sound matches the vision of the show. Everything I do helps the audience enjoy the performance, whether that’s making sure they can hear every word or adding the sound effects that make a scene feel real and bring performances to life.

How I became a technician

I got into theatre tech when I was 13 or 14. My school had a technical theatre club which I did outside of lessons, that’s where I did my first show. Looking back, it wasn’t very organised, but I loved it! Working on school plays gave me loads of hands-on experience, which helped me later on.

How I became a technician

At school, I took GCSEs in French, Latin, history, geography and even ancient Greek. After that, I studied a mixture of subjects for an international baccalaureate, which my school offered instead of A-levels. The big turning point came when a teacher asked me to be a stage manager for his youth company’s show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

How I became a technician

I was 17 when I helped at the Fringe Festival and it was such a great experience. While I was there, one of the venue managers gave me loads of career advice, and another technician offered me a job for the next year. That helped me realise this could be more than just a hobby.

How I became a technician

I took a gap year, planning to figure out if I could really work in theatre. I had a university offer to study classical civilisation with English, but I put it on hold. Then, just six weeks into my gap year, I started my apprenticeship at the Royal Shakespeare Company!

A typical day in my working life

Every day is different, but most of the time I’m working on live shows in Stratford. Some shows have live bands who wear microphones. Other shows have pre-recorded sound effects and music, or even fully digital music like electro-pop. I use software called QLab to play sound effects and music at the exact right moment. Sometimes I look after radio mics too.

A typical day in my working life

One day I might be setting up speakers. Another day, I might be helping a sound designer build a system for a brand-new show. It’s never boring, and I’ve worked on lots of shows now. My favourite was Twelfth Night, it had a massive organ on stage that moved!

What I love about my job

It’s a really fun job. Yes, there are technical parts and long hours, but in the end, we’re doing it to make people happy. Seeing people enjoy a show, especially young people or families who’ve never seen Shakespeare before, that’s the best bit. Even when it’s tough, I remind myself that for someone in the audience, this could be their dream night out. I get to help make that happen every day.

The skills I use most

When I started, the most important thing was being willing to learn. You don’t need to know loads of technical stuff straight away. Communication and teamwork are really important too. As I’ve learned more, I’ve picked up how to use software like QLab and how to work a sound desk. Knowing a bit about music, like how to count beats in a bar, is useful too, especially when cues (that’s when a sound needs to play) need to happen in time with the music.

Everything I do helps the audience enjoy the performance.
For someone in the audience, this could be their dream night out. I get to help make that happen every day.

A little more about my everyday role

The best part of working in a team

At the RSC, our sound team has about 15 people, which is quite big! Some of them have been here for over 20 years and know loads, so I can always ask them for help. Others are new like me, so we’re learning together. It’s nice to be part of a group where everyone has different skills. We all help each other and make the shows happen as a team.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

Operating a show on my own in nearly every venue at the Royal Shakespeare Company has been amazing. When you’re the one pressing the buttons to make all the sounds happen at just the right time, it’s equal parts scary and exciting. You need full concentration, but it’s such a buzz.

A surprising fact about my job

People don’t always realise that theatre can be a real career. At school, everyone expected me to go to university and do something academic. I could have, but I followed what I love instead. Now, I’ve got a proper qualification and real work experience. I’ve learned that this path is just as valid as going to university, even if it’s less traditional.

The next steps in my career journey

My apprenticeship has just finished, so I’m looking for my next job. It might be in panto, maybe on a cruise ship, I’ll go where the work is! I’m hoping to keep building up my experience and keep working in theatre.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

If you love theatre, go for it. It can be a real job, not just a hobby. You don’t have to follow the usual path of university if that’s not right for you. There are lots of ways to get into this career, and you don’t have to know everything to start.

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