Hugo Blackwood, Creative Venue Technician

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What I do

My job is all about bringing stories to life on stage. I help build and run theatre shows – from setting up lights and sound, to operating moving stage parts.

I love knowing that I’m part of something that makes people happy – when audiences leave smiling, laughing and chatting, it shows we’ve done our job well.

Creative Venue Technician Hugo, sitting at a lighting desk backstage, watching a show on monitors and controlling lighting cues.

How I became a technician

For my GCSE options, I chose music and drama because I enjoyed them.

I actually planned to become an actor at first, but everything changed when my school built a new theatre. I saw all the flashy, brand-new lighting equipment and thought it looked amazing.

How I became a technician

One day, I found a lighting desk that no one knew how to use, so I taught myself by reading the manual and experimenting. That’s when I realised I wanted to work behind the scenes.

After my GCSEs, I went to college and started a Level 3 technical theatre course. But after a year, I felt I wasn’t getting enough hands-on experience. Theatre is something you need to learn by doing, not just sitting in a classroom.

How I became a technician

I started applying for apprenticeships and was lucky to get one at Chichester Festival Theatre. Now I’m doing a Level 3 creative industries production technician apprenticeship.

It’s been perfect for me because I get real experience, a qualification and I’m earning money at the same time.

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A typical day in my working life

Every day is different, which is one of the best parts of my job. On a show day, I usually start around 4pm.

First, we reset the stage – putting props and set pieces back in place, cleaning the stage and making sure everything is safe for the actors. And if I’m working with lighting or sound, I’ll check all the equipment is working properly.

A typical day in my working life

We usually have a dinner break from 5pm to 6pm. Then, the audience starts arriving, and we get ready to start. About five minutes before the show, I go to my position.

During the show, I follow cues – these are instructions for when things need to happen, like moving scenery or changing lights. The show usually finishes at around 9pm, and we’re out by about 10pm.

A typical day in my working life

On a ‘fit-up’ day, when we’re building a new show, I might start at 9am. We begin with a health and safety talk, then spend the day building sets, rigging lights or installing automation systems which move the set, like a revolving stage.

Fit-up days can be long, sometimes finishing at 10pm, but they’re really exciting because you see a show come together from scratch.

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Creative Venue Technician Hugo, working with a colleague in an empty auditorium, fixing a stage light.

What I love about my job

I love how varied it is. No two days are the same. One day I might be building part of a set, and the next I could be programming lights or working on an automation.

I also love that I’m always learning. Even now, there’s always something new to pick up, whether that’s a new skill or a different way of doing something.

It never gets boring. It doesn’t even feel like work to me – it feels like a hobby that I get paid to do!

The skills I use most

Communication is the most important skill I use. I’m constantly talking to my team, whether that’s giving instructions, sharing information or reacting quickly if something goes wrong during a show.

Teamwork is also really important. We often have less than a week to build an entire show, so everyone has to work together efficiently.

You don’t need to know everything at the start. A lot of technical skills, like using equipment or building sets, can be learned on the job. What matters most is having the right attitude and being willing to learn.

One day I might be building part of a set, and the next I could be programming lights or working on an automation.

It never gets boring. It doesn’t even feel like work to me – it feels like a hobby that I get paid to do!

Believe in yourself and keep going, even if things don’t work out straight away. Things have a way of working out, especially when you keep trying.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

My team feels like a family. Everyone is supportive, friendly and happy to help each other. There’s a real mix of people – different ages, backgrounds and experiences – which makes it really interesting.

Because everyone is so positive, it makes the job easier and more enjoyable. We work hard together, but we also have fun and can relax together after work.

My favourite piece of equipment

My favourite piece of equipment is the lighting desk. It’s a control panel with lots of buttons that lets me programme all the stage lights.

I can decide where lights point, what colours they are and how they change during a show. Each lighting setup is saved as a ‘cue’, and during the show I press ‘go’ at the right times, to move through the different cues.

I love it because it’s what first got me into theatre, and there’s always more to learn. The possibilities are endless.

What I like to do in my spare time

I still play the piano and enjoy going to watch theatre shows. I also like spending time with friends when I can.

I don’t have loads of free time because theatre hours can be busy, but I don’t mind because I love what I do.

My school days

At school, I was really into musical theatre. I did acting exams through LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) and reached grade 8. I also played piano up to grade 8.

I was also into athletics and even did hammer throw, where I ended up being third in the country after just a few months.

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

One of my biggest achievements was working on the musical Top Hat. I had just come back from surgery and couldn’t do any heavy lifting. I was meant to learn lots of roles, but instead I was put on automation (operating moving stage parts).

After just one day of learning, I had to take over and operate the system on my own. It was a big challenge, but I did it. By the end of the show run, I was operating every performance. I was really proud because I went from knowing nothing to doing a full professional role.

A surprising fact about my job

Automation can be quite dangerous. It involves large parts of the set being moved by powerful motors, like stages that spin or floors that open.

Because of that, safety and trust are really important. You have to stay focused and communicate clearly at all times.

The next steps in my career journey

After finishing my apprenticeship, I want to specialise in automation. I’m applying for roles in theatres, including touring shows and in the West End too.

I’d like to try touring early in my career because it gives lots of different experiences.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Believe in yourself and keep going, even if things don’t work out straight away. I didn’t get every opportunity I applied for, but the right one came along in the end.

Things have a way of working out, especially when you keep trying.