What I do

At the moment, I’m on the stage team at the Royal Opera House. This means setting the stage up for ballet and opera shows. We build a set and change it over during shows.

Hear more about Daisy's role by watching the video below...

How I became a technician

I completed a live events and production course at college, which focused on theatre technology. Once I finished, I applied for the Creative Venue Technician apprenticeship through the Royal Opera House that I'm doing now.

In the first year of the apprenticeship, you get the opportunity to experience working in a few different departments - I have worked in lighting systems and sound. Then, in your second year, you can choose the area you would like to specialise in.

A typical day in my
working life

There is no typical day for my role. I’m a stage technician, which is someone who works on set design for the main stage. This means my day might be 09.00 am – 5.00 pm, constructing the set in the build area when it comes over from our warehouse in Wales, or if we have an evening show, I work from 2.30 pm to 11.30 pm and bring on or remove pieces of the set from the stage at particular cues.

It makes you step back and go “wow” when you say I’ve worked on that show, or I moved that piece of set.

A little more about
my everyday role

What I love most about my job

I get a bit of a buzz when we’ve finished a difficult show - especially when I hear the audience’s reaction and know we’ve done a good job.
I feel proud of myself when I look out into the auditorium. Working on a show that can make people smile or cry is incredible.

The best bits about working in a team

The coolest thing I’ve worked on has probably been The Nutcracker or Swan Lake - they’re beautiful shows. It makes you step back and go “wow” when you say I’ve worked on that show, or I moved that piece of set - it’s nice.

The next steps in my career journey

After the apprenticeship, the world’s your oyster. In this job, you can go on tour with shows around the UK or the world. I’ve found there are loads of people who have travelled before they settle at the Opera House, and I can see myself doing that. I plan to get into other theatres, alongside working with the Royal Opera House. It’s like a family - some people have worked here longer than my lifetime - because why wouldn’t you want to work here?

Find out more about this role

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.

Nine apprentices sitting on sofas socialising

Meet other technicians

Read more real life technicians stories, see what they do every day, and how they got started.