Hi, my name is Jacob and I did an article about myself in the previous edition. I mentioned that I worked in the performing arts industry and how it helped me find a place in this world.

People can be entertained, educated and empowered through the medium of the performing arts. The performing arts, as a category includes, dance, music, opera, theatre and musical theatre, magic, illusion, mime, spoken word, puppetry, circus arts and performance art.

There are many benefits to being involved with the performing arts. The benefits are physical, emotional, social, and they help to develop a healthy appreciation of culture and the arts. It also gives you an opportunity to develop your skills and talents, and help you develop a portfolio, so you have the necessary experience to pursue a career in the performing arts industry.

There are many different types of careers you can achieve in the performing arts industry, and I will list a few of them and explain what the roles entail.

Actors/actresses are performing artists who portray characters on stage. The actor studies the script to learn about the character and memorize the speaking parts. Sometimes scripts change during rehearsals, and actors may find themselves memorizing new lines. Some parts may require actors to sing, dance or perform stunts.

• Directors are instructors in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production, (plays, operas, musicals and devised pieces of work) by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production.
• Producers are responsible for overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires personnel for creative positions (writer, director, designers, composer, choreographer – and in some cases, performers)
• Stage managers work closely with the directors and the creative team to ensure that rehearsals and performances run smoothly.
• Technicians are responsible for ensuring that the lighting, sound and other technical aspects of the theatre performances run safely, smoothly and on time. They also make sure that the equipment is kept in good working order and those using it or exposed to it are safe.

My journey as an emerging young actor has had its ups and downs. There were times I faced barriers and obstacles and I overcame them. It can be a stressful thing, having to rehearse constantly and having to miss out on some social events because you want to get that monologue just perfect. Retracing your blocking, remembering your objective of that scene, those are things that can exhaust you, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because on stage, I belong.

These are just only a few out of many careers that you can do, if you want to work in the performing arts. But first, you need to focus on getting your education cause in the industry, education is everything as some of the main objectives of the performing arts is to educate.

If you want to get involved, there are a few companies in Swindon that can introduce you to the world of the arts. There are more, which is a simple Google search away.

• Prime Theatre – www.primetheatre.co.uk
• Shoebox Theatre – www.shoeboxtheatre.org.uk
• Pauline Quirke Academy – www.pqacademy.com/academies/swindon