Any experience is good.... Sometimes you have five minutes; some times you have four shows
going on.. it could be a good learning curve for them. It could be a coincided situation any
time. You never have six weeks to do anything really. If they leave till the last minute, they are
going to be stuck - they have learned that already (Head of Lighting, interview, February 2007).
Through everyday vocational practice enhanced within team-working, the apprentices were
gradually deemed to be vocationally competent:
I think after 18 months, we ended up relying on the apprentice within the Department. . They
become a part of the team. When they do other things, you miss them, although they need to
have those experiences to do other things on their own (Head of Wardrobe, interview, February
2007).
Furthermore, the HoDs, like John Pitt, were confident that the TA had fostered the
apprentices’ industry readiness. One HoD indeed pointed out the difference between his
apprentice and someone externally hired over the Christmas period:
I had to hire someone alongside my apprentice.. This person was well-qualified. She didn’t
have much experience but had a right attitude. But when the show was up and running, it
turned out that my apprentice was more confident and practical and had more knowledge and
could adapt quicker (Head of Wigs and make-up, interview, February 2007).
At the same time, HoDs’ expectations over the apprentices were high:
It would be good that they go out and get a job and come back here - as a full-time member
of staff. That would be excellent! Everywhere you go, things work different with different
mentality (Head of Sound, interview, February 2007).
That allows them to learn how other places work (Head of Stage technician, interview,
February 2007).
All HoDs were in favour of running this kind of scheme again, although they
emphasised the need to revise its planning and organisation (Interview, February 2007).
Given the people that we are supposed to be targeting, they are not necessarily academically
achieved, so it [classroom environment] might put them off (Head of Sound, interview,
February 2007).Kaori, this is a real ‘hostage to fortune’ statement even though it is true, le’ts
14