Meet Our Mentees - AMPLIFY ONLINE 2020

AMPLIFY ONLINE is a new scheme providing one-off bursaries to freelance technical theatre makers to make a step-change in their practice. The project, which is delivered in partnership with Stage Sight, offers recipients a programme of mentoring with an industry expert that they select themselves. It’s part of Tangle’s AMPLIFY off-stage skills development programme.

As well as awarding three capsule bursaries to an upcoming stage designer, sound designer and stage manager, we are thrilled to introduce Shivaike Shah and Trevor Joseph as our inaugural AMPLIFY ONLINE mentees.

They will both be working with Mark Dakin, devising their own programmes during the summer. Mark has worked with a wide range of high-profile venues including National Theatre, The Young Vic, ENO and Bristol Old Vic. He is currently Technical Director at the Royal Opera House.

Ahead of their first sessions, we had a catch up with Shivaike and Trevor to discuss their hopes for the future, previous achievements, and how they respond to criticism and rejection in the competitive theatre industry.

What is your career dream?

Shivaike My career dream is to produce something at a major theatre that demonstrates that diversity can be celebrated without being tokenised; can focus on a marginalised community without being dismissive; and, can bring people together, rather than polarising opinion. I also want to bring more people into theatre, increasing the wealth of voices out there ready to bring their stories to the public, but who don’t yet have the means to.

Trevor I would love to gain more knowledge and advance to greater responsibility within the crew and would hope to be able to manage my own stage crew in the future.

Best piece of advice when facing rejection or discouragement?

Shivaike Know what you want, and if someone doesn’t want it, then find someone else who does. Have an aim and stick with it too. Though out of every hundred applications you make, ninety-nine will likely be a failure, you’ll end up finding the one that works for you. That is not to say that you must be uncompromising in your aims, but go to someone with something you can offer and be sure that it’s what you want. If you let them, rejection or discouragement quickly become tools that push you to find what will eventually take you to your goal.

Trevor For every opportunity that you miss there is another waiting for you. All you can do is try your best and give your all. If it’s not meant to be, don’t take it personally.

Tell us a little bit about your background and what attracted you to AMPLIFY ONLINE.

Shivaike From a young age, I have been interested in performance, having spent most of my teenage years as a musician, and as a makeup artist. I went on to study English Literature and Oxford University, where I became heavily involved in drama, working in numerous crew roles – makeup artist, costumier and producer – on over twenty-five productions. Since leaving Oxford, I have worked primarily in fashion, on two seasons of London Fashion Week. Tangle’s scheme seemed to be the perfect opportunity for me to gain guidance on how to use my skillset to build a production career in theatre, and to forge my own path.

Trevor I have worked in theatre for over 10 years. I fell into it accidentally really. My mum was working for the National Theatre in catering and she told me about an advertised job in Goods Inwards at the NT. Before, I worked in construction. Being in and around the theatre spaces I soon gained a fascination for the stages. I started being asked if I would be interested in doing some extra work with the stage crew on fit ups, get outs and set change overs. I was immediately hooked by the environment and soon ended up doing more backstage work, first in logistics and eventually as stage crew. AMPLIFY ONLINE immediately attracted me as I came to the industry a little later in life than most and a somewhat by accident with no formal training. It feels like an excellent opportunity to get some advice on how to progress my career and take control of my future.

What was it that drew you to your chosen mentor?

Shivaike Mark’s work across production, everywhere from the National Theatre to the Royal Opera House, is extraordinary. He has worked on integrated productions and understands the importance of focusing on crew roles to bring out the best in any production. His vast experience managing numerous crew roles will also be vital to helping shape my broad, but not yet focused, skillset. Importantly also, his willingness to speak out so vocally against the Royal Opera House for not reacting to the recent BLM protests shows diversity - the heart of what I want all my productions to represent - is at the forefront of Mark’s mind also.

Trevor Mark Dakin is someone I greatly respect. I was lucky enough to get to know him a little while he worked in production at the NT. I always respected how he dealt with everyone and has so much knowledge while remaining so kind and generous. It was inspiring to see a fellow BAME man advance and be so successful.

What is your career highlight so far?

Shivaike In Oxford, I produced the first all-BAME show there – Euripides’ Medea. Adapted and directed by the brilliant Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, it retold the great story of Medea from the perspective of those in diaspora, displaced from their homes. It focused on integrating and celebrating numerous cultures of our cast and crew, displaying everything from Bollywood dance to the Art of Ori and henna makeup. Bringing over forty cast and crew members together, it created an environment of inclusivity and diversity that I strive to emulate in all the work I do.

Trevor Last year I was lucky enough to get a job as part of the stage crew for Les Miserables. It is the first time I have had my own show plot which I have created through tech and been able to fully own.