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One lucky Claremont High School student learns just what it takes to put on a show
‘Ever wondered what it’s like to work for London’s leading, independent, not-for-profit theatre?’
That was the question posed by The Old Vic to its ‘Schools Club’, offering twenty lucky students, aged 14 to 18, the opportunity to participate in a week-long work experience placement at the theatre back in July. Participants would: discover how a producing theatre operates; meet industry professionals to find out more about careers within the arts and business; develop key employability skills (teamwork, communication, problem solving and public speaking); and watch a main stage show at The Old Vic.
Many students applied, with sixty young people being chosen to take part in a one-day selection workshop to find the final twenty… And Claremont High School’s very own Riya Depala, then in Year 11, was one of the lucky few!
‘When I received the confirmation e-mail saying I’d been chosen for the work experience I was completely shocked,’ admits Riya, ‘but also absolutely thrilled! I honestly hadn’t expected to be selected, especially after seeing so many talented people during the workshop. I’d been preparing myself for the worst, reminding myself that even being chosen to attend the selection workshop was already an achievement. So when I found out I’d made it through, I was genuinely over the moon.’
The participants took part in a series of challenges set by different departments, such as producing, marketing and education and community. Through each session, they gained an insight into how a busy producing theatre operates. At the end of the week they worked together as a team to curate, plan and run their own panel event, putting to use all the knowledge they had gained over the course of the five days.
‘There were many things I really enjoyed about the experience,’ reflects Riya, ‘but for me, the highlight was being surrounded by people who are genuinely passionate about theatre. It was inspiring to see everyone's enthusiasm come together as we worked towards our final event. What made it even more special was how kind and supportive everyone was - there was never any fear of being judged for loving theatre. That sense of acceptance really boosted my confidence and helped me feel more comfortable expressing myself. Overall, the experience deepened my connection with theatre. It reminded me why I love it so much and made me feel even more excited to keep exploring it.
‘One of the biggest things I gained from this experience was a real boost in confidence, plus some amazing new theatre friends. Going into it, I honestly thought it would just be a few workshops and tasks to tick off. But looking back, I’ve realised how much more it gave me. It really pushed me to use and grow different skills, like teamwork, problem solving and creativity. I can see now how valuable those skills will be in the future, whatever I end up doing. But this experience has also made me seriously consider a future in theatre - it’s sparked my interest even more and shown me just how exciting and rewarding it can be.’