This is my research from when I looked at YouTube clips that The National post, they talk about different roles within The National, how they got to where they are and what their roles include. I chose to focus on: Stage Manager, Director and a Graphic Designer

1. National theatre
Stage Management
Stage management,usuallyinanhourbefore handto make sure that everythingisall inplace ready
for the rehearsal.
Scene breakdowniswhere youreadthroughthe playanddouble checkonwhichcharacter are
sayingwhatin whichscene.All informationandanything thatwantsto be checked hasto go through
the Stage manager. ‘Everythingflowsout to the many Myriad of departments‘
Everythingthathasto be realisedonstage,thatinformationisdiscoveredinrehearsals,the show is
put togetheronthe stage afterthe rehearsals.
A stage manageris pivotal,the directorcallsthe shots creatively butthe stage managermake itall
happen.The stage managermakessure everyone issafe whenparticipatingintheirroles,whether
that issomeone comingdownfromthe fliesorsomeone unloadingatruck.He or she is there to
insure safety.Inadditionthe stage manageristhere tomake the audience feelliketheyare
watchingthe showas it’sthe firstscreening,nottofeel like theyare watchingastale show.
AndrewSpeedsaysitsbesttogetinvolvedatthe local theatre andgainbucketsof experienceatany
level,thenapply forstage managementcourse ata creditedschool
Be proactive notreactive,be prepared,listen,be onthe frontfootbut neverpushy.Nevertell
someone youunderstandwhenyoudon’t
Skillsinvolved:
. Organisational skills
. People Skills
. Be able tokeepyourheadwhenthe worldaroundis losingtheirs
Director
Effectivelythe chief executive,the directorisresponsibleforthe programand the artistic outputof
the show.
Rehearsalswill startearlyandthe directorwill make ithismissiontogoand see eachroom of
rehearsal thisisafterhismorningmeetings.Thisisgoodbecause itshowsthe directorcaresand
showsinteresttoall the differentaspectsof the show regardless of how bigorsmall the part being
rehearsedis.
The director’srole is keyto make sure the show still staysfreshandgivesanew feel regardlessof
whetherit’sthe firstshowingorthe 100th
.
RufusNorris,adirectorat the national theatre, trainedasanactor howeverthatdidnotwork out,
he was askedto joina theatre companydue tohis craftsmanshipskillsdevelopedata4 year course
at a stage school. Inhiswordshisjourneywas‘unorthodox’butthisshowshow vital knowingall the
differentelementsof astage showis.
He hadn’tconsideredbeingasdirectorhoweverwhengivenanopportunityhe fellinlove andended
up applyingtothe royal court as an assistantdirector.

2. He wasinvitedasan associate directorwhenhe wasfreelancingasa theatre director.
Graphic Designer
The graphics are responsibleforbranding,anythingwiththe NTlogoon whetherthatbe uniformfor
staff or designingsignageforfrontof house.
Whenthere are highloadworksfree-lancedesignersare calledupontohelpwiththe small teamof
designers.
A traditional daycouldbe meetingwithadirectorfora new image thentospendhourscreating
imagesor moodboards.
Louise RichardsonstudiedBA honours ingraphicdesign atBrightonUniversity,itisimportantto
eitherhave acreative degree orlots of experience inthe creative field. Whetherthatbe digital skills
or work inthe area of textiles.
It’simportantfor designerstodrawinspirationfromanything,beingyourself andusingyourown
creativityisgreatbutto stay relevantandat the top of your game youneedto be able to find
inspirationoff anything.Thisiseffective asitallowsaflow of creativitytooccur whenhelpingdesign
certainthingsforthe theatre companies