1) The document discusses musical theatre opportunities for students in the North East of England, interviewing students at Sunderland College about their experiences. 2) The students describe the many performance opportunities available to them through their college and local theatre companies, and feel the North East culture positively influences their work. 3) They enjoy the fun of performing and feel the arts are well-represented and growing in the North East, though some wish for more advanced musical theatre training options locally.

1. MUSICAL THEATRE IN THE NORTH EAST
Fade in:
Int.
LUCY (V.O)
Within the UK, an integral and crucial part of the arts sector is
the theatre industry. As of 2019, the box office revenue of London
theatres was just under £800 million.
I would like to delve more into the impact theatre has on those
within the industry, particularly in the North East and what it all
means to them.
TITLE SEQUENCE INTRODUCING NAME.
LUCY
I was able to sit down with 2 performing arts students who gave me
an insight on what its like as a student interested in theatre in
the North East.
INTERVIEW 1
LUCY
What made you want to study this course at Sunderland College?
INTERVIEWEE 1 (SHAUN)
Well, like, I've always been into music and, like acting and
stuff, but at school I never had, like, a drama course, because I
went to St Aidan's. So, after school I wanted to, like, really dive
into it, which is why I came here.
LUCY
Have there been many opportunities within Sunderland for you in
terms of performing or growing as a performer?
INTERVIEWEE 1 (SHAUN)
Yeah, there's been quite a few, like they have quite good
connections at the college. So, we've worked with, like, different
theatre companies and we've been to, like, loads of different venues
and done, like, loads of different things.
LUCY
As a whole, does being from the North East have more of a
positive or negative effect on your future within theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 1 (SHAUN)
I think, because like, up here, people are so unique. Like,
we've got the unique accent, that, like, a lot of people cannot
replicate, so we've got that going for us. So, I think you just have
to, like, push who you are and not try to be somebody else.

2. LUCY
Do you think the arts are well represented within the North
East?
INTERVIEWEE 1 (SHAUN)
Yeah, I think so. It's really, like, up and coming as well,
like, we've got loads of different, like, little theatres making,
like, their own original stuff at the minute. There's the Alphabetti
and live theatre and stuff and I think it's really growing,
especially with places like the Fire Station opening in Sunderland.
I think it's like, better than ever.
LUCY
And what is your favourite thing about doing theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 1 (SHAUN)
It's just fun. It's, like, you get to just, kind of play as a
profession and it's just, like, sort of freeing I suppose.
LUCY
That was the last question, that was so good, thank you!
LUCY
What made you want to study this course at Sunderland College?
INTERVIEWEE 2 (LEWIS)
Well, there was a few people I knew who studied here before I
did and just the experience they had and what they told me about,
the opportunities you get and, sort, of, where you can be
afterwards. That really, sort of, helped me and is, sort of, the
reason why I wanted to do it.
LUCY
Have there been many opportunities within Sunderland for you, in
terms of performing or growing as a performer?
INTERVIEWEE 2 (LEWIS)
Yeah, we've been able to work with theatre space, and I've been
fortunate enough to work with them on, like, a summer project for
like 2 weeks, which was good. There's obviously ISG (I-Stage Group),
Southpaw. We worked at Beamish Hall, as like work experience. So,
yeah there's so many opportunities that really, sort of, push you
and, like, help you in terms of networking in the industry as well.
LUCY
As a whole, does being from the North East have more of a
positive or negative effect on your future within theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 2 (LEWIS)
I believe it's positive because there's not much going on round
here, so if you really have the passion for it, you will hunt for
that you'll want to, sort of, learn new skills in obviously, the
little areas that you do have up here. I think there's a lot more
drive and passion up here because obviously there's very limited

3. opportunities, but you want to just do the best and you want to,
sort of, learn from the best as well.
LUCY
Do you think the arts are well represented within the North
East?
INTERVIEWEE 2 (LEWIS)
I do, yes, and I believe it's constantly growing. I feel as
though, sort of, like Theatre Space and ISG, these companies are
sort of, allowing students to really show off their ambition and
their passion for the arts, and having that up here, it's really
pushing them and, sort of, the career they want to walk into.
LUCY
So what is your favourite thing about doing theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 2 (LEWIS)
My favourite thing about doing theatre is just having the
ability to be someone else, to distance myself from a character. But
yeah, sort of, the reactions of audiences as well. That really does
help and it really does show you that this is what you want to do.
This is where you want to be in the future.
POST INTERVIEW
LUCY
Lewis and Sean helped me discover how hopeful being a theatre
student in the north east is and that it has way more of a positive
effect than negative, which is something that came as a surprise to
me. This just proves how important theatre is to many and it was
great hearing that firsthand from these interviews.
Lewis mentioned Live Theatre, Alphabetti and the Fire Station. I
wanted to look into who these companies and what they have to offer
for young performers in the North East.
THEATRE RESEARCH SLIDES
LUCY
I was also able to talk to Lucy and Harvey, who are students at a
local drama group called Stamp, based in South Shields. This group
is special to me, so I wanted to find out what it means to them, as
well as some of their personal experiences with performing locally.
CLIPS OF REHEARSALS FADE IN
INTERVIEW 3
LUCY
How did you get into local theatre groups?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)

4. Well, a multitude of different ways. I've seen posts on social
medial, I've heard from, you know, word of mouth and from them my
parents have E-mailed or rang and got me in that way.
LUCY
How does performing in shows make you feel?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
Well, it's sort of something to work towards, so when it's
finished, sort of, happy, but sad at the same time, but happy that
it's over.
LUCY
Did Covid affect your experience with musical theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
Completely changed it, because everything that you did before,
was gone.
LUCY
Do you think there are many opportunities for you being involved
in theatre in the North East?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
There is many opportunities, there's many local youth groups.
Whether that's straight acting, musical theatre, panto, there's many
different opportunities.
LUCY
Could you talk about any specific opportunities that you have
had?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
Yes, there is the North East connections which was taking place
at the Fire Station in Sunderland and that became accessible to me
through the Customs House youth theatre.
LUCY
Do you feel supported as a young person being interested in
theatre in the North East?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
Absolutely, there is tons of opportunities, theres tons of
professional actors and producers who are working on small scale
productions who are always scouting out people.
LUCY
Is there anything you wish was more accessible to you?
INTERVIEWEE 3 (HARVEY)
Not really, because we have the Sunderland Empire, we have the
Theatre Royal, the Customs House. Theres tons of theatres where we
can go and see performances in the North East.
INTERVIEW 4

5. LUCY
How did you get into local theatre groups?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
I started in school shows when I w
as in secondary school and a family friend came to see those shows
and recommended that I join a local theatre group that her son was
also part of.
LUCY
How does participating in shows make you feel?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
It feels like everything I wanted to do when I was younger,
watching shows, it's great to finally be able to do them, even if
they're just on a small scale.
LUCY
Did covid affect your experience with musical theatre?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
Yeah definitely, because I couldn't go and see shows, I couldn't
rehearse or perform those shows. But there was still lots of
different things to be able to do online and join different classes
online.
LUCY
Do you think there are many opportunities for you being involved
in theatre in the North East?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
Yeah, we've got so many different venues and so many different
groups that you can join and take part in loads of different kinds
of shows.
LUCY
Could you talk about any specific opportunities that you have
had?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
From a workshop I did a while ago, I managed to meet someone who
put me in contact with people in Whitley Bay who did the 'Winter
Heart' festival, so I had a dancing role in that over the Christmas
period and it was really nice.
LUCY
Do you feel supported as a young person being interested in
theatre in the North East?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
Yeah theres so many opportunities to be able to join different
groups and do different small scale productions, then they can lead
you on to do bigger and better things.

6. LUCY
Is there anything you wish was more accessible to you?
INTERVIEWEE 4 (LUCY R)
As I am wanting to do musical theatre as a career in the future,
I wish there was more opportunities to do full musical theatre
training because all the prestigious drama schools are down South,
and up here there is not as many.
OUTRO
LUCY
Being able to sit in on their rehearsals for their upcoming show
gave me even further insight into who they are as performers and how
being involved in the theatre sector has shaped them.
I felt incredibly lucky to be able to speak with even just a
handful of young aspiring performers that helped me realise the
impact theatre has on them and how being part of the Musical Theatre
culture allows them to be their true selves.
SUNDERLAND CULTURE LOGO
&
LUCY MARTIN MEDIA LOGO