How did you start off in theatre?
Through GCSE and A-level classes. I was incredibly lucky to be taught by a series of teachers who really valued theatre and so ignited our interest too.

What led you to move into teaching?
I initially worked as a stage manager and technician and my teaching role evolved out of that – bringing my industry skills into the classroom. Stage management is so rewarding for the way it allows people to coordinate, create, organise and support an arts production to flourish, to be more than the sum of its parts. Stage management is great, and for me, teaching stage management is even better. 

What is the best piece of advice you have for students and graduates today?
To embrace learning and find joy in collaborating – it is so important within our industry to keep developing your skills and working with others. It’s a world where the emergent (changes in technology, as an example) meets the traditional (producing prompt scripts and calling shows), and being able to combine these techniques and approaches is essential. Also, to be mindful of the needs of all specific disciplines involved in producing theatre, both on and off stage. Accepting you always have more to learn and that the sector is always evolving is a great way to treat imposter syndrome: you can’t know it all so be flexible and ready to adapt to the new.

What would you change about the industry?
I would like to see it better represented (and funded) lower down the education system. Studying theatre is great for key life skills (both professional and emotional) and schools should be better provisioned to support it.

What is the best part of your job?
The full-cycle nature of teaching. We always start our applicant open-day talks with the success stories of our current students and alumni. It’s a great way to remind yourself that those alumni were once sat where the open-day visitors and prospective students were just a couple of years ago.

Darren Page is programme leader for BA (hons) Technical Theatre and Stage Management at Lincoln School of Creative Arts, University of Lincoln