KILN SPARKS 2025 BACKSTAGE SKILLS PROGRAMME
Kiln SPARKS Residency is back for its third year running.
Kiln SPARKS is a paid development programme run by New Vic Theatre in association with New Earth Theatre for technical and production skills supporting entry-level and early-career Global Majority* backstage talent.
The programme aims to expand the industry’s knowledge base for making theatre in-the-round and increase the pool of Global Majority backstage talent by providing the opportunity to work in a midscale, producing theatre.
This year we are offering a paid 3-day programme 16-18 July at the New Vic Theatre. Participants will meet and shadow the inhouse technical and production teams. After the completion of the initial 3-day programme candidates will be able to express their interest for a further 4-week placement working with the teams on the New Vic Winter ‘25 or Spring ‘26 Season.
This opportunity is for entry-level sound and lighting technicians and Stage Managers who would like to expand their knowledge of technical processes, early-career Production Managers who would like to expand their technical knowledge, early-career Sound and Lighting Designers who have not yet worked in the round. We’re particularly keen to hear from applicants based in Staffordshire. There are 4 reserved places available for BESEA’s** out of a total of 8 places. The course will be led by New Vic Associate Director Vicki Amedume, and participants will train in person with the New Vic Technical and Production teams.
Participants will receive a £250 bursary plus per diems, accommodation, and travel expenses to cover the initial three days.
Candidates who are offered a 4-week placement after this will receive a further bursary of £520 per week plus an allowance for travel and accommodation to complete the placement.
To apply, please complete the online application form here by 10 May. Alternatively, you can send your completed application to: recruitment@newvictheatre.org.uk
If you would prefer to submit your application as an audio or video format, please send the file to: recruitment@newvictheatre.org.uk
If you have any questions or queries please email Vamedume@newvictheatre.org.uk
*Global Majority refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. **BESEA: British East and Southeast Asian.
**We use the term BESEA to mean anyone from the following countries and their diasporas who live and work in Britain. These countries make up an area that is known as East and South East Asia; Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
