A CAREER in the theatre may sound exciting and glamorous, but the reality can often be low pay, long hours and poor working conditions - and that's if you're lucky. Many theatre people, and actors in particular, are often faced with long periods of unemployment, which they call "resting".
The good news, though, is that Inchicore Vocational School in Dublin has identified some niches where there are shortages of trained personnel and from next September the school will augment its existing theatre studies programmes with a number of new PLC courses.
The costume, wardrobe and construction course which commences next autumn, is a two-year programme designed to enable students with an interest in theatre costume to acquire the skills to enable them to work in theatre or film as costume designers. The course will include costume construction and design, pattern making, wigs, hair and make-up, the theory of and computer-aided design and wardrobe maintenance. Figurative drawing, psychology and the history of costume will also be included. First-year students will begin by making costumes for the school's drama productions, while in second year they can expect to gain real-life work experience.
According to course co-ordinator Martin Finn, the course's 20 places will be offered to applicants who have some dress-making skills and an interest in costume design. Finn says that there are jobs available in costume manufacture and design for suitably trained people.
The theatre sound and lighting course is another programme designed fill a niche in the theatre where there is often a shortage of qualified personnel. "There are so many small companies and amateur drama groups that have to hire in people to do their sound and lighting, says Finn. The skills acquired on the course could also be transferred to recording studios or to film production.
"The people we are looking for (to fill 15 places) will be able to demonstrate an interest in sound or light - maybe by working at home with equipment, by running discos or by playing in bands," he says. Students will be trained to set up a lighting rig, maintain equipment design the lighting for a small theatre show, record the music required for a show and produce taped sound effects.
"They will be trained to work as assistants to lighting and sound designers, but they will be aiming to become designers themselves." Initially students will work on house shows, but later can expect to gain outside work-experience.
Inchicore's stage management and production course is a well-established two-year programme which provides professional training for people who are interested in becoming stage managers. The course includes stage management, lighting, sound design, stage carpentry, property making, scene painting, wardrobe and wig care, theatre history and theatre administration and business studies.
"We take a mixed bag of people onto this course - we look for people with artistic ability. woodwork skills, people with leadership abilities and people who can work in teams, " says Finn.
Employment prospects in this area are relatively good. "Of the six who finished up with us last year, four are working regularly." Second-year students are seconded to production companies for rehearsals and the first week of a run. "We have a standing agreement with the DGOS to supply trainee ASMs (assistant stage managers) for all their shows."
One thing Martin Finn objects to are people who turn up for interview and audition for admission to the acting course, who claim they want to be actors, but who have never been to the theatre in their lives.
"You don't need to have participated in amateur dramatics but you do need to demonstrate some real interest in the theatre and some talent," he says. Up to 40 places are offered on the three-year course, which is designed to give students a professional training in a variety of performing arts.
The course covers performance, improvisation, mime, dance, voice, ensemble playing, video production, fencing and theatre history. First-year students are cast in in-house productions, while second year students work on major productions which are open to the public. In third year students join the school's professional company, Plexus Theatre.
Acting jobs are few and far between, Finn admits, and many students use the course as a stepping stone to something else - sales and marketing for example. Some students go on to do speech and drama diplomas which qualify them to teach.
The school boasts its own TV/radio studio, a 300-seater theatre, a rehearsal studio, and computerised lighting and digital sound systems. All the theatre courses are open to people who have reached Leaving Certificate standard and admission is by interview.
Successful students are awarded NCVA level 2 certificates after the first year and City of Dublin VEC diplomas at the end of second year. In the case of the acting course, second-year students may also gain a certificate awarded by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and in third year, the Guildhall diploma.
But be warned - the failure rate is high. According to Martin Finn, students are "rigorously weeded out" after first year.
