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INTERVIEW WITH NICK STEVENSON

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Nick has a degree in Law from the University of Nottingham. He is a former President of the award-winning Nottingham New Theatre and began producing plays there whilst studying. Since graduating in 2014, he completed an internship at Nottingham Lakeside Arts, working as Coordinator of the East Midlands Children’s Theatre and Dance Network. Nick worked as the Associate Producer for JB Shorts (Reallife Theatre Company) until recently, and is the Producer of RopeWalk Productions. He has also worked as a freelance Project Coordinator for Nottingham Lakeside Arts and Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University. He is in the process of launching a theatre company in the North West with theatre director Liz Stevenson.
In October 2015 Nick attended the Stage One New Producers’ Workshop and became one of the three Stage One Regional trainee producers being based at Theatr Clwyd in January 2016.

At the moment you are…
I am currently the Stage One Regional Trainee Producer at Theatr Clwyd in North Wales. Theatr Clwyd is the largest producing house in Wales, which comprises four performance spaces, three galleries and a cinema. Theatr Clywd produces its own work which regularly tours around Wales and the UK, with an increasing number of co-productions with incredible companies since our Artistic Director Tamara Harvey took over last year. I’m working on a variety of projects at the moment, from our main house shows and large-scale touring productions, to local community projects. I’m also focusing on creating a programme of work here for Children and Family audiences.

What does Stage One mean to you?
I first heard about Stage One in 2014 when I spent a few days at Sheffield Crucible and met with the Stage One Trainee Producer there at the time, John Tomlinson. I’ve been following the Regional producer placement since then. I completed the Stage One New Producers’ Workshop in October last year and soon after applied for the Regional scheme. I’m passionate about working in a regional theatre building, so it really is the perfect training scheme for me. There are few opportunities for young producers in the industry to learn their craft in a building which presents such a variety of in-house, visiting and touring work, so I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity which Stage One offers.

Last show you saw and loved?
I would have to say Wit at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. It was one of the most moving, funny and affecting pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen. It worked perfectly in the round for such a unique space as the Exchange and Julie Hesmondhalgh’s performance was just incredible.

What do you think, is the best thing about the Theatre Industry?
I love the fact that no day is ever the same in this industry and no matter how long a day you have, it still doesn’t feel like ‘work’. I also love that it’s a relatively small industry, your constantly meeting people you’ve either worked with or who’s work you’ve seen before.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to admit that you don’t know something. There’s a tendency I think for Producers to feel they have to know everything – to know straight away what the right decision is, otherwise people might think you don’t have that ‘producer’s instinct’! The only way new producers can learn is by just doing it, asking for advice and support when you need it and learning from your mistakes.