Kat Nugent asks women in technical roles in theatre about their experiences to date, and finds consistent challenges for those seeking to be successful production managers.
“There can still sometimes be an expectation that production managers are middle-aged men with beards,” says Anna Anderson. Previously freelance, Anderson recently made the move into commercial theatre and, at just 29, she’s three months into her dream job as a production manager for Cameron Mackintosh.
Eight years ago, Anderson joined the National Theatre’s team as a production assistant. “I thought I’d be trailblazing. I was so wrong. It turned out the NT production office had three permanent female production managers. They’re all amazing women at the top of their game.”
As with other backstage and technical departments, there seems to be an increasing number taking on the challenge of the role. Still, female production managers are not a new phenomenon. An early pioneer in the late 1970s, Rosie Hoare production-managed for Opera North, with Alison Ritchie, Bo Barton and Deborah Sawyerr later joining the growing list of women taking on the role for other funded companies, to name a few... Keep reading on The Stage
“There can still sometimes be an expectation that production managers are middle-aged men with beards,” says Anna Anderson. Previously freelance, Anderson recently made the move into commercial theatre and, at just 29, she’s three months into her dream job as a production manager for Cameron Mackintosh.
Eight years ago, Anderson joined the National Theatre’s team as a production assistant. “I thought I’d be trailblazing. I was so wrong. It turned out the NT production office had three permanent female production managers. They’re all amazing women at the top of their game.”
As with other backstage and technical departments, there seems to be an increasing number taking on the challenge of the role. Still, female production managers are not a new phenomenon. An early pioneer in the late 1970s, Rosie Hoare production-managed for Opera North, with Alison Ritchie, Bo Barton and Deborah Sawyerr later joining the growing list of women taking on the role for other funded companies, to name a few... Keep reading on The Stage