Jamie West

Jamie studied the BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts from 2002 to 2004

After Braintree College I went to The Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study for a
BA Honours Degree in Stage Management and Technical Theatre . The course starts off broad based, covering all aspects of technical theatre, but allows you to specialize more in your second and third year. I chose the course at Guildhall over other courses because of the broad-based course structure and out of all the drama schools it was the only one that had an opera course - who's productions were Stage Managed by the Stage Management and Technical Theatre students. The scale of opera and the production process are different to other types of theatre and provided valuable
experience that is only available at Guildhall.

During my three years at Guildhall I was able to use the time to make contacts in theatre and was also able to get experience on some of the most successful shows in the West End including, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You and The Blue Man Group. Through the contacts I gained during the three years I was able to find a job "depping" on The Sound of Music at The London Palladium. This lead to a full time job in the Automation Department.

I am now a member of a team of four who look after the automated scenery on the production, which is one of the most heavily automated shows running, after Mary Poppins and Lord of The Rings. There are over forty tons of scenery controlled by our desk including a nine ton rotating "mountain"!

I am one of the lucky few to be able to do what I love and get paid for it. And Braintree College helped me take that first step!