Live Theatre’s technical apprentice goes to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a freelance technician

Live Theatre’s first technical apprentice, Craig Spence, initially taken on by the theatre’s technical department two years ago through the Creative Apprenticeship scheme will be heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer as a freelance technician on two shows. Craig will be the sole technician managing the sound and lightning on Live Theatre’s bursary-winning play The Soaking of Vera Shrimp at the Pleasance Courtyard and bite-sized music based comedy Mixtape at the Underbelly. Craig had initially studied Level 3 Extended Diploma in Production Arts run at Live Theatre for Gateshead College. He was then selected as the theatre’s first technical apprentice starting in September 2013, learning skills in technical disciplines including lighting, sound and stage management.  Since then Live Theatre have taken a second technical apprentice who has just completed their first year. Dave Flynn, Technical Manager, Live Theatre, said: “Craig has really taken his opportunity well, and over the two years that he has been working with us has grown in both ability and confidence, making him an extremely valuable member of the technical team here at Live Theatre.” Craig Spence, former technical apprentice at Live Theatre, said: “Over the two years at Live Theatre I have developed many skills in lighting, sound and stage management. I have worked on many shows in our main house and studio theatre including developing pieces and main house productions. I have been given the opportunity to take the shows The Soaking of Vera Shrimp and Mixtape to Edinburgh after meeting the directors through other work I have done at Live Theatre. I am very excited about being a part of both of these teams and experiencing the festival itself. Studying at Gateshead College on the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Production Arts course and my apprenticeship has given me four years of knowledge which really helped in gaining the roles in Edinburgh.” The Soaking of Vera Shrimp, written by former Traverse 50 writer Alison Carr, makes its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut and can be seen at Attic, The Pleasance Courtyard between Wednesday 5 and Monday 31 August. This compelling, moving and funny solo-show about a girl with a remarkable gift is presented by Rosie & Me in association with Live Theatre. The play was the winner of Live Theatre/The Empty Space’s Bursary Award 2013 and was developed at Live Theatre, previewing at the venue in 2014. After a succession of sell-out shows at Live Theatre, Mixtape make their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut taking their part theatre show and part music quiz to the Underbelly from Thursday 6 to Sunday 30 August. Currently based at Live Theatre, the Mixtapers, as the performers are known, also include several members of Live Theatre’s staff. Melanie Rashbrooke, Director of Mixtape said; “Craig has been Mixtape’s chief technician at Live Theatre since our very first production in the Studio Theatre. He has become a valued member of the Mixtape team helping us transfer the show from the 60 seater Studio Theatre into the 154 seater Main Theatre at Live Theatre.  He keeps amazingly calm under pressure (sometimes our shows have over 50 sound cues) and has a great sense of humour which is what Mixtape is all about. We’re delighted that Craig will be joining us at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year as our Technical Manager.” As well as The Soaking of Vera Shrimp and Mixtape Live Theatre is involved with five productions in total at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, additionally co-producing Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, the world premiere of a new play by Lee Hall with national Theatre of Scotland; the Fringe debut of all-female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny and Key Change, a play made with female prisoners in association with Open Clasp. For more information on the Live Theatre shows going to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe see http://www.live.org.uk/live-theatre-productions-on-tour.