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What interested you in Stage Management?  

Theatre has been an infatuation of mine since I was a young teenager. This passion led me to build my foundation of the theatre/arts industry knowledge at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ on their BA Drama & Performance undergraduate degree. I spent a couple of years exploring various jobs in the industry from directing to sound operating, and producing to front of house management.  

The act of ‘stage managing’ had always been something I’d done through other roles in both university and the wider industry, and I hadn’t ever really considered it was a career that I could pursue. Once I saw an advertisement for the MA Stage and Production Management course at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ, it seemed like a no-brainer. With the excellent support and industry connections I’d acquired through my undergraduate degree, ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ felt like the best place to return to in order to complete my masters’ degree, and propel me into the industry with the right skills and mindset. 

What does a stage manager do and why are they important?  

Stage managers are the linchpins of any production, facilitating the process from the first day of rehearsals through to closing night. The specific role a stage manager can play in a production team is incredibly varied, depending on the show. They are always the central point of communication for each and every member of the company, and manage most elements of the production, from people and pastoral care; to prop making and cueing technical elements such as video, automation, lighting and sound; as well as ensuring each performance runs just as the creative team intended. They are crucial in the running of any production, and are in the thick of ‘making the magic happen’ from day one.  

Can you tell us what your career progression has looked like since graduating from ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ? 

Whilst I was still studying I worked several jobs in Edinburgh including Stage Manager ‘on the book’ for a Scottish tour (the sole stage manager on the production who manages every element traditionally covered by a team); Stage Manager on an Assembly show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; Assistant Stage Manager on Crossroad Pantomimes’ production of ‘Goldilocks & the Three Bears’ at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh; and Assistant Stage Manager at the Royal Lyceum Theatre on their production of ‘The Duchess [of Malfi]’. 

Unfortunately the covid pandemic hit just as my career was taking off, but thanks to the warmth and support of the new corner of the industry I found myself in, the work didn’t stop for too long as I supported the Edinburgh Napier acting students to create an online production, as well as stepping in last minute as Assistant Stage Manager at the Royal Lyceum’s live streamed performances. 

When theatres in England reopened, I jumped at the chance to get back out there, and have been unbelievably fortunate to have barely stopped since. My career allowed me to work at some fantastic theatres such as the Grange Park Opera Surrey, Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Hampstead Theatre, Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, and with incredible companies like the National Theatre of Scotland, Crossroads Pantomimes, Playful Productions, and Chichester Festival Theatre. 

In the past year, I’ve been Deputy Stage Manager for the Original West End production of Next To Normal; and more recently, Deputy Stage Manager on Chichester Festival Theatre’s UK & International touring production of ‘Top Hat: The Musical’, as well as opening two of the UK’s largest pantomimes in Edinburgh and Southampton as Production Deputy Stage Manager. 

How did you find it making the move from Aberdeenshire/Edinburgh to London? 

I moved from Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh for my undergraduate degree at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ, and with my first step onto the Waverley platform, Edinburgh became home (and still secretly is!). However, my move from Edinburgh to London has been substantially more fluid. Through my master’s degree at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ, I undertook several placements at theatres in London, which introduced me to the community based there, and latterly turned into job offers. Out of the pandemic, acquiring work was much easier down south, so I began to work there more and more, gradually shifting the amount of work I took on from Scotland to London. Throughout most of this time, I felt my base was in Edinburgh, and instead of choosing to move to London, I’d move from contract to contract living in weird and wonderful places, with weirder and more wonderful people, known as ‘theatre digs’. I do still refer to myself as a Scottish Stage Manager and wear that with pride, however the majority of my work opportunities are now in London. Over the past 5 – 6 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to create a varied and exciting career across the whole country, and am finally looking to build a base, and a home, in London.   

How do you feel your degree has assisted you to progress your career?  

What is your current role and how did it come about? 

I’m currently Deputy Stage Manager on ‘Woman in Mind’, an Alan Ayckbourn play running at the Duke of York theatre in London’s West End over Christmas, before touring to Sunderland and Glasgow in spring 2026. The role came about through a fantastic working relationship I’ve built over the past few years of my career with director Michael Longhurst, who often asks for me to work with him on his shows.  

What does your role involve?  

As Deputy Stage Manager (DSM) you work closely with the director and actors in the rehearsal room, noting all the actions of people, props and set, as well as ensuring that all this information is communicated to the wider creative and production teams. Once the show has been built and you move into technical rehearsals, the DSM will work closely with the design and production teams to put together ‘the book’ (which is where all of the technical cues, such as lighting, sound, video, automation & pyrotechnics are cued from). When the show is up and running, the DSM ‘calls the show’, making sure that everything in the show happens as the director/designers’ intended, maintaining the creative integrity of the production. 

What do you love most about your job?   

Every job or production is a completely new experience: a new problem to crack; a new team to meet; and a new story to tell. For me, as a Deputy Stage Manager, technical rehearsals are my favourite part. In these rehearsals, I really get to challenge my knowledge and ability, by pulling all the different technical threads together to help create the overall show people will get to watch. 

What have been your career highlights?   

Calling (executing all the cues) my first show at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, where I worked front of house for many, many years; Deputy Stage Managing my first West End musical ‘Next to Normal’; and most recently calling ‘Top Hat: The Musical’ at Edinburgh Playhouse (which included a show stop announcement to the entire auditorium!)  

What roles and opportunities are available for graduates in stage management?  

What are the benefits of working in your industry?  

Working in the theatre & live events industry is an extremely exciting job, where you are constantly developing, learning and experiencing new things. It can take you to theatres you only ever dreamed of watching shows in, across the UK, or even the world if you want it to! One of the best things about the industry is that it's such a fluid place, where trying out a variety of roles and jobs is not unusual - and often encouraged! You also get to meet a wealth of wonderful people, become part of an expansive community, and help create some phenomenal stories to tell.  

Do you know what your next job will be?   

Whilst still calling ‘Woman in Mind’ in the evenings, I’ve already started my new job as Deputy Stage Manager on a fantastic new play by Winsome Pinnock called 'The Authenticator' at the National Theatre. 

Why should someone study stage management at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ?   

¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ has ‘industry ready’ at the heart of its teaching, which makes it a fantastic platform for continuing to hone your craft, or making a shift to a new career. This includes feeling supported when you take your first steps as graduate, not only by Queen ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵt University, but by the phenomenal community of practitioners, colleagues, mentors, and friends you’ll meet along the way. One of the key skills I developed during my time on the MA course was my confidence to ask questions, be curious and always be up for learning something new - a vital attribute to have as a stage manager!  

Would you recommend stage management as a career?  

Stage management is an incredibly fulfilling role in the theatre industry, where you are at the heart of the magic, making it happen. For anyone who is a strong communicator, and enjoys cracking new problems daily, stage management might just be the job for you! 

Find out more about Stage Management and our other creative courses at ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ.