University News Last updated 17 July
Get to know the people who are driving RBC. This week, we introduce Stage Management Course Director and Production Manager Jacqui Findlay.
What are the core skills or areas of expertise that you bring to RBC?
I brought my background in stage, production and tour management to a blended role at RBC. With an overview of all production needs and as an academic Course Director, I have lots of plates to spin, from strategic planning to van driver. However, that said, there is a role in the industry called Company Manager. This person looks after the whole company, as they tour, and can sometimes affectionately be referred to as ‘Momager’ – I think this is possibly my most utilised skill.
What have been your highlights since you started at BCU?
There is no doubt that writing the BA Stage Management Course has been the highlight of my time at BCU. Maybe not the actual writing part but developing a course that provides students with a solid understanding of the stage management team and preparing them to step straight into such a thriving industry is a privilege. Watching graduates flourish in the industry is a joy with most of them coming back to see current students as they tour through Birmingham. I wouldn’t be able to carry out my role effectively without the support of an amazing team of individuals in the Production Department.
What have been the most challenging issues that you’ve had to discuss and take a view on so far?
Trying to navigate our way through the pandemic and work out how we could continue to deliver practical courses, where collaboration is at the very heart of everything, was hard. We experimented with changing plays into radio plays that students could record at home. Then, we ventured into the world of digital theatre, which involved sending packages of props and costumes out to students' homes. Some of them had to drive from home to get a signal to record scenes and knit them together post production. Once we were able to bring students back onto campus in ‘bubbles’ – with a 'high tech system' of coloured wrist bands – we were streaming shows to an online audience. The students learned an incredible suite of new tech skills over this time, but I have to say I was very pleased when we could go back to live performances.
What are your ambitions for RBC?
It's currently a very exciting time for RBC due to the announcement of our intent to be one of the leading partners for the National Centre of Musical Theatre, this could see the formalisation of work we have been undertaking for many years collaborating with the industry both regionally and nationally. This could provide opportunities for students to study a wider suite of production skills and would be first class.
What do you to outside of the role when you are not working?
I’m mum to a very active nine-year-old and her main sport is artistic swimming, previously known as synchronised swimming. If you haven’t seen artistic swimming, take a look. They are superhuman athletes performing five-minute acrobatic routines while holding their breath underwater, looking graceful and keeping in time to music.
But for myself, I would choose to either be by the sea or up a mountain snowboarding, neither are that easy living in Brum!