UCAS Personal Statement

This is the personal statement which I used on my UCAS application:

I love the buzz of live theatre. I like the idea of hard work building up to something tangible and then it’s show time. There’s the hush when the lights go down, the thrill as applause rings out, and keeping on your toes in between!

I am a member of the National Youth Theatre, having come through a highly competitive selection process to win a place at the NYT’s Backstage Course (Lighting) in the summer of 2018.

This gave me a deeper knowledge of the subject and a big boost to my confidence. The course was a steep learning curve, combining classroom teaching with hands-on experience in lighting live performances. The show I worked on was performed in the round so I learned about the difficulties of lighting a performance in this type of space compared with a traditional end-on theatre. I also gained a better understanding of how integrated all of the theatre departments are and how they work together.

Ever since I saw Mary Poppins float above the audience with her umbrella, I have been captivated by technical theatre and wanted to get involved. I won the award for best stagehand at my school’s musical productions and became lighting technician for my GCSE drama practical exam.

Now I am studying for a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Production Arts, with a particular interest in lighting.

I have been technical director for a college production of Frankenstein where I worked with the director to create and program the lighting cues. I also operated the lights for four performances. Last term, I was board operator for A Christmas Carol.

At a weekend workshop I saw what lighting designers have to think about when designing a rig, for example how light may spill when lighting someone, how colours are used, how shadows are created and how those might affect the intended mood or setting.

Passion, regret, sadness: emotions that can be portrayed with carefully selected gels and well-thought out focusing of the lights. With technology that is constantly evolving, lighting is a discipline that never fails to captivate me.

That is why I want to pursue a career in stage lighting, first as a lighting programmer and operator, and later as a lighting designer. For now, it’s about learning to materialise the designer’s creative ideas, to manipulate the lights in such a way that makes the audience shed a tear or fills them with delight.

The next step is to become an expert in lighting and to maximise my opportunities in theatre by taking my education to the next level. I am looking for a course that offers a high quality degree with an emphasis on practical training and hands-on experience. My main area of interest is lighting but other areas of study could help towards a broader understanding of technical theatre.

In the longer term, I see myself working on big shows in the West End or at the Royal Opera House, or perhaps outdoor shows like the Edinburgh Tattoo or Glastonbury.

I like to travel and am fluent in French. If I do not remain in London, I could see myself taking my skills to Broadway, Cirque du Soleil or on tour.

The camaraderie of the team means a lot to me. I would be a great addition to any student cohort because I am friendly, enthusiastic and eager to learn. I have always been a good team member.