Katie’s Producing Placement Reflections

During summer 2024, I had the opportunity to complete a Producing Placement with LIFT. I’m currently studying Business of the Creative Industries at the University of York where I will be beginning my third and final year this September. As an aspiring theatre and live events producer, I applied for this placement with LIFT as I was excited to learn how an international festival is put together and how an organisation like LIFT operates on a day to day basis. Not only did this placement allow me to apply knowledge from my degree in the workplace, but it also furthered my passion for theatre.

Throughout my placement, I worked closely with Amaya and Karan as part of LIFT’s producing team. In the lead up to the festival, some of my responsibilities included supporting with artist care, conducting research on travel options and assisting with writing up contracts for performers. These tasks helped me to develop key producing skills that I will carry forward into my future career. Working alongside the team also deepened my existing understanding of what a producer’s job entails on a day to day basis.

My placement occurred during the busy festival period which provided even more great opportunities to learn. I particularly enjoyed working on site for some of the performance days, helping to ensure that the day ran seamlessly and artists’ needs were met. During my office days throughout the festival, I supported the team with tasks such as budget reconciliation and coordinating post-festival reporting and documentation.

The other benefit of completing my placement during the festival period was that I was able to see a lot of LIFT’s incredible shows! It was amazing to experience theatre that was quite different from the kind of shows I’d seen before. It really challenged my perceptions and encouraged me to consider what kind of theatre I would like to produce in the future. L’Animale was a real highlight for me. I found Chiara’s performance moving and was captivated by the Old Bailey’s architecture and the significance of Chiara’s performance in that space.

While I was only with LIFT for a short time, I felt a part of the team and was proud of the contributions I made throughout my placement. For me, one of the most valuable experiences was my involvement in various meetings, both internally and with artists. The weekly team and production meetings were a great insight into how an organisation like LIFT operates, how work is delegated, how problems are overcome and how a team collaborates to coordinate all aspects of a festival. Participating in meetings with artists also developed my understanding of the integral relationship between producer and artist. It emphasised to me the importance of a shared belief in the work, and a producer’s involvement in the artistic as well as the administrative side, especially when it comes to commissioned works.

But most importantly, as well as all the key producing skills that I will carry forward into future projects, my experience with LIFT increased my confidence significantly. I feel more prepared for entering the workplace post-graduation and certain that producing is the right career path for me. While I still have a lot to learn about this industry, my time with LIFT has been a great step in the right direction.