Union VFX | Lewisham Youth Theatre

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Opening Doors

Lewisham Youth Theatre works with young people aged 8-24, offering drama, performance and technical projects aimed at expanding their horizons, raising their ambitions and helping them build leadership skills.  As part of this, they offer opportunities for them to meet professionals in the creative industries and learn about different pathways into work.  

Union was invited to take part as the Members’ Committee (youth leadership board made up mostly of ages 12-17) were keen to hear from someone in Visual Effects. They were particularly interested in gaining insight from someone who hasn’t had a straight-forward journey into or through the industry. 

Union VFX Artist Iain Read volunteered.

“I was one of eight on a panel that also included actors, a theatre lighting designer, a sound designer and a web publisher.  We answered questions from the Members’ Committee and the audience about how we got into the industry and the challenges that we had to overcome along the way.

“The members' committee, audience and organisers were all super enthusiastic, friendly and hungry for information. I don't usually like speaking in public but the kids' engagement and the friendly atmosphere made it a really fun afternoon.

“The organisers sent me some of the feedback and it was great to hear that some of the kids had found it useful and inspiring.”

Listen to the session

The session was recorded and is available as a podcast here.
 
Panellists
 
Ashley Joseph, Actor / Comedian (ACTing Up; BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend)

Daniel Jaramillo, Sound Supervisor (Founder, SoundNode Ltd; Of Gods and Warriors; Royal Court Theatre)

Gbemisola Ikumelo, Actor (BBC3’s Famalam, Sundance Nominated The Last Tree, The Young Vic’s Twelfth Night)

Sam Oladeinde, Actor/Singer (Hamilton, Book of Mormon – Sam also trained and practised as a lawyer before receiving a fully funded Disney Scholarship for a Masters at the Royal Academy of Music)

Sophia A. Jackson, Theatre Reviewer (Founder, Afridiziak Theatre News)