From Virginia to Cardiff: A Stage Management Student on the
Study Abroad Scheme
Joseph Lass talks about his experience, coming for three
months, from America to Royal Welsh College:
Why did you choose to come and study at Royal Welsh
College?
I wanted to spend some time studying abroad to experience a
different culture within an environment that didn’t feel too far
removed from what I’m used to.
My American University encouraged studying abroad but it was
usually based in London, focussing on watching theatre and learning
about English culture.
I really wanted something more practical, actually
making theatre, rather than just watching it.
When I went along to USITT (United States Institute for Theatre
Technology) in Spring 2009, one of my professors introduced me to
Ian Evans, Senior Lecturer in Stage Management at the Royal Welsh
College. Ian talked about what his students get to do, how they
studied, and what the study abroad would include. The three month
programme he suggested seemed like the perfect fit to my current
studies in Theatre and would give me a chance to specialise, as my
studies at James Madison (Virginia) are very broad.
How did you settle in when you got here?
As soon as I arrived Ian & Antonia (another Stage Management
Senior Lecturer) sat me down to talk through exactly what I wanted
to learn, how I would do it, and all the other things I was
interested in experiencing. I took lectures with all levels of the
BA and MA Stage Management course, focussing on lighting and sound
and technical studies as well as cultural differences in technical
theatre between the US and the UK. It was all basically the same,
just with funny names!
What Stage Management experience did you
get?
I got to work on production placement for student productions of
Harvest and helped out with Britten’s Women and
Hello Again. I also worked on an outside opera production,
The Magic Flute, and shadowed at St David’s Hall through a
contact I made when she came to the College to lecture.
I really made the most of the time I was there, working on
various projects that gave me the chance to work with, and get to
know, almost every student on the Stage management course.
The main thing I’ve taken away with me is the fact that I had to
work as a professional technician at all times. I also got to see
how different theatres run by going on visits to theatres like The
Royal Theatre in Plymouth .
How was your social life?
The College found my accommodation for me, at Severn Point, with
other full-time foreign students. Within 10 minutes of my first
meeting I was introduced to some 3rd years and shown the College
bar – the rest of it just went from there!
Of course I missed my friends and family but I made good friends
in Cardiff and have had a fantastic experience. I hope I can work
again with them at some point.
I got to spend sometime travelling round the UK and spent an
afternoon in the Brecon Beacons with some other RWCMD students but
really the whole experience was awesome. I’ll miss the people I met
and particularly, walking down to ‘the Woody’ to meet everyone for
a pint after a long day at work.
What have you been doing since you went back
home?
I’ve still got two years of University left. Since I’ve been
home I’ve done two jobs already – one at my university and one at a
dance concert in my home town. Also I’ve just started a summer long
internship at Glimmerglass Opera, in upstate New York, which is the
second largest summer opera festival in America, specialising in
producing new and lesser-known works. My semester in Cardiff
definitely helped with my work here as a carpenter and rigger.
Would you recommend the Study Abroad
Scheme?
Definitely! I loved my time at Royal Welsh College! It was
challenging at times but the whole experience was so positive, from
the lecturers opening up the whole course to me, to the students
being so welcoming. I learned both practical knowledge about my
subject but also things about myself and I wouldn’t trade it for
anything. Ultimately I’d like to return to the UK to work.