I was in sixth form when I applied for an Arts Emergency mentor. I want to be a designer for theatre and film and I felt a bit lost when it came to what it would be like to work in the industry, and how you find work and opportunities. I was hoping a mentor would be able to give me advice and be able to offer feedback on my work as I don’t know any people who have knowledge of the industry.
I was paired with Katy, a legislative theatre director who uses theatre to enact political change. I was studying sociology at the time so this was really interesting to me and Katy encouraged me to explore how theatre could be used in different ways.
At the time of applying for a mentor I felt a bit lost with planning the future. Having a mentor like Katy to bounce ideas off, get advice about things - not just about theatre, but also about practical things, like financial planning for moving to London - was brilliant!
[my mentor's] become a really good friend.
I’m currently studying Design for Performance at the Royal Central School of Speech
and Drama. I’m still in touch with Katy and have discussed some of my projects with
her to get her thoughts. She’s become a really good friend.
“Everything felt like a shared learning journey. Mentoring is not just a great way to give back. It’s also a great way for people who are already working in the industry to expand their sense of community and learn from younger artists.”
- Katy, artist & civic practitioner and Talitha’s mentor