Thanks are owed to PLASA for making the space available and to White Light, Blackout-Triple E and Rope Assemblies Ltd for providing teaching materials. Many other companies supplied useful product information for the candidates to take back to their theatres. The course held at PLASA followed previous courses and was one of several in the pipeline at various locations. The General Theatre Technician course, which is divided into three modules, was held across the first three days of the PLASA Show. Attendees could either choose to complete all three modules at the Show, or begin with one or two modules and complete the course at a later date.
Joe Aveline, secretary of AETTI, commented: "It is reassuring that most of those on the course are working and were given the three days off to attend. They have been financially supported by their employers, who realise the value of a nationally-recognized certificate. In addition, the feedback from those doing courses has been enormously positive and supportive."
Matthew Griffiths (PLASA CEO and chairman of AETTI) added: "PLASA recognizes the value of and need for properly certified training. By combining this with the support of the PLASA Show and the initiative of the AETTI and Loughborough College, we have been able to help provide a valuable training platform and highlight the availability of these courses."
Providing a further boost to the courses, PLASA will also subsidize 50% of the course fees for all those who took all or part of the course at the PLASA Show, provided they complete the course within a year. This money was part of the sum raised by the entry fees to this year’s PLASA Awards for Product Excellence, all of which was donated to charities and good causes.
The Intermediate BTEC Award suite consists of six separate qualifications: General Theatre Technician, Lighting, Sound, Wardrobe, Flying and Stage. The courses can be delivered anywhere in the UK through Loughborough College, and are the only short course national qualifications available to technical theatre staff. Already, over 30 people have taken courses and 11 have gained their certificates, following the submission of their final written assignments.
