No laughing matter! Meet The Kenton’s newest recruits

New jobs, new skills and plenty of laughs! Meet Ruby and Rosie, the two newest members of The Kenton Theatre team, who are embarking on a six-month adventure behind the scenes at Henley’s historic theatre.

Judging by their first photoshoot, they’re already feeling right at home!

Ruby and Rosie joined The Kenton this month through Breakthrough, a programme delivered by Artswork with support from Arts Council England, which helps young people gain paid employment, develop professional skills and explore careers in the creative industries.

This is the first time The Kenton has participated in the initiative, investing its own resources alongside the support from Arts Council England to provide paid employment, training, mentoring and valuable experience for two local young people.

Unlike traditional work experience, Breakthrough gives young people the opportunity to become paid members of a working organisation, with genuine responsibilities and plenty of opportunities to learn along the way.

There’s more to theatre than the spotlight

Over the next six months, Ruby and Rosie will discover what really goes on behind the scenes at one of the country’s oldest working theatres.

From marketing upcoming shows and creating social media content to supporting fundraising, events and Front of House, they’ll be getting stuck into all sorts of activities that help keep The Kenton running.

They’ll work alongside the theatre’s team, learning new skills, developing their confidence and discovering just how many different careers exist within the arts.

For one of the pair, The Kenton is already familiar territory, having previously volunteered Front of House. Breakthrough offers the chance to build on that experience through paid employment and take the next step towards a potential career in the industry.

New faces, fresh perspectives

Lottie Pheasant, Theatre Manager at The Kenton Theatre, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Ruby and Rosie to The Kenton, and judging by these photos, they’re going to fit right in!

“There’s so much that goes into making a theatre tick, and we’re looking forward to giving them the opportunity to experience it all. Breakthrough is a fantastic initiative, and we’re proud to be investing in the programme, not only financially, but through the time, training and support our team will provide.

“As a charity, we believe that creating opportunities for young people is an important part of our role in the community. We’re sure Ruby and Rosie will bring plenty of fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm to the theatre, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way.”

Follow their Breakthrough journey

As a registered charity, The Kenton is passionate about creating opportunities for young people, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Taking part in Breakthrough is another way the theatre is investing in the next generation, supporting local talent and helping open doors into the creative industries.

Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing Ruby and Rosie’s experiences, the skills they’re developing and what they’re discovering about life inside a busy theatre.

We look forward to following their progress and sharing their Breakthrough journey with you.