The Andy Nairn Bursary for Technical Theatre

The Andy Nairn Bursary for Technical Theatre is supported by Curve, Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse, in memory of our dear colleague and friend Andy Nairn.

Through supporting this appeal in Andy's memory you will be giving someone a helping hand to break into the industry across all three venues - as well as providing other opportunities for Young People from lower socio-economic backgrounds the chance to access professional training and shadowing opportunities.

So please give generously,

From the Team at Curve, Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse.

Please note : supporting this fund will create opportunities across all three venues.

Andy's hopes for the Fund

"The Andy Nairn Bursaries in Technical Theatre is a fund set up across three Midlands Theatres (Curve, Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse) to support, encourage and enable young people to pursue a career in Technical Theatre. The fund has been designed to support individuals from all walks of life and ensure finances are not a barrier to accessing the training that is available.

Young people are the heart and soul of theatres, and whilst many theatres have strong and active Youth Theatre programmes, not many have programmes that are aimed at young people becoming lighting technicians, sound designers, or stage managers.

Technical theatre is not a vocation that is widely available to be studied through higher education. The skills and training required to do the work are often learnt on the job and therefore the bursary scheme will provide a series of tailored workshops and practical sessions which will be led by experienced theatre technical staff. Paid apprenticeships will also be made available for those who have a desire and passion to learn more and eventually pursue a career in this profession.

The scheme is set up in the name of Andy Nairn. Andy spent 16 years working in theatres in the Midlands. Whilst Andy did undertake a degree course, the majority of his training was learnt from being in a theatre and being surrounded by technical staff who passed on their knowledge, experience and skill. Andy worked at Nottingham Playhouse as a Stage Technician for 6 years; at Derby Theatre as Technical Manager for 4 years, before moving up to Head of Production and Premises for 18 months. His successful career then enabled him to take up the role of Head of Production at Curve theatre in Leicester. Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2020, Andy was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and after eight months of extensive treatments and surgeries Andy was told that no more could be done and that his cancer would be terminal. Andy was only 34, and leaves behind a young family of three daughters and a loving wife.

Throughout his career, Andy has worked with a vast number of young people. Many of these individuals have gone on to secure prestigious jobs in theatres and venues up and down the country or attend universities to further study Technical Theatre. Training the technicians of tomorrow is something that was always close to Andys heart and a bursary in his name felt an appropriate way for Nottingham Playhouse, Derby Theatre and Curve to honour his work and family. "