Marketing intern - Fay Carrington - reflects on her placement with Unfolding Theatre, where hands-on creative work, community-focused practice, and new skills helped shape the transition from student life to a future in heritage and the arts.

Late last summer I arrived for my first day as a marketing intern with Unfolding Theatre. It seems scarcely five minutes since then and yet, when I think back to that moment it feels a world away from now. Though nervous at first I soon settled into what was a unique opportunity right at the end of my degree. Being able to join such a fantastic team of genuine, kind and motivated people has been an absolute honour and something that will stay with me on my post-graduate journey.

To those who don’t already know, Unfolding Theatre is a company built on individual strengths and remarkable qualities. Working within the team it becomes immediately clear how genuinely each role is valued. Everyone has space to bring their personality and ambitions to the table, resulting in a tapestry of different strengths and ideas. This approach extends outwards to the community. A sense of valuable time, creativity and fun is injected into every project or session the theatre runs. A special example of this are the youth groups run by Unfolding across Newcastle. Attending the East End Story Makers session demonstrated to me how meaningful free regular creative sessions for children are. The enthusiasm for the games and their respect for the facilitators Harrison Rowley and Abigail Lawson was clear. In the face of increasingly divisive times I believe free and regular groups like this have an essential function for young people.

Over the duration of the internship I was given an exciting variety of responsibilities. Much of this involved planning and scheduling vibrant social media posts using Metricool, or composing monthly newsletters using other software. I loved filming Instagram reels particularly: we had such a laugh filming ‘behind the scenes’ with different team members. Having had no prior experience in marketing or digital work Victoria’s patience and guidance made all the difference and soon I felt confident working unsupervised. This meant I gained practical hands-on experience working with software and writing to promote free events to come: essentially I felt right at the centre of a hub of activity! With important announcements for the Here Be Dragons tour and reminders about youth groups, I soon saw the multifaceted workings of Unfolding Theatre’s mission.

As my personal interests lie in community work and heritage, one of my favourite moments was taking notes at the North East Culture Social. As the future of Newcastle’s creative scene was discussed and ideas flew, there seemed a genuine excitement to be sharing in the process. It was fantastic to meet such a broad range of creatives through this event: from playwrights and authors to musicians, curators and freelancers. The room truly came alive. Gathering around a common passion for Newcastle, accessibility and the arts the room broke away to discuss hopes and share experiences. Taking notes for this event meant a chance to listen closely to the authentic voices of local arts and culture. With my interest in oral history and stories it felt like perfect practice, and a pleasure to meet people both new and familiar.

Another real highlight of this internship was being able to undertake a ten-week BSL course with Sign It Hear. Any fear of making mistakes was challenged- if anything, getting things wrong was all part of the process. As a group we came together each week to laugh, learn and converse in BSL. For any mistakes, you could try again without judgement. Learning about Deaf culture and communication broadened my perspective with genuine impact. I loved learning signs specific to the North East, and feel I could confidently signpost anyone to Tynemouth if needed! Unfolding Theatre places accessibility and accommodation at its core, and feels genuinely inclusive for all.

The experience of doing an internship at Unfolding will stay with me for a long time. I have to thank every member of the team for their welcome, and for their patience as I learnt the ropes! Victoria Sanderson, Midge Ryall, Annie Rigby and Pao Fresnillo particularly made the whole experience an absolute joy. Their guidance, wisdom and humour made the internship as personal as it was.

Finishing university can be a daunting experience and yet now I feel much more confident in the skills I have to offer. I’m excited to be undertaking work as a freelance heritage worker, and have set myself the personal goal of writing creatively again all whilst working at a local pub and music venue. Being in the fertile creative environment of a team like Unfolding has shown me the extensive possibilities of making a dream come true: that life can have so much to offer. Most of all this period showed me first-hand how Unfolding Theatre gives to and is shaped by community, and how vital the spaces they create are.

Thank you all: I am only ever a call away!

Internship Reflections - a Blog Post by Fay Carrington

Marketing intern - Fay Carrington - reflects on her placement with Unfolding Theatre, where hands-on creative work, community-focused practice, and new skills helped shape the transition from student life to a future in heritage and the arts.

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