Ollie turned his passion for theatre into work experience
Ollie from Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, recently finished his GCSEs exams. While many young people are still deciding what they want to do after school, Ollie has always had a clear career goal in mind.
He said: “I've always known what I want to do. I've never shifted from it. I was very career driven.”
Ollie spent some time in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) before returning to mainstream school on a bespoke timetable. He enjoyed Drama, particularly the technical side of productions, and found that practical learning suited him best.
When he returned to school, he began working with Careers Wales adviser John, who helped him focus on his future career ambitions.
Gaining hands-on experience
John helped him secure a work placement at a local theatre company.
During the placement, Ollie worked across several venues and gained experience in different theatre environments.
Ollie said: “John was the one who helped me get my work placement with Theatrau Sir Gâr. That's definitely been the biggest support for me.
“I got a lot of hands-on experience. It was nice travelling around different venues like Llanelli, Swansea and Carmarthen. I was learning the trade in multiple sites, not just one space.”
Freelance work
Ollie has continued developing his skills through freelance work in theatres and entertainment venues across south Wales.
Ollie said: “I've had at least one job every week and I've got decent, consistent work coming in. I'm actually getting somewhere at this point.”
He added: “I'm using the knowledge I took from Theatrau Sir Gâr today to help set everything up.”
Looking ahead
Ollie is considering courses in production arts or creative media at Coleg Sir Gâr, depending on his results. His long-term goal is to continue building a career in the technical side of theatre and live events.
Reflecting on his experience, Ollie encourages other young people to seek support if they are unsure about their future.
Ollie said: “100%, definitely come to Careers Wales.
“I feel a lot better having had support from my careers adviser. It's definitely something I needed.”
If you would like to explore your interests and opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact us today.
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