Second year BA Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance student Tayte Ewen has recently spent time in professional studios alongside her studies, working in placements with some of the most esteemed practitioners in the industry on exciting upcoming projects and shows.
Tayte worked on 2 projects: the Royal Shakespeare Company’s upcoming production of My Neighbour Totoro, featuring puppets designed by MacArthur Fellowship recipient Basil Twist, and with puppetry specialist Mervyn Millar’s company Significant Object.
For Significant Object, she helped Mervyn’s team bring to life The Hatchling, a giant puppet dragon that featured during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Tayte’s role in the team included maintenance of The Hatchling, and helping the team rehearse for its appearance. “Work on the course is very independent, so this was my first opportunity to find out how it is to work in a team,” said Tayte. “The field is very competitive, but the people around me only wanted to help, and be positive.”
Mervyn agrees that placements provide a great insight into the industry and provide a flavor of the interpersonal side of the job, saying that “the placements are important because it is then that you realise who and what kind of person you will be working with.”
He added that “they help with the transition from art school to professional work, which involves new skills that are not just related to technique. It’s a perfect opportunity for 2nd year students.”
“The placements taught me so much,” said Tayte, “and completely changed my mindset. I had a work ethic before, but now I am so driven. Once in a professional setting, you really see the standard that’s required.”
“Tayte had a brilliant mindset and focus, which is clearly reflective of the quality of the course at Wimbledon,” said Mervyn.
With the experiences and connections Tayte made, she managed to land another placement, working on the floral festival PoliNations taking place in Birmingham later this year.
Tayte said “it was very inspiring when you see the quality of work. It makes you positive, but also resilient, because you want to succeed and show what you can do, and maybe inspire others.”
“I now want to push myself more than ever.”