BBC One’s The A Word, Space Studios Manchester and Creative Skillset offer free high end TV bootcamp for January 2018

BBC One drama The A Word, Space Studios Manchester, SharpFutures and Creative Skillset are working together to produce a FREE training boot camp in high end television drama, supported by the High End TV Levy Fund, in January 2018.

Manchester is the leading city for television production outside London, with shows such as The A Word, Our Girl, Peaky Blinders Cold Feet and Dragons’ Den all made in the city. Space Studios Manchester and the High End TV Levy Fund, managed by Creative Skillset are working with social enterprise SharpFutures to make sure people living in and around the city know what opportunities exist across the drama genre and what skills are required to forge a career in this dynamic and vibrant market sector. Their aim is to provide invaluable insight, access and knowledge across a two day training bootcamp in January.

Peter Bowker, writer of The A Word (a Fifty Fathoms and Keshet UK production for BBC One), will be offering his unique insight into drama production. He will do this alongside team members from the production’s Hair & Make-up, Costume, Locations, Sound, Cameras, Art Department and Post Production with the key objective being to provide an overview of high end drama TV and the career opportunities it offers to people interested in breaking into this exciting field of employment

This particular boot camp follows on from a successful workshop exploring autism and diversity, on and off screen, at HOMEmcr. SharpFutures are working with Space Studios Manchester to ensure that local people secure as many opportunities as possible to work in the sector.

Peter said ‘We are looking forward to working with SharpFutures and Space Studios again exploring further the stories behind the scripts. Having access to talent and facilities in Manchester really helped shape The A Word and ultimately contributed to its success. We want to ensure that this pattern continues and finding the next generation of drama production professionals in the Manchester area is a very positive step in the right direction’

Nicky Ball, High End TV Trainee Finder Senior Manager, Creative Skillset said ‘We’re delighted that the High End TV Levy Fund is supporting SharpFutures and Space Studios to develop skills and talent for the key growth area of High End television and drama production in the north. We hope that individuals interested in applying for our recently opened Trainee Finder programme, will take the opportunity also apply for this boot camp to help prepare them for a career in the industry.’

CEO of SharpFutures Rose Marley said ‘Manchester continues to be a world leading centre of excellence when it comes to television production. We have the infrastructure & facilities, the heritage but most importantly the talent and skills to deliver. It’s imperative that we continue to inspire local people to join the creative industries and give them tangible help and support to do this if we are to maintain our position and our ability to deliver word-class drama from Manchester.’

If you are over 21, have less than a years’ experience in drama you can apply for a FREE place to take part in the bootcamp via Eventbrte

The deadline for applications is Tuesday December 19th 2017

The bootcamp takes place at Space Studios Manchester in January 2018