Name: Lisa Evans
Job: Multi-Skill Technician, Stage/Flys, The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

"The best bit is variety. New people, new challenges, new deadlines and seeing the final product on opening night."

Lisa Evans, your Question and Answer session starts now...

How did you get into the job?

I trained as a professional dancer and performer from the age of 10-16 at The Arts Educational School's, Tring, Hertfordshire. When I finished through injury I still loved theatre and had to wait six years until a new venue opened in Cornwall (my home county) where I got my first job backstage.

What is the job about?

I start work by unloading the wagons and taking the set into the venue where I assist with its construction this usually involves at least one and usually two 13 hour days. I also fly the moving scenery and will most of the time be Duty Stage Manager for the performances and do cue's- moving the scenery on stage. I'm a key mentor for our work experience programme where we have some 15-21 year olds for a week or two and sometimes a year for their placement. With all that also goes general maintenance of the equipment and office duties to help the department run smoothly.

What are the best and worst things about your job?

The best bit is variety. New people, new challenges, new deadlines and seeing the final product on opening night.

The worst bits are very long and unsociable hours and very physically demanding jobs like carrying all the sets into and out of the venues.

Have you had any embarrassing moments or have you got any funny stories tell?

Many of my colleagues have nicknames that begin with Ch- Chimp, Chunky, Chopper and Chewy. This puzzled one of the cast members from The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Duchess of Malfi and he asked if I had a nickname to which I said no. So he thought for a second and with me being one of the few females in a mainly male dominated world he decided to call me Chesty! Fortunately it did not stick, phew!

If you weren't doing this job what would you be doing?

I had a job as an air stewardess and was awaiting my training date when I visited my partner in Harrogate and saw a job advertisement for Bradford Theatre's. I never attended the training.

Have you got any heroes in your field of work?

Cameron Macintosh. He started by sweeping the stage in London and had the guts to ask a bank manager for £2,000,000 to finance his first production. He is highly successful, makes loads of money and still employs the same bank manager.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in your field?

It's a job that relies on experience and people don't tend to leave their positions as there are only a few theatres in a commutable distance, so qualifications are essential to progress quickly either within a venue or as a freelancer touring with productions.