Working with Red Ladder on its latest production, Sanctuary, gifted me a pair of firsts: my first experience as an assistant director and the first time I’d been part of a professional company taking a show on tour. And I loved both!

As an 18-year-old creative fresh from finishing my drama and acting course at CAPA College in Wakefield, being given the opportunity to help shape this brilliant musical was amazing.

Though I knew a bit about directing and the role of a director, it wasn’t something I’d really considered doing because I assumed I needed to have lots of experience and a big portfolio of work before I even got close to this kind of opportunity. But from the beginning I was treated as a professional. I thought I might be seen as a student helper but Cheryl Martin, Red Ladder’s artistic director, took me under her wing and made me feel part of the decision-making process.

There’s nothing quite like learning on the job and I really was thrown in at the deep end. It was either sink or swim, which probably brought out the best in me. I was gobsmacked on the second day of rehearsals when Cheryl said, ‘could you go and direct this song?’ but it made me feel trusted. And it was great to take my family to see the show and say, ‘I directed this scene’.

Working with the company was a real eye-opener. I’ve been involved in a few productions before but I hadn’t appreciated just how much work goes into making a touring piece of theatre, from the marketing and press to the production side of things.

I learned a lot. Not just about professional theatre, but also about myself. I realised I can do a lot more under pressure than I thought I could – I never thought I’d be asked to direct a scene and be able to do it. It’s also taught me to trust the process. Sometimes we’d get a bit stuck on a scene, but it was reassuring to see that even top professionals can have slow rehearsal days. I feel I experienced the real side of theatre, not just the glossy end product that audiences get to enjoy.

There was a genuine spirit of collaboration among the cast and creative team. We all sat down in the rehearsal room and everyone had a voice. The cast brought ideas and suggestions to us, some of which were used. It’s probably why we ended up with quite a few rewrites, but I think this made the finished piece even better. It certainly helped the actors feel even more connected to their characters. It also meant the production wasn’t just Boff’s, Sarah’s, or Cheryl’s – it belonged to all of us.

Touring was good fun and another cool experience. It was great to see how the show changed from venue to venue. Seeing it at Leeds Playhouse on a big stage was a completely different vibe to when we were in some of the smaller churches. It felt like a different piece each night. The audiences were different too – the people who came to the big theatres in places like Hull, Leeds and Wakefield, were completely different to those who came to see it in a local community centre.

It’s really hard to get your foot in the door, especially here in the North, which is why I’d like to see more opportunities like this for other young creatives, because you can’t appreciate what it’s like to be part of a touring production until you experience it for yourself.

As someone who is planning to go to drama school, working with Red Ladder has been priceless. It’s given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of acting and made me more aware of the importance of characters connecting with an audience. It’s also boosted my self-confidence and improved my skills as a creator and performer.

I’m grateful, too, to have been trusted to help bring such a sensitive topic to the stage. Sanctuary tells an important story and as a team we not only had to bring the characters and the writing to life but create a piece of theatre that did justice to asylum seekers and their own remarkable stories. I really hope we achieved that.

By Isobel Chipp