Curve theatre in Leicester have launched their annual fundraising appeal for The Andy Nairn Bursaries in Technical Theatre.
The appeal’s aim is to help develop young theatre technicians in the East Midlands. The money raised will be used to fund an apprenticeship at Curve for a Creative Venue Technician, who will train in all aspects of technical theatre, including automated flying, lighting, and sound.
Curve have also used the money raised through the appeal to set up a Young Community Company Technical group that provides weekly classes for those interested in the industry.
The bursaries are named for Andy Nairn, Curve’s Head of Production who passed away in November 2020 aged 34 and the appeal was started in November 2021. In a statement Curve said: “He was passionate about mentoring and nurturing the next generation of technicians and believed every young person should have access to the best training opportunities.”
Current apprentice Li Li Peberdy told Curve that “schemes like this are really important because they give you a pathway directly into the industry that you might not otherwise have been able to take. This year has definitely had a big impact on me personally.”
Audience members and supporters can donate to the appeal throughout November. You can contribute to bucket collections at selected shows, name a seat in the Studio Theatre, when purchasing tickets, or through the appeal’s JustGiving page.
Andy’s parents, Stuart and Susan Nairn, wrote on the JustGiving page that the appeal “enables us to feel that his legacy lives on and that he remains a part of our lives.”
Words by Cerys Gardner
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