Grandage to open TheatreCraft

Former Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Grandage, whose new company begins its Noël Coward theatre residency next month, is to open 2012 careers fair TheatreCraft 2012. The influential director, who was appointed CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2011, will welcome participants to the annual event, being held at the Royal Opera House on 30 November, which offers information to 17 to 25 year olds interested in a non-performance career in the theatre. Speaking about TheatreCraft, Grandage commented: "The wealth of talent behind every theatre production is staggering. There are far more jobs than people ever appreciate in the theatre industry, all working diligently behind the scenes to make it happen. Every department is crucial from directing to wig making, sound design to marketing, stage management to casting, the list goes on. TheatreCraft is the unmissable event that every young person interested in exploring a career in the theatre should attend. It will equip them with the necessary information to make educated career choices and ensures that theatre in this country continues to have a robust future under the next generation of rising talent." The free event, now in its seventh year, will offer more than 1,000 young people the chance to learn more about a host of theatrical professions with a choice of more than 60 workshops and 40 exhibitors alongside an 'Ask The Expert' zone for one to one advice. For more about TheatreCraft, which is organised by Creative and Cultural Skills, Mousetrap Theatre Projects, the Royal Opera House, the Society of London Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust, visit www.theatrecraft.org or follow @TheatreCraft on Twitter.