Kate Ambrosi speaking to a UTC Portsmouth student in a bright blue polo shirt. The student is showing Ambrosi the UTC's staging design, consisting of a series of cactuses, a spaceship with astronaut, and a ramshackle building.

“Highly creative” students front and centre at National Theatre for stage design competition

The students who made the final of Baker Dearing’s Stagecraft competition were front and centre at the National Theatre (NT) today to receive awards for their amazing staging designs, based on The Grapes of Wrath.

UTCs had been tasked by the NT, which worked with Elstree Screen Arts Academy (ESA) to organise this competition, with re-imagining the staging of a scene from the play, which ran at the theatre last summer.

Students from Lincoln UTC, UTC Warrington, and UTC Portsmouth were given awards for the 13-16 category. Students from UTC Leeds, Scarborough University Technical College, and Elstree Screen Arts Academy were awarded for the 16-19 category.

Two UTC Warrington students in branded apparel stood in a row for photos with Alex Eales before a projector screen.
UTC Warrington students picking up their award.

The students were presented with their awards by Alex Eales, a judge for the competition and the set designer for the NT’s own Grapes of Wrath production. Baker Dearing would like to thank Alex and the other judges Alan Bain, Simon Godfrey, Heather Doole, and Simon Stephens.

One of the objectives of the Stagecraft project has been to broaden students’ understanding of different careers in the theatre sector. This was addressed by Stephens, the head of the NT’s skills centre, in his speech at the event.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome you here. We hope what you have seen will excite and encourage you to consider a career in the theatre industry. We need engineers, designers, technicians, all sorts of people to bring their passion and expertise into the National Theatre,” he told students.

Principal of ESA Chris Mitchell said it has been “beautiful” to see in this competition that students could “solve technical problems with a creative flair” through this competition.

Baker Dearing CEO Kate Ambrosi commended the “highly creative” students learning at UTCs and discussed plans to expand the competition next year to enhance students’ experience and understanding of the theatre industry.

Chris Mitchell, ESA Principal, in a black baseball cap and clothes, on a small stage speaking to the audience. Behind him is a projector showing an alien ship and astronaut -- one of the staging designs.
Chris Mitchell addressing the audience.

Before the award presentations, students were given a tour of the building where The Grapes of Wrath had run. They also met members of the National Theatre team to discuss theatre design and stage engineering, and met the expert panel who judged the entries.

A special thanks to the National Theatre and Elstree Screen Arts Academy, particularly its head of post-18 provision Emily Adamson, for organising the competition. Thanks also to the students for taking part and to staff who helped students make the most of this opportunity.

A wooden cube. Text on its top reads 'Lincoln UTC Ages 13-16'. Text on its left face reads 'Design and Make Challenge 2025'. 'National Theatre' is inscribed on its right face. Behind the cube award is the students' design, consisting of a Jeep in a desert background, with a Route 66 sign ahead of the vehicle.
Lincoln UTC’s award and design.
Kate Ambrosi speaking to a UTC Portsmouth student in a bright blue polo shirt. The student is showing Ambrosi the UTC's staging design, consisting of a series of cactuses, a spaceship with astronaut, and a ramshackle building.

“Highly creative” students front and centre at National Theatre for stage design competition

The students who made the final of Baker Dearing’s Stagecraft competition were front and centre at the National Theatre (NT) today to receive awards for their amazing staging designs, based on The Grapes of Wrath.

UTCs had been tasked by the NT, which worked with Elstree Screen Arts Academy (ESA) to organise this competition, with re-imagining the staging of a scene from the play, which ran at the theatre last summer.

Students from Lincoln UTC, UTC Warrington, and UTC Portsmouth were given awards for the 13-16 category. Students from UTC Leeds, Scarborough University Technical College, and Elstree Screen Arts Academy were awarded for the 16-19 category.

Two UTC Warrington students in branded apparel stood in a row for photos with Alex Eales before a projector screen.
UTC Warrington students picking up their award.

The students were presented with their awards by Alex Eales, a judge for the competition and the set designer for the NT’s own Grapes of Wrath production. Baker Dearing would like to thank Alex and the other judges Alan Bain, Simon Godfrey, Heather Doole, and Simon Stephens.

One of the objectives of the Stagecraft project has been to broaden students’ understanding of different careers in the theatre sector. This was addressed by Stephens, the head of the NT’s skills centre, in his speech at the event.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome you here. We hope what you have seen will excite and encourage you to consider a career in the theatre industry. We need engineers, designers, technicians, all sorts of people to bring their passion and expertise into the National Theatre,” he told students.

Principal of ESA Chris Mitchell said it has been “beautiful” to see in this competition that students could “solve technical problems with a creative flair” through this competition.

Baker Dearing CEO Kate Ambrosi commended the “highly creative” students learning at UTCs and discussed plans to expand the competition next year to enhance students’ experience and understanding of the theatre industry.

Chris Mitchell, ESA Principal, in a black baseball cap and clothes, on a small stage speaking to the audience. Behind him is a projector showing an alien ship and astronaut -- one of the staging designs.
Chris Mitchell addressing the audience.

Before the award presentations, students were given a tour of the building where The Grapes of Wrath had run. They also met members of the National Theatre team to discuss theatre design and stage engineering, and met the expert panel who judged the entries.

A special thanks to the National Theatre and Elstree Screen Arts Academy, particularly its head of post-18 provision Emily Adamson, for organising the competition. Thanks also to the students for taking part and to staff who helped students make the most of this opportunity.

A wooden cube. Text on its top reads 'Lincoln UTC Ages 13-16'. Text on its left face reads 'Design and Make Challenge 2025'. 'National Theatre' is inscribed on its right face. Behind the cube award is the students' design, consisting of a Jeep in a desert background, with a Route 66 sign ahead of the vehicle.
Lincoln UTC’s award and design.

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