The Princess Royal patted and joked with a theatre production puppet horse named Joey as she visited the National Theatre in central London.
Celebrating Apprenticeships
Anne’s visit on Tuesday afternoon was to celebrate the National Theatre’s apprenticeship scheme, after it received the Princess Royal Training Award and special Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commendation for its work in expanding access to careers in the creative industries. It is the only theatre to have received this award.
During the visit, the princess toured the theatre’s props, scenic art and carpentry workshops where she met Joey, one of the War Horse production’s puppets, ahead of the play’s return to the National Theatre this summer.
A Playful Encounter
Anne greeted the puppet horse as it was walked to her backstage, saying: “Hello you”, before patting it and adding: “I don’t feed, OK?” making people around her laugh. The tall, brown puppet horse is operated by two puppeteers who can make it walk, neigh, move its ears and even rear up by using triggers.
The princess said one of the reasons the horse “works so well” is its ears, as a theatre staff member showed her how the puppeteers can make the ears move to seem as realistic as possible.
Royal Equestrian Background
A keen equestrian, Anne was the first member of the Royal Family to have competed in the Olympic Games, when she rode the late Queen’s horse Goodwill at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Anne also toured the National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre, and met with 17 current and former apprentices alongside backstage and technical theatre staff.
Apprenticeship Scheme Success
The theatre’s tour on Tuesday was led by National Theatre’s director of learning Yamin Choudury and head of technical qualifications Kath Geraghty, who oversaw the creation and delivery of the organisation’s apprenticeship scheme in 2012. Other guests to the visit included deputy lieutenant of Lambeth Christopher Wellbelove, National Theatre’s chief development officer Kathryn Marten and National Theatre board member Elizabeth Pryce.
The theatre said it has recruited over 60 entry-level apprentices across 21 different departments such as carpentry, props and finance, with some 90% progressing directly into paid employment upon completion.
Kath Geraghty, head of technical qualifications at the National Theatre, said: “When we started the apprenticeship scheme back in 2012, we never could have imagined the impact it would’ve had, not just on those undertaking apprenticeships, but also on the wider organisation and across the sector. Having this work recognised by the Princess Royal Training Award is a testament to the dedication of our staff and partners, and to now have Her Royal Highness with us this afternoon, celebrating our apprentices’ achievements further, is an honour. I’m so proud of what all our past and present apprentices have and continue to achieve, and through the NT’s Skills Centre we look forward to continuing to build a more diverse, skilled, and resilient creative sector for the future.”
Lily Cleaver, scenic art apprentice at the National Theatre, said: “Doing an apprenticeship at the National Theatre has opened pathways for me I only could have dreamed of. Working on the job whilst learning and gaining a qualification has been fantastic, and being surrounded by industry professionals, I have learnt so much! Just from working within a workshop environment my skills have improved tremendously. I have had the opportunity to meet so many brilliant people from different departments, all with an extraordinary range of knowledge and skill. Understanding these individuals’ roles and how each team works together has not only made me more appreciative of the industry I get to work in, but a more well-rounded employee too.”
