In late September, we had the joy of taking part in Glasgow City Council’s Create Job Fair – and what a day it was! Over 200 students came through the doors, all buzzing with curiosity about careers in the arts and creative industries.

The fair brought together all sorts of organisations; from Screen Skills Scotland to National Museums Scotland, local galleries and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. We found ourselves in great company, with stalls packed full of inspiration and ideas.

At the BOP stand we were really keen to give young people a real flavour of life in theatre, and show the many roles available in the industry. We recreated a props table from last year’s show Don’t. Make. Tea.,  complete with costumes, scripts, set sketches, and even a little fake blood (a big hit with young people!). We also had a screen showing a short clip from the production, so students could see how it all came together on stage.

It was inspiring to see so much enthusiasm from young people about theatre! Many people joined us to go through drawings, ask questions about design and explore how props are used each night during a show run. Some were particularly fascinated by the branding and design work we shared from Accessible Britain, while others were curious about script development and stage management. It was wonderful to see such a mix and a diverse range of interests come alive.

A big highlight for us was meeting a group of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent students who were excited not only about performing, but about backstage roles too – this really brought to light the importance of our upcoming Cue Backstage programme, and we can’t wait to work with those who connect with us!

We spent the day chatting, laughing and answering questions about all things theatre, and by the end of the day we felt genuinely inspired. Watching so many people engage so enthusiastically with theatre reminded us why events like this matter: they’re about planting seeds, sparking ideas, and showing people that there’s a place for everyone in the creative industries. 

We can’t wait to see where some of these brilliant young people take their journeys next…maybe even onto a BOP stage one day!