Behind the scenes at TRP - there's nowhere else like it

LONG-SERVING THEATRE WORKER SHARES MEMORIES OF TRP

- NINO ROBERTSON

A LONG-serving staff member at Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) has shared her memories of working life there.

Jill Bright has worked at the theatre for 26 of the 40 years it has been operating in Britain's Ocean City.

Currently a stage doorkeeper, Jill knew from a young age that she wanted to work in a theatre. But at school, her teachers dissuaded her from a career in that field. Her first job was a brief stint in McDonald's before she moved into the admin department at New Scotland Yard, and later Catford police station.

But when she relocated to Devon, she enrolled onto a degree course in Drama in the Community at South Devon College, at the age of 30.

"I grew up in South East London, near Lewisham with my mum, dad and three sisters. I used to go to see shows with my mum all the time, but I'd always want to know what went on behind the scenes," she said. "I wasn't very good at school at all and left school at 16. My careers teacher when I was 14 or 15 was Miss Jefferies. I said to her 'I want to work in the theatre' and she said 'you wouldn't be an actress.