Angel’s Bone: Spring 2026
12 trainees undertook two weeks of paid placements with the production team on the production of Angel’s Bone at Aviva Studios, Manchester.
The trainees shadowed members of the ENO team: the show’s Stage Manager Rosie Davis, Lighting Supervisor Rik Cochrane and Head of Sound and Video Sarah Weltman.
The trainees prepared for their placements with ENO by taking part in a four-week ‘Event Ready’ course, led by Factory Academy’s Technical Trainer, Miranda Parker, where they learnt the essentials of technical production from writing risk assessments to cabling, problem solving to setting up lighting rigs.
It’s a bit mind-boggling but it’s a wow moment every time I walk in here and I can't believe I'm working in an environment like this.Ryan Kerrigan, Factory Academy Trainee
For Angel’s Bone, each week focused on a different area of production including sound, lighting, and stage management.
Trainees attended Q&As with ENO’s Director of Production, Producer, Stage Manager and Lighting Supervisor, as well as the show’s Set/Costume and Sound Designers, learning about different career paths as well as gaining an insight into pre-production on the show.
They observed rehearsals including the studio run (the final run-through in the rehearsal room), Sitzprobe (the first meeting of the orchestra and cast) and Ensemble rehearsals.
The Factory Academy trainees made such a positive impact on Angel's Bone. As a group, they impressed us all with their engagement and commitment to the work at hand, and the unwavering enthusiasm and interest they brought to the process. They very quickly became valued members of our technical teams and truly worked alongside ENO staff to help create and facilitate the show.Rosie Davis, ENO’s Head of Stage Management (Stage Manager – Angel’s Bone):
Working with the Factory Academy team and trainees on Angel’s Bone has been the most positive experience as we forge partnerships and start to work with talent in Manchester. Right from the first meetings, the trainees posed interesting questions to our team about the production process, the company and our careers, which made us feel at ease in working with them and injected a new passion and energy into our work overall. It was exciting to hear what different tasks they were getting up to throughout the production period and to see them buzzing before the shows.Olivia Butler, ENO Producer (Angel’s Bone)
ENO and Greater Manchester
As a dual-centre opera company, ENO presents work in both London and Greater Manchester as part of its pioneering partnership with the city-region. Across the country, ENO runs a wide-ranging programme of learning, participation, creative health and community engagement that supports emerging artists and opens opera up to people of all ages and backgrounds.
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