Under the initiative, drama students will be guaranteed audition places for a part in the annual Stafford Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night: A Cornish Tale which takes place at the theatre between June 21 and July 7.
Twelfth Night: A Cornish Tale is directed by Sean Turner and features a star cast including Natalie Anderson from Netflix hit Fool Me Once, top comic Seann Walsh and BAFTA winner Molly Windsor (Three Girls – BBC One).
Meanwhile, students from other creative industry courses are being encouraged to work backstage or in technical roles supporting the Gatehouse Youth Theatre or the Summer School production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
There will be also be opportunities for students and graduates to get involved in the annual pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk which is directed by Staffordshire University senior lecturer Richard Cheshire.
Stafford Gatehouse Manager Gary Stevens said: “We are a diverse and inclusive community venue, offering a wide range of events and productions throughout the year; from reggae to rep theatre, ballet to Box Office smashes, Milkshake to Shakespeare and, of course, pop music to panto.
“We’re really excited at the prospect of working with Staffordshire University as a long-term partner and working with the students in a practical way to improve their skills and employability. Importantly, there’s the opportunity to make our shows, and possibly a career in theatre, more accessible by supporting our Youth Theatre and Summer School initiatives.”
In the past 12 months, the Gatehouse has a run of sell-out shows and big names including Tom Allen, Kate Mosse, Tracy Borman, Sarah Millican, Queenz, Brian Blessed, Marti Pellow and Ed Byrne.
Staffordshire University photography graduate Maddie Hughes has worked as in-house photographer for the venue since the second year of her degree course and has photographed all major productions, touring shows and celebrities including Tom Allen, Danny Baker and Brian Blessed.
She said: “I started working just for a bit of work experience, and then I was offered the job as the official in-house photographer. This opened up opportunities for me to be able to build my portfolio and shoot big names in big productions because I want to develop my career into film and TV and possibly bigger theatre productions as well. And it's been a really beneficial opportunity for me to be able to have that stepping-stone into my future career.
“Starting here as a student, I’ve really been able to build my confidence working in this industry. It's an industry that I never really knew existed for a subject like photography. And so it's really been able to open my eyes to what students from creative subjects can go into.”
Head of Development and Alumni Relations Deborah Sanderson said: “This partnership runs much deeper than having our branding on the theatre’s production materials. Stafford Gatehouse is an excellent community asset which touches on the lives of many people and its values around accessibility very much align with our own.
“We are delighted that the partnership has the potential to open doors for our students and graduates who are being given golden opportunities to see backstage and meet the cast, crews and directors of the theatre’s biggest productions.”