"I’ve enjoyed going back to college at Lewisham Southwark College where the tutors have been really supportive and I have made some great friends. I would definitely recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone who’s thinking about it."
Serica Kavaz, 23 and from Peckham, is at the end of her year-long apprenticeship in Costume at the Young Vic theatre. She loves fashion and makes her own clothes, and describes this apprenticeship as the perfect training for her.
Serica successfully interviewed for the apprenticeship in February 2013 and started work in March.
She describes her first days in the job: “I automatically felt comfortable and felt I could be myself. Everyone is so creative and individual but we all get along so well.”
Serica’s job has been hands-on from the very start. Her first job was to make alterations to the costumes for The Doll’s House, as there were new actresses – this was a new skill she had to learn and she was shown tips and techniques to get it right. She made some outfits from scratch for the Public Enemy production and learnt how to do some difficult things like panelling, sleeves and men’s tailoring.
Serica’s also had some managerial experience when she’s been supervisor on the small shows, which means managing the costume budget, sourcing fabric, clothes and materials and working closely with the designer.
She says about apprenticeships: “Uni wasn’t for me, and I didn’t have the experience I needed, so this apprenticeship has been perfect for me. I’ve enjoyed going back to college at Lewisham Southwark College where the tutors have been really supportive and I have made some great friends. I would definitely recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone who’s thinking about it.”
