Home / News / Five Minutes With Paul Wyse
It’s time to pop the kettle on and settle down for the latest in our ‘5-minutes with…’ series, and this week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Paul Wyse, Fareham Live’s new Buildings and Technical Manager.
Paul brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to our venue, having previously worked as a technician at our predecessor, Ferneham Hall, which served as an entertainment hub for the region from 1982 to 2020.
Welcoming Paul back to the Fareham family and Trafalgar Theatres has been a delight, and we were long overdue for a proper catch-up.
Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and experience? Particularly around your previous role at Ferneham Hall.
I started my career while at college, among the ropes on the fly floor at the Theatre Royal Brighton, and from that moment, I was hooked. When I finished university in 2004, I came to work at Ferneham Hall, firstly as a casual technician before progressing to a full-time technician.
During this time, I was lucky enough to experience working on all aspects of performance as well as designing lighting and sound for the yearly pantomimes and amateur companies. It certainly launched my passion and interest in production and technical management, as the venue allowed me to be nosey, ask questions, and get involved.
Since working at Ferneham Hall, I have been employed by the Ambassadors Theatre Group both regionally and in the West End. Additionally, I have worked with HQ Theatres and Hospitality, which later became Trafalgar Theatres. More recently, I have had the pleasure of serving as Head of Stage for the Theatre Royal Bath.
This role included working as a production carpenter on multiple touring productions, some of which were performed at various Trafalgar theatres around the country. Notably, I was the Production Manager for the 2023 West End transfer of Private Lives.
What inspired you to pursue a career in technical management?
Technical management, for me, has always been an interesting role and one that I have always enjoyed. I am someone who enjoys planning and facilitating productions or performances, but also in developing staff and enabling their passion to grow as mine did.
No day is the same as a technical manager; much like production management, the role is about problem-solving and support. This can mean one day you are working on a particular production and its requirements, the next day you might be leading the technical team in setting up a dining event, and then the following day you could be planning capital projects or responding to a building issue.
Do you have any mentors or role models who have influenced your career path?
Gosh, that is a long list! There are so many people who have both influenced my work and enabled my abilities and enthusiasm to grow. Certainly, I look back to my technical manager when I was at Ferneham Hall, who allowed me to ask questions and be a nosey technician to find out why things are done that way and what the processes are. He also spent time teaching me traditional techniques which I hold very dear to this day, and I have developed a passion for sharing that knowledge with others when teaching at university.
What attracted you to the position of Technical Manager at Fareham Live?
It was a circle-of-life moment for me, and an opportunity to both return to Trafalgar Theatres and the amazing team, but also to bring the old venue into its new chapter of its life. I had—and still have—many good memories of Ferneham Hall, and now I am lucky enough to develop the next generation to build those same memories. Surely that’s the best job in the world, right?
Can you share some of the most significant projects you've worked on in the past?
Two projects that I am very proud of are my work as Head of Stage on the award-winning production of Into the Woods, directed by Terry Gillingham, which involved managing a two-week get-in, often running a 24-hour operation. The second project was Private Lives, starring Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge, where I was Head of Stage and Production Carpenter for its time at Bath and on its UK tour, and then Production Manager for its West End transfer in 2023.
Additionally, working through COVID-19 as Buildings and Technical Manager in Swindon, ensuring the theatres were kept in good condition and enabling building works and maintenance to continue, was a moment I am proud of. It was an extremely difficult time for the industry as a whole, and I am pleased to have played a part in helping it keep ticking during these times.
Please tell us more about your new role - what will a typical day look like?
As I have mentioned, a typical day is only typical at the beginning and the end; the section in the middle is ever-changing, and that is the best bit about the job. There is, of course, daily admin work to do, in talking to production companies and meeting with community hirers, for example, as well as leading the technical and buildings teams in the daily activities, both on stage and off.
Where possible, it’s always good to grab a drink with the team and look at the upcoming events and productions, as well as work on any technical or building maintenance projects, to ensure the building is running like clockwork. The role is very active, so I will work on a few shows during the week across the two theatres at Fareham Live, as well as work on longer projects with the wider venue teams.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in technical management?
Technical managers are people who are able to bring together people and skills and can develop an ethos of excellent service and support, as well as practical intrigue and problem-solving. I am certainly not a master of any particular skill set, but I have an understanding and practical ability in all areas of technical theatre. Much like a production manager, it’s not my job to do every role backstage, but it’s my job to find the people that can!
What are your immediate goals for Fareham Live as you step into this role?
Other than ensuring a safe and enjoyable venue for everyone to visit, for me it’s about engaging with the community and the staff to make sure that everyone both working or visiting has a great time at Fareham Live. Whether that is ensuring safety, assisting with a maintenance issue, or welcoming a community hirer into the spaces. Allowing the Fareham area to experience this new venue and its industry-leading technology is not only a goal but it’s the reason why I love coming to work.
How are you preparing for the official launch in October?
Now, it’s all about preparing the venue and working with the contractors and construction companies to enable the theatre to run. Right now, I am very lucky in that I am working on what equipment we will be installing, as well as how we will train and develop the team who will operate it all with me.
What do you believe is key to building a strong technical team for a live performance venue?
Enthusiasm and a practical, inquisitive nature are so important. A technical team is a busy one, and it is successful when it’s both excited and ready to support all our productions and events. When working within a new venue like Fareham Live, we are all in a unique place where we are all new and so all in the same position. This allows everyone to assist each other and build a fantastic team who cares and supports one another.
Will you be introducing anything new to the venue?
Other than plenty of tea and biscuits, we will be introducing very new and industry-leading equipment, which is amazing for both of us who work here but also for the community who visit. Making sure that everyone who comes into the venues is comfortable with their visit or work due to our accessible and friendly spaces is key to me. Engaging with local colleges, schools, and universities to build an awareness of the arts and what regional venues can offer is certainly important to me, and our industry as a whole.
What opportunities do you see for Fareham Live in terms of technological advancements and audience engagement?
Fareham Live will have very advanced technological systems which are designed with the audiences in mind. Wireless listening aids that work with your phone for audio description performances, very accessible and well-positioned accessible seating with access to all levels, and the use of QR codes to inform the public and hirers of the local information, production information, and health and safety documentation is an exciting use of technology to make the accessibility and digestibility industry leading.
What are your favourite shows from a personal and also a technical aspect?
From a personal aspect, I enjoy a pantomime. From my early years in my career through to now, the team working and family atmosphere is always a great point in the calendar. From a technical point of view, larger events within the spaces are always a technical challenge but also the most rewarding. Dining events when all departments are working like clockwork is a great thing to be part of!
Thank you for spending 5 minutes with us, Paul! We can’t wait to see what magic you help bring to audiences at Fareham Live.