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Victoria Richardson

Ian Mcfarlane Vicky Vicky

For the past three years I have been working as a personal assistant to 2 producers at Company Pictures a television production company which produces drama programmes such as ‘Shameless’, ‘Skins’ and ‘Wild at Heart’.  One of the important aspects of my job is liaising and building relationships with lots of different people.  I need to be able to confidently speak to actors, agents, directors and executives – most of whom I’ve never met.  Going to ‘the players’ certainly helped build my confidence; before I went I was really nervous about doing things in front of people for fear of being laughed at.  However  ‘the players’  was a place where nobody was judged and everyone was encouraged to ‘have a go’.  There were no star pupils, rather, the emphasis was placed on working together in groups, learning to trust and support each other. 

When it was announced that we were going to perform ‘My Fair Lady’ I was initially a bit reticent to audition.  However my friends told me to try for a part, and with my confidence boosted by their encouragement, I did…and I got the role of Eliza Doolittle!  That taught me a really valuable lesson: don’t ever be scared to put yourself out there and go for something.  This has helped me whenever I have felt apprehensive about anything, such as going for university and job interviews.  Recently, I attended a read through for one of Company Pictures’ latest dramas, and my boss asked me to read in for one of the characters they hadn’t cast yet.  On the inside I was nervous, but had learned that I could speak confidently in front of anyone – even big actors and executive producers from ITV!

But the most important thing that I have taken from The Players is friendship.  We all became great friends, and I know that through ‘the players’ I have made some of my closest friends for life.