When I first thought about taking a gap year after my 'A' Levels, I was anticipating a year of travelling and volunteering before I took up my place at Uni. However, due to the pandemic, any grand plans to go abroad had to be quickly forgotten. I knew that I wanted to put all this time that I now had to good use, so over the summer I started asking a few connections that I had at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester about any internship opportunities that they might have in the coming year.

After a few tumultuous weeks, a potential internship opportunity had elevated to an interview for a paid position on the marketing and creative team, which was an absolute blessing of an opportunity that I wanted to get stuck into right away. I was lucky enough to get hired at the beginning of September 2021, and have been there since, working alongside some of the most fantastic, creative, and driven people I have ever met. Despite having only been working there for a few months at this stage, I already feel an age away from my exams this past summer. I was preparing myself for the transition from school to work to be quite jarring, but I have found settling into the schedule of a work day to be a relatively smooth journey.

The biggest project that I have been a part of so far at the Barn has been the 2021 Christmas production of The Brothers Grimm present Cinderella, for which I have been an illustrator and projection artist. The process of putting the show together has taught me so much about the theatre industry, marketing, using digital software, and even filmmaking, and I know that this experience in my gap year will be absolutely invaluable as I go off to Warwick to study Film in 2022.

For anyone who is considering taking a gap year after their A-Levels, I cannot recommend it enough! You will surprise yourself with the opportunities that you can find, the things you can learn, and the experiences you can have.

Bryony took English, Art, and Theatre Studies at A level and will embark on a three year course for a BA in Film Studies at Warwick University in September 2022.