Access All Areas: On International Women’s Day, Access spoke to NEC Group senior rigger Lucy Gardner, one of just two female Level 3 riggers in the UK.
With almost 10 years’ experience working on some of the biggest shows at NEC’s Utilita Arena Birmingham and Resorts World Arena, Gardner has established herself as a key member of its in-house rigging team.
2 comments:
This was a very inspiring article. The fact that Gardner is “one of just two female Level 3 riggers in the UK” is really wild. Of course, it makes sense. Most theatre professions are male-dominated and this only becomes more apparent when the physical limitations of a human being are put on the table. I think my favorite part and the biggest takeaway from this article is how much Gardner wants to focus on “need[ing] to remove the stereotype that rigging is just about how strong you are…” this is a significant concept because it is crucial for understanding why many women feel like they won’t be successful. Not only do women struggle to get their male co-workers and bosses to see them as equals but these women may not even see that they can do rigging in themselves. This article didn’t make me consider rigging, I am far too afraid of heights for that. But this article did give me a moment to appreciate all of the women around me who are doing work to destigmatize our work.
When I came to college for technical theater, like many others, I strongly believed that I would stay in love with the things I knew I loved, and maybe pick up some adjacent hobbies along the way. No way did I think I would enjoy the material and physical sciences behind rigging systems as much as I do. I find it all incredibly fascinating, and as a woman this is surprising to many. I am not particularly strong looking, nor am I unfeminine, both of those breaking some sort of expectations for the female technicians in the field. I do believe there is a place and a distinct value for my identity in the field, so I really felt seen and empowered by this article. I completely resonate with her last point regarding the need for more rigging education in the industry, there are a lot of preconceptions that prevent new talent and labor from entering the field.
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