TRP Stories: Clare Duckett

Clare Duckett joined Our Space purely by chance, and through the reignited confidence the project has given her, she was able to pursue an exciting opportunity to join Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake tour.

Clare always had a passion for theatre and acting, but her plans were put on hold when she had her children.

Clare said: “The juggling act of having a career and being a mum is very difficult.

“My children were involved with the theatre, but I forgot that I really enjoyed participating, and it took a long time before I got back into it.

“My friend was involved with Our Space and, through her, I got talking to an Assistant Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth who invited me to join the group.”

Our Space is a programme that works with adults experiencing multiple disadvantages including homelessness, mental health issues, addiction, reoffending or those who feel socially isolated for other reasons, and provides individuals with free, regular and meaningful activity.

“Before I knew it, I was playing games with the groups, doing some improv and movement, and I remembered that I loved this stuff when I was younger. Our Space reignited that spark. I found my voice again, I’ve embraced my accent, I’m louder than ever, and my confidence is through the roof!

“I feel like I can do anything here. I’m really enjoying performance, more than I ever thought, and found a passion for theatre again. I’ve been involved in so many projects now and it’s where I know I belong. I belong here.

“As well as the performance side, there is costume, the make-up, the set design and everything that goes with it too.”

The refound confidence that Our Space gave Clare has resulted in an exciting and rare opportunity, as she takes up a coveted role with New Adventures. The six-week placement will see Clare work in the Wardrobe department during Matthew Bourne’s 30th-anniversary tour of Swan Lake.

On finding out she had been successful, Clare said: “I really didn’t expect it; I was over the moon. It’s a big deal!

“I am going to be looking after the costumes: laundering, pressing, turning them around for the performances and doing any repairs that are needed. I’ll likely be involved in the quick changes behind the scenes too.

“I want to go in there with such an open mind and try to learn as much as possible about the role and the job. I’ve got a lot to learn but I have had a little bit of experience in Wardrobe in different situations, but Swan Lake is going to be a lot bigger…I want to learn everything!”

Our Space has given Clare the realisation that theatre is where her passion lies and is thankful for the programme for helping to uncover her creativity.

“I’ve cast the arrow, and I’m going to go with it – this is where I want to be, and I’m not going to stop. You get knockbacks in all walks of life, I know that, but it’s whether you can pick yourself back up and still go for what you want – and I keep doing that.

“It’s interesting to me that I’ve come full circle and I’ve gone right back to thinking and feeling as I did when I was a child – I was a little bit starstruck and really wanted to perform and that’s all flooded back, and that’s due to Our Space.

“I cannot speak highly enough about all the people that are involved in Our Space – they are just so wonderful.”

Find out more about the Our Space programme at theatreroyal.com/ourspace.

Watch Clare’s video: