TRP Stories: Millie Weston-Cooke

Despite being a shy child, it was, perhaps, inevitable that Millie Weston-Cooke would eventually work in theatre.

Millie had her first taste of theatre at the age of 13, when she joined Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Young Company. Now, at just 19, she is touring the UK as the Assistant Stage Manager for one of the world’s biggest ballet companies.

One of Millie’s earliest memories was a visit to TRP with her nan, for whom theatre was a passion.

“My nana bought me to see the pantomime and half of it was in 3D and it terrified me. I spent the whole time crying into my nan’s lap. I was about three or four.”

After several years taking part in drama groups, Millie decided she would join TRP’s Young Company, something she did for four years.

“It was something I wanted to do, which shocked my family very much. I had a few friends at school who talked very highly of it, and I thought I’d give it a go. It was the best decision ever, I loved Young Company.

“It was amazing doing weekly sessions and then getting the opportunity for free to do spring and summer shows, was just amazing.”

During her time with Young Company, Millie was able to try a variety of roles.

“I was scared to go into stage management straight away. I didn’t really have anyone to look up to stage management-wise, I stuck to acting because that was the safer option.”

That all changed when the company performed a show called Influence.

“The stage manager for that show Tash Sardu was incredible. I watched her from the stage and thought ‘she’s an amazing stage manager, maybe I could do that’. 

“Then I kept seeing really strong stage managers, and lots of female stage managers too. When I transitioned into Lab Company, I was told that whatever I wanted to do was possible and so that’s what made me pursue it.”

It was during her time with Lab Company, a year-long training programme for theatre-makers at the start of her career, where Millie honed her skills as a Stage Manager. The group performed a show in The Lab at the end of the year.

“That show was so fast paced. It taught me to think on your feet.”

After that year, and Millie worked on several other projects, before moving away from her home city of Plymouth.

“I was offered a role with Birmingham Royal Ballet. I’m currently touring with them as an Assistant Stage Manager, which is a crazy thing to say but I’m having the best time. It was definitely the right next step in my journey.”

In March, Millie returned to Plymouth when Birmingham Royal Ballet toured their production of The Sleeping Beauty to the theatre.

“It was lovely to be in a theatre I know and somewhere I know everyone. Even though the show is so big, it still feels like a family.”

Millie will soon join Birmingham Royal Ballet as they start their European tour of Black Sabbath.

“Theatre Royal Plymouth pushed me into a position that I could never have dreamt of. I’ll always be thankful for that.”

Watch Millie’s video: