Millie Smedley

English and Drama BA (Hons)

Millie always wanted to attend university and, after not achieving the grades for her first choice, secured a place through Clearing at BCU, where she had a fulfilling experience and completed a placement with a theatre group in Coventry. After graduating as the first in her family to earn a degree, she began working as a Theatre and Events Technician at Rugby School, where she continues to develop her skills and confidence while supporting performances and events.

“I had always wanted to go to university, although originally, I planned to move further away from home. After visiting different campuses, I decided to choose somewhere close enough that I could return home easily if needed.

When I didn’t achieve the grades required for my first choice, I went through Clearing and secured a place at BCU, as I had already attended an Open Day there. The process was straightforward, and I felt really excited about what the future might hold.

My time at BCU was incredibly fulfilling, with great experiences both in and out of the classroom. My lecturers were highly knowledgeable and provided fantastic teaching throughout my degree. The people I met are still great friends to this day, and the collaboration throughout allowed meaningful interactions between all students.

During my studies, I completed a placement at EGO Theatre, a theatre group based in Coventry that focuses on making theatre accessible to everyone through touring performances and opportunities in both acting and staging. I worked as a technician on their main performance of the year, and helping to facilitate workshops for young people.

Now, I'm a Theatre and Events Technician at Rugby School, delivering public-facing events and performances within an internationally recognised school. This includes collaborations with the National Theatre and numerous touring clients.

I was lucky enough to secure my job before graduating, which gave me peace of mind to enjoy my last few months of being a student. Since starting my career, I’ve developed skills I had never even considered before, and I’ve continued to grow in confidence and experience within my role.

I had originally aspired to be a teacher, but after working in technical theatre, I realised it was the career path I wanted. Despite my degree not being directly related, my ability to analyse written pieces has allowed me to make informed choices in lighting based off the play text. It also allows me to help students with their work.

No two days are ever the same. Much of my time is spent managing set-ups, load-ins and technical riders for both touring and student artists. I provide technical support across multiple venues within the school, working on everything from assemblies to large-scale festivals.

Being the youngest member of the team has sometimes been challenging, particularly with less experience than my colleagues. The way I overcame this was with self-belief and using my skills to prove that I belonged in the department.

Graduating as the first in my family was a massive achievement but securing a graduate role before my graduation was a very proud moment.

I’d like to work my way up within my current job and then tour with a performance company to learn more about tech in different venues.

My advice to others is simple: just because you are the ‘new’ or youngest person in the room doesn’t mean you don’t belong there.

To me, ‘I AM BCU’ is a shared identity, something that continues long after graduation.”