Why I’m a member: Amelia Robertson-Cuninghame
Amelia Robertson-Cuninghame is a proud MEAA member and usher at Sydney Theatre Company. She was recently able to put her first aid training to good use when helping a patron who had collapsed at the theatre. She chats to MEAA about her experience.
What is your role at the Sydney Theatre Company?
I'm an usher, but also do the subscription season when it swings round each year.
Take us through a full day for you at STC.
We arrive an hour before the show starts, so we can be briefed on the ins and outs of the show that evening. We find out how many patrons will be in, if we have to do seat removals for patrons in wheelchairs, and anything that may need our attention during the evening. Then we head out onto the floor, where we go to our respective positions. Some ushers are at the front of the building, opening doors and greeting patrons, someone man’s cloak and the program stand. The rest of the ushers are on the different floors helping with directions to bathrooms and doors to the theatre. Once we get the house, we head to our doors, scanning peoples tickets and direct them to their seats. When the show has commenced, the outside ushers deal with latecomers, setting them up a seat outside where they can watch the show on a TV until the late comers call, where we can whisk them to their seats. During this time, the inside ushers keep their eyes on the audience, seeing if anyone needs assistance if they're feeling unwell, or to go out for the bathroom. When the curtain comes down the ushers working on the program stand and cloak room head down to their posts, while the rest of the ushers assist any patrons that may need help leaving the building, and do a final sweep of the building to check for any lost property. It’s a well-oiled machine.
How did you get your start in the industry?
After going to drama school, I thought it was a pretty great gig, being able work and watch theatre at the same time. So when a position came up, I jumped at the chance, and have been here ever since.
What are some of your career highlights?
Having the opportunity to watch theatre greats tread the boards night after night. Theatres are wonderful places, everyone’s dolled up, everyone’s there to have a good time. When the audience give the actors a full house standing ovation, there’s no feeling quite like it. The emotion is tangible.
You recently administered first aid to a patron, can you tell me a little about that?
Alex, the house manager got a call just as we were finishing up that a lady had collapsed in the downstairs women’s bathroom. We rushed down and found her with her friends, slumped over on the floor, but conscious. I immediately put her into recovery position so her airways were unblocked, gave her my jacket as a pillow, all the while talking to her friends trying to ascertain what may have caused her to collapse. During this time, Alex the house manager was on the phone, calling an ambulance, and feeding back any information from her friends that would help the ambulance officers. The patron was conscious the whole time, but was quite flushed and nauseous. She continued to respond to my questions about how she felt, while we fanned her and applied a cold compress, using vomit bags when needed, and generally kept her as calm and comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrived. An ambulance officer arrived very quickly, and took over from myself.
Why do you feel it’s necessary for all STC staff to receive first aid training?
The patron’s friends were so incredibly thankful for all I did to help, saying they just had no idea what to do in a situation like that. Being able to think coolly, and apply first aid until the ambulance arrives is a wonderful skill. This is just one of the many times myself and the other ushers at ST have assisted our patrons when they were in need. It can be a very daunting experience, but with the right training, you can think clearly and help another human in need.
What would be your advice for people wanting to get into the industry?
Sydney Theatre Company is a wonderful place to work, and there are so many different job opportunities in a company such as this. Positions regularly come up, it’s just keeping your eyes peeled for one that suits you.
Why is being a MEAA member important to you?
It’s wonderful having MEAA in your corner, ready to bat for you when you're not sure who else will. They have already helped me in a situation that I experienced first hand, and for that I am extremely grateful. Being a member of MEAA is important no matter which part of the industry you're a part of.
** STC will be holding the next round of training on June 23 for all casual ushers, casual box office managers. Please contact STC HR manager, Kate Crisp, kcrisp@sydneytheatre.com.au for more information.
