While the first week here was all about settling in and immersing myself in the Dublin culture, this week it was time to focus on what I came here to do: work. My internship is with Theatre Lovett, a small theater company run by a husband and wife, Muireann and Louis, who aim to put on intriguing, unusual, and sometimes dark performances for audiences of all ages. Because the company is so small, I have the opportunity to really get to know my bosses, and in turn have them get to know me. I’m hoping that down the road this will lead to opportunities for me to showcase my abilities and take lead on different projects. While I was afraid that it would be awkward to have no one else my age at the company, it hasn’t been too big of an issue, and Muireann and Louis have gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable and welcome.

Day to day, I get to work on a wide range of tasks, from scouring the city for copies of old psychological thriller movies to digitizing calendars to typing up surveys. The company is currently developing an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, starring none other than Louis himself. I’m so excited that I get to see the play come to life, from the initial table read of the script to rehearsals to working out the logistics of lighting and sound on stage, all leading up to the play’s first showing at the historical Abbey Theatre at the end of this month. As an avid theater goer, I’ve always wondered what goes on behind the scenes, and now I get to be a part of the magic. I also love that my job has variety, as is necessary in the theater. This also means that I have to be able to adapt, and be able to go along with whatever my bosses throw at me. While I’ve been able to take this in stride so far, I’m definitely going to have to continue working on this, and hopefully eventually I’ll be able to anticipate their needs as well.

While I never saw myself working for a theater company, so far it has been an amazing educational experience, and I can’t wait to see my hard work come to life on stage.