I was invited to be on the industry panel for the second year of IGNITE Your Creativity, an initiative from Netflix and the National Youth Theatre tackling the deep-rooted class divide in the creative industries.
With research revealing that 89% of working-class parents would discourage their children from pursuing creative careers—citing concerns over stability, career progression, and pay—programmes like IGNITE are more crucial than ever in changing perceptions and creating real opportunities for young talent.
As a director, I know firsthand the barriers that exist for those outside traditional creative circles. Through IGNITE, I was able to offer practical guidance to regional, working-class people who are passionate about storytelling but may not see a clear path into the industry.