Kerry Adams, a graduating BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance student, and Ollie Groth, who's just completed his first year on BA (Hons) Graphic Design, are the creative forces behind the print and digital collateral for AUB Theatre Productions.
From programmes and posters to flyers and web assets, this duo is responsible for translating the energy of the stage onto the page.
For Kerry, stepping into the role of graphic designer for AUB Theatre Productions was a chance to stretch her existing skills. Having completed an apprenticeship in West London doing artworking and marketing before university, she already had a strong handle on the technical side of the job.
“I started this in January of my first year,” Kerry explains. “I knew what to do in terms of the graphic design and organising it, but learning all the roles in AUB Theatre Productions and creating the programme layout was quite a lot and new to me.”
While Kerry brought her industry experience and an insider's understanding of the theatre hierarchy, Ollie arrived from Salisbury as a first-year Graphic Design student with plenty of design ambition but zero background in theatre.
“I thought it would just be really good experience for me,” Ollie says of his decision to apply. “It’s something to do for the uni, helping out internally, which is great. I didn’t really have an interest in the production side of theatre itself; it was literally about getting that hands-on graphic experience.”
This contrast in backgrounds quickly became their greatest asset. While Kerry understood the inner workings of the theatre and the key players involved, Ollie brought fresh technical skills, particularly in Photoshop.
“I’m glad Ollie did all those images because I don’t have the same Photoshop skills,” Kerry laughs. “We’re like two halves of the same side. It’s a really nice exchange of knowledge.”
Working for AUB Theatre Productions isn't just about playing with colours and layouts – it’s a fast-paced lesson in commercial design.
Under the guidance of their ‘client’, Jonny Hoskins, Creative Producer at AUB Theatre Productions, the pair operate like a professional agency. This means dealing with tight timelines, co-ordinating with higher-ups like production managers, and learning to handle the inevitable tweaks and amends that come with client work.
“Ollie did the images for the three productions this season,” Kerry notes, while Ollie adds, “They were a mash-up of quite a few different images based on a brief Jonny set. But even if Jonny likes it, someone else might not. We’ve had quite a few tweaks and amends coming back, especially when it came to choosing the fonts for the titles this term. It really gives you a proper insight into agency life.”
The duo works primarily in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop to create high stakes print materials. Unlike typical classroom assignments, there's no room for error here.
“This is printed. It goes on posters, and people take these flyers home,” Kerry says. “It’s actually a big responsibility to get it right. The programmes are what people take away with them as keepsakes. You have to double-check absolutely everyone's name!”
As Ollie comes to the end of his first year living in Bournemouth, navigating Halls, making friends, and working on upcoming university briefs with local brands like LUSH, Kerry's preparing for life after graduation. Her time with AUB Theatre Productions has opened up entirely new career avenues she hadn’t previously considered.
“I want to get a job in some kind of theatre capacity,” she says. “I follow the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) for job updates. Sometimes marketing roles come up, and I think, well, I could do that.
“Being a dresser is eight shows a week, six days a week, which is incredibly tiring. In marketing, I could sit in an office! This project has given me options.”
For both students, the collaboration has been an invaluable stepping stone, proving that the best design work often happens when you step out of your comfort zone and work with someone from the other side of the curtain.
