Co.next – Emerging Talent Q&A – Abigail Smith, Norwich Theatre

Abigail Smith, 21 – started at Norwich Theatre as a Hospitality Assistant in June 2022 whilst studying at the University of East Anglia for her degree in Occupational Therapy. Since joining the theatre Abi has been on an incredible journey throughout the organisation, moving into the role of Hospitality Supervisor in June 2023, moving from being a zero hours position to a full time one. Most recently in September 2025 Abi was offered the position of Assistant Hospitality Operations Manager.

What inspired you to start a career in the arts and cultural sector?

Abi: I like the sense of community it gives people. Theatre welcomes people from all different backgrounds and experiences. Arts and culture bring everyone together to enjoy shared experiences. I personally like to provide experiences for people, as well as learning about other people. I have felt part of that community all the way through my career here and it’s at the heart of what we offer as a theatre and what I enjoy most about this place.

What does your role at Norwich Theatre Royal involve on a typical day?

My role is incredibly varied. One of the key areas I oversee is managing our merchandise for shows and performances across all of our buildings. I work directly with the visiting companies to find out details of what they want to offer for us to sell their merchandise and how we support them in terms of selling and our commissions.

I work closely with our finance team to ensure our daybooks and commercial finances are in check.

I also look after the staff management of our team of supervisors, carrying out 1-2-1’s, but also as part of my operational duties, I will ensure they are managing their teams effectively and relay positive feedback where this is offered, as well as being an escalation point during show hours should this be required.

Also in relation to staff management, I track our wages, filling out spreadsheets, managing budgets and looking at how and where we can make cost effective decisions relating to staff and analysis of our people.