Working Environments - Theatre & Programming?

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Hi everyone,

I'm at a bit of a loss, and I could really use some feedback from people with experience in the relevant fields. I've been studying for the past 3 years towards my degree in Theatre Design, but as I get more field experience of what it's like working in the costuming department (as the designer or generic wardrobe staff) I realise it's not for me. It's so loud and bustly, and you're surrounded with people and noise in close proximity. I joined it for the designing/making part, but the actual performances/rehearsals are so stressful for me that I'm really looking for other things. I was thinking of doing a secondary degree after I graduate anyway, through a distance learning program (the Open University in the UK is pretty good), of something like Psychology, Mathematics or Computing/Computer Sciences. I'm thinking of going for Computing, since traditionally it doesn't require a lot of that kind of interaction, and it was what I'd originally planned to go for before I decided upon this course (since I was pretty obsessively into sewing at the time, so Costuming seemed like an obvious choice..).

I've recieved mixed feedback from my friends who work as Programmers. One works in quite a noisy environment (because her boss is loud and shouty) in what's basically a cubicle farm. The other works mostly alone (as part of a small team). It's something I could definitely do as a subject, but I don't want to fall into the same hole I find myself in now.

Hi Whisper, I have a degree in Theatre Design, maybe I can help.

As a desiger, you shouldn't actually have to build the costumes yourself, unless you're working for a small company. But most designers (including set and lighting, which is what I did) spend most of their time alone working on the actual design: sketches, samples, etc., and then let the production team make it a reality. So I think it's a great job for a creative aspie, as long as you love what you do.

The catch is you usually have to work your way up as a designer; actually working in the shop as you're doing now. Maybe you could talk to your superior about options. For instance, could you work evenings and weekends, when there are less people around? Could you work from home? Is there another space/room that you could work in so you're not so crowded?

Remember that you are working in an industry which is full of eccentrics, so your aspie issues might not be as noticable as you think!

The other thing you could try is becoming an assistant designer. This is how many designers start out, and you might get some other duties. You might not get paid at first, though. But on the other hand, you might move up quickly, and start getting design projects of your own.

I can totally relate to you, I need my own space all the time and often worked nights to avoid others. (The reason I'm not designing now is because I just don't have the creative energy right now, but I might return to it in the future. I think it's a great job for an aspie).

Hello, Whisper!

I do have a lot experience in theater. I have worked in one and have done quite a bit of acting as wel on top of forming one of the worlds first virtual internet theater companies where we performed plays live over the internet in a virtual world. I have done the exact same thing you did when I was in college. I majored in biology but then it just didn't feel right. I got the well, "Ok, I'm done with this subject now" and I got really bored with it and it left me unfulfilled. I took theater as my second major. But, things got too bad for me and I was unable to finish college. Kind of sucks but that's how it played out.

As far as the theater goes, I don't know if it's possible for you to work when most other people aren't around, rehearsing and all that stuff. As a designer, I would think that a lot of the work you would do would not involve a lot of people. I can see as you are learning it that you would be exposed to lots of noise and people.

If it is the actual people and noise that bother you, I don't know if trying a different perspective may help. Because, you see for me...really loud noises put my nerves on end and I get really anxious. But, loud noises with lots of people going on working towards a common goal, I can handle for some reason. It does get noisy and there are lots of people and personalities to deal with in a theater setting. But, when you look at the overall goal and why there are high levels of noise and chaos and tons of people, I find that very very comforting.

As Zee pointed out, the theater is wonderful in regards that an Aspie can fit in because of the quirkiness and eccentricity of theater folk. I have often heard that theater folk are a certain breed of people and knowing that I have always been different has comforted me and allowed me to feel like I belong. I see the eccentricities and quirkiness of theater folk and I always get a giggle.

The part that I'm guessing you would be having issues with would be during tech week. That sounds like it would be the absolute worst for you. I know that everyone is stressed out during tech week. Energies are high and people get very anxious. There's shouting, meltdowns, people grumbling about this and that, lights flashing, instruments being tested all kinds of stuff. Maybe you can center yourself and kind of block that stuff out. I know I have had to raise my voice a few times. Not out of anger but to get points across and so someone actually hears me because everyone who is there is in their own little world trying to get a handle on what they need to be doing.

Thanks for your replies so far.

I could turn to being a Designer/Design Assistant. I'm not sure if my portfolio is up to it at the moment, as it's almost entirely built up of practical work in Costuming. But it's something I will look into further.

Upochapo: I've found that when I'm concentrating in a very focused manner that I can tune out superfluous sensory data, including crowds and noise. I've had this happen in the past during a Go match in a very crowded pub. But it's usually short lived, and near-impossible to summon up conciously/repeatedly. I doubt I'd be able to do that in a work situation.

I'm not sure on the point about Theatre being great for Aspie people. It's quite open and accepting, but at the same time so much of it relies on networking and 'knowing the right people'. I'd really need to get more experience in the field before calling it either way.

An environment with lots of noise an being surrounded by people is just a facet of office culture. I don't see how programming is any different (having worked only programming jobs in the office environment).

An area where there is more noise is the fans on the computers, especially if you're in the same room as some of the servers.

But, an office environment is still the defining factor.

There is something called "Agile Methodologies" which are gaining a lot of traction in recent years. This is a highly social form of programming, which encourages constant interaction between all members involved, from the coders to the clients, and also encourages things like pair programming, with two people working on a single computer. You may dislike such things.

Other shops use other methods. In both of the jobs I've worked (getting a job seems neigh impossible... but I'll be starting a 3rd hopefully very soon) I did mostly solo work, and the third one appears to be mostly solo work as well. However, there is absolutely a need for frequent consulting with other people about what you're working on and how to do it... as far as I can tell, like any office job. Agile is a lot more social focused.

Still, my greatest irritants were the office environment itself. The second job had lots of yelling from the higher ups, a loud building of questionable design (making loud pops on average of every 6 seconds), and zero sound insulation. The first job was a normal, segregated office building, which was fine other than sharing a room with the server.


As for a career choice, I started programming when I was a kid, and can't see myself wanting to really do anything else. If you're just thinking about it as something to do... you're going to have a hard time with it. You'll be up against "programmer for life"-type people, who, like me, can't see themselves doing anything else... and I struggled for a freaking year to find a job.