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If I were 22 – Elizabeth Newman

Now Artistic Director of Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Elizabeth Newman reveals what advice she’d give to her younger self.

Elizabeth Newman
4 min read

I've always loved receiving advice from colleagues and peers, so perhaps the first thing I’d tell myself If I were 22 is…

Sometimes the most inspirational thing you can do is listen to your colleagues or the people you serve artistically, and be moved and inspired by what they say and do. Great older statesman who you work with will always want to share their past mistakes and successes, so let them. Listen and take heed. Ask lots of questions of colleagues who’ve lived longer and learned more. Be open to their wisdom and be grateful for it. Let those around you tell you their stories. They will be vital.

I’d get comfortable uttering the line “I don't know, let’s find out”. Everyone respects a leader who is honest and open, and not knowing gives you more strength and demands greater respect than pretence. It also allows others to be involved in the answer. By gifting people the opportunity to be part of the solution, they share in the success, and that is our ultimate objective; to share ownership and pride with the teams we lead and the communities we serve. To bolster the worth of your not knowing, you must…

At 22 you cannot have the best answers but you can definitely ask helpful, important questions! Ask questions constantly. What’s the solution? What would you advise? How did you come to that conclusion? All questions are liberating. As a leader you’re ultimately responsible when all’s said and done, but you don’t have to come up with every solution. You work with specialists. Let them be specialists. 

It costs nothing to be a good human. Working in the arts demands humanity, as that’s the objective of all great artists – to help communities understand their own relationships with each other and our global sense of responsibility. Kindness inevitably encourages generosity, and you will undoubtedly need someone to be generous to you in the not too distant future so be the first person to be generous in the conversation. If you see a piece of work on a first night or a last night remember someone at some point poured their heart and soul into this work. Respect the endeavour, even if it’s not to your taste. Find something in everything you come across that you can admire or learn from.

At the start of your journey you’ll have to work long, hard hours. Don’t complain, just crack on. No one admires a complainer, and you will gain the respect of others by being willing. Go above and beyond and exhaust yourself for the greater good. Always be the last one left standing – it’s imperative in the arts that you have stamina. And after all, at 22, your energy is what you have to bring to the table!

Elizabeth Newman is the Artistic Director of Octagon Theatre, Bolton.
octagonbolton.co.uk