“How did I get here?”: Connor Strange on turning curiosity into a career in live production
Standing in the vision team at BBC Cymru Wales, surrounded by experienced professionals and helping deliver live television to thousands of viewers, Connor Strange had one of those moments.
“How did I get here?”
His journey had started behind the scenes in theatre, where Connor quickly realised he was just as fascinated by the technical side of a production as the performance itself.
Then, in 2019, he got his first professional opportunity working on a pantomime.
Experiencing the pace and energy of live production first-hand confirmed it. This was the career he wanted.
Learning by doing
In January 2020, Connor founded Connor Strange Tech and began building his career across live events, television and broadcast.
Since then, he has worked on productions including the Six Nations Rugby Championship and tech rehearsals for the 2026 Welsh Parliament Elections coverage for S4C.
Seeing his name on the crew list for BBC Cymru Wales for the first time was a particularly special moment.
“It reminded me that with hard work, persistence and a willingness to keep learning, opportunities you once thought were out of reach can become reality.”
But there was another major milestone.
Winning a Production Futures Breakthrough Talent Award.
The confidence to keep going
Connor won the Breakthrough Talent Award for Live Event Production Newcomer of the Year, and says the recognition gave him confidence that he was heading in the right direction.
It also helped raise his profile, opened new conversations and opportunities, and introduced him to more people across live events and broadcast.
“It gave me confidence that I was heading in the right direction and that the hard work I’d put into developing my skills was being recognised by the industry.”
Looking back, Connor says one of the biggest lessons he has learned is that you don't need to know everything when you're starting out.
Ask questions. Learn from the people around you. Build relationships. Keep improving.
And start networking.
For Connor, technical ability is only part of building a successful career.
“The skills you develop will open doors, but your attitude is what will keep them open.”
What’s next?
Connor is currently working towards his Dante certification, looking for new ways to build his expertise and continuing to work across live event media.
There is no sense that winning an award was an end point.
It gave him more confidence to keep going.
Could you be next?
Connor’s story is a reminder that you do not need your whole career mapped out before you start.
You can learn as you go, say yes to opportunities and gradually find yourself doing things that once felt completely out of reach.
The Breakthrough Talent Awards celebrate emerging talent making their mark across the production industry. This year, you can nominate someone whose work deserves recognition, or nominate yourself.
If you’ve been building your skills, taking opportunities and making your mark, perhaps it’s time to recognise how far you’ve come.
Breakthrough Talent Awards 2026 nominations are now open.