There are plenty of ways to get involved at the theatre without being involved directly in a production.  As always, experience is welcome but not neccessary.

The below is a list of current groups at the theatre.  If you are interested in joining in, sharing your knowledge or gaining knowledge then let us know!

Show Nights

• Box Office
• Coffee Bar
• Front of House
• Licensed Bar

Behind the Scenes

• Pub Grub
• Publicity
• Theatre Maintenance

Responsibility

• Duty Officer
• House Manager

Box Office

Being good with computers is a bonus, but training on our box office system will be provided. On show nights you'd be required from 18:45 until 22:00 for evening performances and 13:45 until 17:00 for matinees. We also open the box office on Friday evenings and Saturday lunchtimes to give people the chance to purchase tickets if they're not comfortable doing so online.

Coffee Bar

It's not just coffee, we alse sell tea! This is a simple role that comes with full instructions. Only required on show nights from 18:45 for evening performances and from 13:45 for matinees, until after the interval. You will be serving drinks from the coffee bar hatch for auditorium shows only for pre-show and intervals. You will not be required for a post-show service.

Front of House

Being good with customers is essential. You will greet patrons, check their tickets and assist them into the auditorium. Training is required for this role to cover evacuation and health and safety knowledge. You will also be required to sell ice creams in the foyer during the interval. Only required on show nights from 18:45 for evening performances and 13:45 for matinees, until 10 minutes or so after the show finishes.

Licensed Bar

Training is required to be part of the bar team and there is some paperwork required to be able to serve alcoholic drinks. The till and card machine are digital so being comfortable with a bit of technology and some maths for cashing up the float are essential. Only required on show nights from 18:45 until 10:30 for evening performances and 13:45 until 17:30 for matinees, however Saturday evenings often include a party for the cast and crew after the getout so being willing to serve drinks up until midnight or later is greatly appreciated.

If you want further information on any of these roles please contact Carol Parkinson.

Pub Grub

When we have sufficient volunteers we like to offer sandwiches on a Saturday lunchtime to our members.

Publicity

The publicity team are responsible for, among other things, our social media output, flyers and posters, arranging reviewers, advertising, producing our season's playbill and our souvenir programs.

If you want further information on the publicity team please contact Alison Hope.

Theatre Maintenance

The building on Halifax Place is our own and it requires maintenance. Some thing are a periodic checks, but others are on demand such as repairs or ordering supplies for customer toilets. If you have practical skill sthat could be of assistance here please let us know.

If you want further information on theatre maintenance team please contact Keith Parkinson.

Duty Officer

There is no checkbox on the membership form to be a duty officer, but if you are trained on the bar and feel you could be responsible for opening and closing the building on a non-show night please let us know and we can supply you with the additional training.

House Manager

There is no checkbox on the membership form to be a house manager, but if you feel you could be responsible for opening and closing the theatre on show nights, chasing up absentees for other roles for the evening and resolving any patron queries let us know and we can supply you with additional training.

PAG Chair role and responsibilities

The role of the Programme Advisory Group (PAG) is to plan and propose to the Board the composition of the forthcoming artistic season. The Board, having agreed this with PAG, recommends the programme to the membership at the AGM.

The Chair of the PAG is appointed, at the latest, at the March Board meeting prior to the start of the preceding season and will subsequently invite about six other members to form the Group. The list of PAG members should be sent to the Board Secretary who will distribute it to Board members and display it on the Members Noticeboard in the Bar.

Following confirmation of the proposed programme at the AGM the PAG Chair becomes the Incoming Artistic Director and from 1 August the Artistic Director for the new season.

The calendar of key events and decisions is attached.

Role of the PAG Chair

The principal responsibilities of the PAG Chair are to:

1. Develop, with PAG colleagues, a balanced programme of productions that will appeal to members and visitors alike and will provide opportunities for the exercise of a wide variety of skills by a large proportion of the Theatre membership, both male and female.
   
   
2. To provide opportunities for all members of the Theatre to suggest plays they wish to be considered for inclusion in the programme.
   
   
3. To consider the workload of the programme and specific production requirements of shows by consulting with the technical. staging and wardrobe departments through their heads.
   
   
4. Confirm that all plays proposed are available for performance by amateurs by checking with the licencing bodies before presenting the proposed programme to the Board.
   
   
5. To invite, after the Board’s approval of the draft programme for recommendation to the membership, members interested in directing to express an interest in directing specific plays, and, after the acceptance of the programme at the AGM, to present a draft list of directors for specific plays to the Board for comment before offering the opportunity to the named directors.
   
   
6. Appoint the Casting Advisor Co-ordinator from PAG members.
   
   
7. Encourage new directors to come forward by encouraging members to act as production assistants
   
   
8. Liaise with the Youth Theatre Director on chosen performances
   
   
9. Attend Board meetings as indicated in the calendar.

Artistic Director role and responsibilities

Following confirmation of the proposed programme at the AGM the PAG Chair becomes the Incoming Artistic Director and from 1 August the Artistic Director for the new season.

Role of the Artistic Director

The Artistic Director will be head of the Artistic Group. Principal responsibilities of are to:

1. Manage the smooth and effective implementation of the accepted programme for the season, bearing in mind the requirements of any visiting companies, approved lettings or special events
   
   
2. Ensure that all performance licences are secured for all productions in the accepted programme, and then forward licences to the treasurer for immediate payment as soon as they are obtained as well as notifying the publicity department of any licencing requirements for advertising performance.
   
   
3. Coordinate with the Head of Publicity the design and content of the brochure for the season, in particular the Introduction, the images and text for each of the plays and the calendar. Discuss with directors the auditorium layouts required and marketing information, including warnings [eg. Strong language, smoking on stage] for inclusion in the brochure and then co-ordinate with the head of publicity.
   
   
4. Ensure that directors let the Librarian know the number of copies required for each production noting that six technical copies are required in addition to those for the actors.
   
   
5. Organise the dates of auditions in collaboration with directors and the diary keeper. It is useful to include a second audition date for directors which may not be needed and is therefore not publicised.
   
   
6. Attending the monthly Theatre Management Committee (TMC) to report on the progress of the season. If unable to attend in person arrange for a representative from the Artistic Group attend.
   
   
7. Seek agreement from the Board for any proposed change in the programme or change of director or designer if this should become necessary.
   
   
8. Maintain a watching brief on the progress of the accepted programme and to be ready to offer assistance should this be required.
   
   
9. Liaise through the season with those responsible for publicity and marketing.
   
   
10. Appoint casting advisors for each audition and ensuring that they fulfil the requirements. Ideally there should be a male and female casting advisor for each production. The casting advisors pack is in the office.
    
    
11. Liaising with directors on the organisation of any play discussions or linked events.