WARGRAVE THEATRE NEEDS YOU!
Be part of your local award-winning amateur theatre and help us continue to produce first-class entertainment in the village.
We always welcome new members interested in joining, particularly new and younger actors, but we do also very much want to encourage volunteers – whether they want to be on the stage or not – who are prepared to gain experience in specific aspects of theatre production. This will help ensure we have the necessary expertise to continue our success in future years. Currently, our shows rely on the commitment of a small group of experienced regular volunteers, so it is right that we look ahead to ensure that their know-how can be passed on to new generations.
Would you like to join Wargrave Theatre, maybe to go on the stage, or maybe to learn one of the fascinating behind-the-scenes skills that are essential for every show? Now’s your chance to have a think about it and, if you’re interested, get in touch with us to find out more.
The areas of theatre production where we most need “new blood” are in directing, lighting, sound, wardrobe, set building, set painting, props and stage management, but we always need volunteers to help with Front of House and serving on the Bar as well. Whatever the role, no previous experience is required because we will always provide full guidance and mentoring for you, but if you have already been involved in amateur theatre in any way, so much the better! We would love to hear from you, so how about putting yourself forward for one of these rewarding jobs?
Whatever aspect takes your fancy, please email us at wargrave.theatre@gmail.com indicating your area of interest in the title, and we will ensure that the right person gets back to you without delay.
Directing
We aim to put on at least four main productions each year (typically: pantomime in January, Spring drama in April, alternate outdoor Shakespeare or Summer play in June, and Autumn drama in October, in addition to two Youth Theatre shows in June and November). We are very keen to encourage budding new directors to relieve our well-worked existing ones! If you aspire to be a director, with new ideas for shows, contact us now.
Lighting
Our lighting designers work with the director to develop ideas for each show and then create the lighting plot using our theatre standard lighting control equipment to run at each performance. If you are interested in lighting up our stage, we are eager to hear from you.
Sound
Working the sound element of productions involves sourcing, preparing and delivering sound content (incidental music, sound effects, backing tracks etc), in conjunction with the director. We use a PC-based show cueing software for the playback at final rehearsals and shows via the mixing console/pa system. Some familiarity with mics and mixers/pa systems as well as Windows software, including sound editing and creating, is helpful. If this sort of thing is up your street, please sound us out.
Wardrobe
Wargrave Theatre has an extensive costume wardrobe which is housed in its own room in the Woodclyffe Hostel. We aim to provide show outfits from our own resources but do also borrow or hire from outside where this is not possible, and we sometimes need to make new costumes ourselves, particularly for the annual pantomime! Whether managing the wardrobe or preparing costumes for shows, we would greatly value your help, so please contact us now for more information.
Set Building
If you are confident with woodworking tools and reckon you could construct anything from a doorway flat to a coach for Cinderella, then why not join our regular team of set builders? All shows require some scenery to be built, whether it’s a straightforward boxed set for a stage play or a range of fantastic creatures for a pantomime, or maybe something rugged and weatherproof for Shakespeare on the Green. We try to re-use scenery and timber from previous shows, and we have a large stock of material both at the Woodclyffe Hall and in our store at Highfield Farm which needs managing. Maybe you have a van or trailer to help move scenery around? If you would like to help with any aspect of set building, email us right away.
Set Painting
Once the scenery is built, we always need our wonderful painters to bring the whole set to life! Not all the painting requires great artistic skill, so if emulsioning walls is your thing, we would find that just as useful as painting an intricate landscape or interior. To find out more about what opportunities there are with the brush, please get in touch.
Props
Most productions require many and varied objects and effects for the actors to use to make their performances more real. Sourcing these and having them all ready for each performance is a demanding but very satisfying role. We have an eclectic stock of our own props, which needs looking after, but we also beg, borrow and buy (off the internet or from bric-a-brac shops), and we occasionally commission someone to make them, to ensure we get the most convincing items. If this sounds like your bag, we would love to hear from you.
Stage Management
No show can go on without a competent stage manager, can it? At present we have only two experienced members who between them cover all the shows, including the Youth Theatre productions. Many shows can be straightforward with few scenery changes, whereas the pantomime is a much more complex challenge, as you can imagine! If you would like to learn about stage management and join our team, please get in touch.
Front of House
If you like meeting and greeting people, then maybe joining our Front of House team would appeal to you? Welcoming our audiences to our theatre, helping people find their seats, and looking after them during performances, as well helping to prepare the seating before the shows, would be the main things you would be involved in. If interested, please make yourself known to us!
Bar
Our bar adds enjoyment and atmosphere to every show, serving drinks to our audiences before the start and during the interval. If you would like to help on this busy and sociable team, please contact us.
EXPENSES CLAIM FORM
Expenditure incurred on productions and other incidental costs relating to the management of Wargrave Theatre may be claimed using the WT form which you can download here.
Claims must be sanctioned by the production director or any Committee member and then submitted to the Honorary Treasurer. Full details are given on the form.