Meet the Membership Rep

For the latest in my series of posts about the people on the committee who manage the theatre as volunteers I spoke to Sayani Sur, known to everyone as Shi.

Her role on the committee is membership representative so I began by asking her to explain what that means. The membership rep acts as the means of communications between the committee, the trustees and the wider membership. This communication works both ways so Shi makes sure that committee minutes are sent out to members who want them and that anything that comes up at meetings that she thinks members may have particular views on is raised with the membership. Going the other way Shi is the first port of call for members who want to raise a particular issue with committee. This might range from questions about booking seats for shows to requests to get involved in fundraising and even raising concerns about the cost of painting a new container.

Shi was involved in theatre when she was at school but later drifted away to concentrate on her career. When she decided she needed some drama back in her life she threw herself into Progress activities. She has been involved in almost every show since she joined the theatre a bout eighteen months ago. She can usually be found wielding a paint brush or screw driver during set build weekends, she directed a play in WriteFest this year, played a beast in Neverwhere and is currently on stage as a dwarf with gender issues in The Fifth Elephant.

Shi backstage during The Fifth Elephant

When she realised the theatre was run by a management committee she decided she would like to get more involved and have some influence on the way the theatre was run. The position of member representative happened to be available and she took it over on a temporary basis before being formally elected at last year’s Annual General Meeting.

During the day Shi is a commercial media lawyer and is responsible for negotiating and managing contracts. She is a trained lawyer, a background that has occasionally proved useful when the committee needs someone to run an experienced eye over a legal document.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

The Fifth Elephant by Stephen Briggs based on the book by Terry Pratchett 17th - 26th January 2013, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Colder than Here by Laura Wade, Sunday 10th February 2pm, Wednesday 13th 7.30 pm, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Macbeth, the Summer Shakespeare production, Lord and Lady Macbeth only, Friday February 8th, 7pm Progress Theatre. Auditions for all other parts Sunday 3rd and 10th March 2.30pm.

Rumours by Neil Simon, Monday18th to Saturday 23rd February 2013, Progress Theatre

The Fifth Elephant

Our first show of the new year, The Fifth Elephant, starts on Thursday 17th January and runs until Saturday 26th January, with matinees on the Saturday afternoons. It is already over 75% sold so if you want to come it would be a good idea to book soon. There are plenty of tickets on Tuesday 22nd as this was booked out for a charity gala evening that unfortunately has fallen through so the tickets are back on general sale.

I went along to a rehearsal on Tuesday night and had my first peek at the set, props and costumes. The set is a good example of the compromise and flexibility needed in a busy theatre. The youth group production,  The Love of the Nightgale didn't finish until the 17th December and with Christmas in between that didn't leave enough time to dismantle and build a new set from scratch. Nightingale director Ali Carrol wanted an amphitheatre and Fifth Elephant director Chris Moran wanted a raised platform with raised platform with steps either side. What they agreed on was steps stretching across the width of the stage which gave the impression of an amphitheatre and (with a few secret additions) gives Chris the ability to do everything she needs.

This play based on a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel has inspired the props makers in what can only be a labour of love. The props store back stage includes a rather gruesome severed arm

and a specially designed box of matches.

The dwarfs helmets have  their namespainted on in the Dwarvish language. My favourite prop was a Lonely Planet guide book to Uberwald, including full 'blurb' on he back - a level of detail that will never be seen by the audience but adds that extra layer of authenticity.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

The Fifth Elephant by Stephen Briggs based on the book by Terry Pratchett 17th - 26th January 2013, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Colder than Here by Laura Wade 3rd 10th and 13th February 2013, Progress Theatre (time to be confirmed)

Auditions for Lord and Lady Macbeth only for the Summer Shakespeare February 8th 7pm Progress Theatre. Auditions for other parts will be on 3rd and 10th March more details to follow.

Rumours by Neil Simon  Monday18th to Saturday 23rd February 2013, Progress Theatre

The Love of the Nightingale learning the ropes backstage

The Progress Youth theatre gives its members the opportunity to learn all aspects of theatre, not just acting. In the current production of The Love of The Nightingale, Josie Thompson is getting a taste of stage management.

Josie demonstrating one of the props

A major part of the role of stage manager is safety, particularly if there was an emergency, and for this reason there always has to be someone over 18 backstage. In this production Josie is benefitting from working with experienced stage manager, Fiona McNeil.

There are no complex set changes or special effects in The Love of The Nightingale but a good stage manager still has to keep on the ball as they have to be ready to help out if things go wrong backstage. Josie is by the stage left entrance throughout the play, a bit chilly in this frosty weather. She follows the action in the script, checking that the actors are ready to go on when they should be, or warn them if the actors on stage skip some of the script.

The most stressful thing she has to do is help with two costume changes in quick succession. She has learnt from experience that she needs to just throw the first dress on the floor and leave sorting it out until after the second costume change.

When she is not busy with Progress Josie plays ice-hockey for Bracknell Ice-bees, is a drummer and in her spare time is studying for GCSEs this summer.

The Love of the Nightingale runs until Saturday 17th 2012.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

Progress Youth Theatre presents For the Love of a Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker 10th -15th December 2012, Progress Theatre

The Fifth Elephant by Stephen Briggs based on the book by Terry Pratchett 17th - 26th January 2013, Progress Theatre

The Love Of The Nightingale

Before dropping in on a rehearsal I didn't know much about The Love of the Nightingale except that it is based on a Greek legend and is written by Timberlake Wertenbaker who wrote Our Country's Good.


I discovered that the play tells the story of Philomela who following, a violent assault, uses life size dolls to act out what happened to her. This explained the slightly scary rag doll sitting in an empty chair in the auditorium. In the story Philomela spends many years making the dolls but the props team have had only a few weeks to make their own versions.

The production is being staged in traditional Greek costume so the costumes will be relatively easy to make. Although the way producer Liz Carroll was explaining the 'simple' way the the cast will have to drape and tie their robes I hope they haven't got too many quick changes.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

Auditions for New Directors' Double Bill Wednesday 5th December, 7.30pm or Sunday 9th December 2pm, Progress Theatre

Progress Youth Theatre presents For the Love of a Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker 10th -15th December 2012, Progress Theatre

The Fifth Elephant by Stephen Briggs based on the book by Terry Pratchett 17th - 26th January 2013, Progress Theatre

Details of all our productions and auditions can be found on our website.

Meet the marketing manager

This week's post is the first in an occasional series looking at the people who run Progress Theatre -  the management committee. Progress has charitable status and is entirely managed by a team of volunteers elected annually by the members.

Abby Salter sits on the management committee as the marketing manager and I met up with her over a cup of coffee to discuss her role. She originally joined the theatre to get involved with the writers' group but after agreeing to look after the marketing for The Women of Lockerbie she has not looked back and this is now her fifth year as marketing manager. She has even gone on to get a level 4 qualification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Abby relaxing during a break from the theatre
 

The role of the marketing manager is to look at the marketing and branding of the theatre as a whole but Abby also co-ordinates the marketing activities of each show. Each production has its own dedicated marketing person (also a volunteer of course!) but Abby handles the press contacts to maintain consistency over the season. There is a marketing schedule for each production to make sure that nothing is forgotten. There is also a small team of people who do regular marketing jobs across the season like putting up displays in the library and  maintaining the website.

Selling a show is much easier if it is something people want to see anyway (or it is on the school curriculum and they have to see it!). As marketing manager Abby doesn't have a direct say on what plays are put on in a season but the management committee takes an overall view on the plays put forward by the play production committee. The ideal is to have a mixture of well-known popular pieces combined with some more challenging works.

Abby is clearly excited by all aspects of marketing and gets a real buzz from watching people coming out after a show they've enjoyed and feeling that they came along as a result of marketing. She is proud of increasing average seat sales form 59.8% to 67% over her time in office.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

Auditions for Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman. Wednesday 21st November 7.30 to 10.30 pm plus Saturday 24 November 2 to 5pm (Main characters and call-backs)

Auditions for New Directors' Double Bill Wednesday 5th December, 7.30pm or Sunday 9th December 2pm, Progress Theatre

Progress Youth Theatre presents For the Love of a Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker 10th -15th December 2012, Progress Theatre

The Fifth Elephant by Stephen Briggs based on the book by Terry Pratchett 17th - 26th January 2013, Progress Theatre

Details of all our productions and auditions can be found on our website.