Marketing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

The preparation for a show starts well before the first audition. The work may start over a year before when the director has to put their vision of the production to the Play Production Committee who decide the proposed season for final approval by the members. At this stage the director will also put together the basis of their production team, including production manager, lighting and sound, costumes and stage manager.

One of the earliest areas that needs to be put into place is the marketing plan. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard is being performed 15th - 20th October 2012 but the design for the flyers has to be finalised in the next few weeks so that posters and flyers can be printed ready for distribution and display. The first marketing meeting was held last week with the director, theatre marketing manager and the show's production and marketing managers.

Glynn, Abby and Liz studying the marketing schedule

Some things have to happen for every show like printing flyers and updating 'whats on' websites, other things will be different for different shows. For example Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead are planning to hold an open rehearsal to generate some publicity. The show is very funny and is running during the Reading Comedy Festival so we are hoping there may be some opportunities to market to their audiences.

Marketing meetings and schedules may not be what you expect to be doing when you join a local theatre but there is no point in putting on the most fantastic show if no-one turns up to see it.

If you want to be in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead there is still time to audition. The second audition is this Tuesday 1st August 7.30pm

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.

Coming up -

Auditions for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard Tuesday 31st July 7.30pm at Progress Theatre

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, 13th - 22nd September 2012, Progress Theatre

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

Henry IV - the show goes on

You may have noticed that we haven't been having great weather this summer but in the best British tradition the show will go on - whatever the weather.

The first night of Henry IV part One in the Caversham Court Gardens was particularly wet but the hardy souls who had pre-booked all turned up dressed for the rain. We decided to give them some shelter by moving the box-office gazebo down to the stage area.

The cast all donned transparent ponchos to protect their costumes and performed a 'wet weather' version of the show with some of the more risky sword fights cut. Unfortunately the weather got even worse and they weren't able to carry on after the interval.

There have been some much better evenings and some performances the sun has even put in an appearance. Everyone who has seen the show has been enthusiastic - even when the weather was bad. The weather forecast is looking good for tomorrow evening (Wednesday 18th July) and we have decided to run a special promotion. Anyone who pre-books for Wednesday night will get £5 off their ticket price. You can still come on the door but the discount won't apply.

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.
Coming up -

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12th - 21st July 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

Auditions for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard Sunday 29th July 2012, 1pm and Tuesday 31st July 7.30pm, both at Progress Theatre

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, 13th - 22nd September 2012, Progress Theatre

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

Henry IV Dress rehearsal

Henry IV Part One, this year's out-door Shakespeare production, starts this Thursday 12th July and runs until Saturday 21st at Caversham Court Gardens. Monday night was a dress rehearsal and press night so I had a bit of a sneak preview of what it will all look like. The stage remains in position during the whole run but everything else like the tents needed for actors and props has to be put up and taken down each night.

Caversham Gardens are a beautiful setting for productions; the stage sits next to the river and among the mature trees. The trees are put to more than decorative use as they are used to hold the lights that enable the audience to get a good view of the dramatic battle scenes in the second half as darkness starts to fall.

As well as the actors and stage crew there is an army of willing workers who take on the less glamorous but vital roles like selling tickets, running the bar and selling programmes. Dress rehearsals are an opportunity for them to run through their procedures and make sure they have everything in place.

Production team checking what they need in the box 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.

Coming up -

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12th - 21st July 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

Auditions for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard Sunday 29th July 2012, 1pm and Tuesday 31st July 7.30pm, both at Progress Theatre

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, 13th - 22nd September 2012, Progress Theatre

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

Trying on Henry IV costumes

What’s Wrong With Angry? By Patrick Wilde starts today and runs until Saturday 7th July. See last week's blog for details.



Shi being laced into her lady in waiting costume

The theatre is very busy getting ready for our annual Shakespeare production in the beautiful Caversham Court Gardens. This year we are presenting Henry IV, Part One in full period costume. Most of the costumes have been hired from a company called History in the Making who have a treasure trove of a warehouse near Portsmouth full of weapons, army vehicles, obsure props and of course a whole range of costumes.

Matt Tully showing off his Henry IV costume

The costumes arrived at the theatre on Saturday and were sorted out by the wardrobe team headed by Liz Paulo and Louise Butland. They were all ready for the actors to try on Sunday afternoon when a team of volunteers were ready with needle and thread to make any alterations.












We even have chain mail for the battle scenes. These can't really be altered easily and trying them on a couple of the chain mail tunics proved to be too short and would leave the wearers vulnerable in a battle. Liz and Louise will have to try and get some longer ones from the costume company of see if the National Theatre, who are supplying some additional costumes, have any available. We can't have leave our brave knights exposed on stage!

Matt Dury trying on his chain mail

 

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.

Coming up -

What’s Wrong With Angry? By Patrick Wilde, 2nd - 7th July 2012, Progress Theatre

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12th - 21st July 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, 13th - 22nd September 2012, Progress Theatre