There are lots of little jobs and things that happen in the run up to a show with ATG which, if you've been a member for 100 years like some of us are all just part of the production, but which often get forgotten when we are welcoming new members, so here is a handy A-Z of all things ATG during a show run.
After Play Party - not something to be missed! Usually held at a member's house, we bring our own drinks and everyone contributes to the buffet. If you'd like to hold an APP at your house please let our Social Officer know and we'll love you forever!
Costumes will be provided for you but we may need assistance from you in getting these. For example, you might be asked to go to a costume hirer to try things on or pick some bits up from charity shops/Primark/your own wardrobe. The Wardrobe Manager will go through all of this with you and you'll be reimbursed for any expenses.
The Dress Rehearsal usually begins after lunch the Sunday before curtain-up (after the Technical Rehearsal). We aim to go through the show as if it were a performance which means we wear full costume and make-up and don't stop for mistakes, we carry on and find a way round any problems as we would if we had an audience. The Technical and Dress Rehearsal is a full day and can go on into the evening. Please make sure you are available for the full day and bring drinks and snacks with you. After the dress rehearsal the Director, Stage Manager, Musical Director and Choreographer will give notes on the performance and then we will need to clear up the Hall and put costumes, set and props away. As always, we tend to head to the pub for a very well-deserved glass of something cold afterwards.
We need a whole team of people to help front of house during our performances. Jobs include setting up the chairs and tables, selling programmes and raffle tickets, making tea and coffee and generally helping our patrons with any queries. If you're able to help with front of house we'd love to have you, you'll see requests for help from our FOH manager via email in the weeks prior to a show. You'll need to dress in black and arrive at the Hall from about 6:30pm on show nights.
You must be a Full Member of ATG to participate in a production and the subscription is currently set at £18 per year (January - December). For a full run down of our membership benefits please click here.
Will be provided for you, although we are always grateful for help in sourcing/making these. Please make sure that any props you use are left on stage after each performance. Please ensure that all the props you need to use are where you expect them to be before the start of each performance - in the wings/in your pocket/on the props table etc.
We are a very sociable group and do try to get to the pub after most rehearsals, especially on a Thursday which is nearly the weekend, so we'd love you to join us, even if you're not part of the current production.
Rehearsals for all of our productions are held at the Hut on Tuesdays and Thursdays and start at 8pm. Please arrive a few minutes early to grab a cup of tea and have a chat before we begin. We try to ensure the rehearsals finish by 10:30pm and then head to the pub!
During the last couple of weeks before each production or perhaps due to necessity during a large musical production, there may be Sunday rehearsals. We discuss this requirement with the cast and try where possible to pick a time of day that suits the majority, please try to be flexible to accommodate these rehearsals.
For each production the Director will put together a rehearsal schedule and circulate this as early as possible. We try to ensure you are called for as few rehearsals as possible but please be as flexible as you can, let the director know of any planned holidays at auditions, and be prepared for it to change.
In addition to your annual membership fee you'll need to pay rehearsal subs for each show that you are cast in. This is to cover tea, coffee, milk and overheads such as heating, lighting etc. Subs cost £5 per person for our March and July productions and £10 for our November/December productions, due to to the longer rehearsal period. The Director, Muscial Director and Choreographer do not have to pay subs.
We are at the Hut building and painting the set every Saturday during the rehearsal period from 10:30 until about 4pm in order to complete the set in time. Please do come up to help out, we need all hands on deck. You don't need any experience and there is always something for you to do including lifting and shifting, painting, making props and set pieces, wall papering, upholstering, making tea and hoovering. Please wear suitable clothes, you will get paint on them. Please bring drinks and food with you, although there is always tea and coffee of course and someone usually brings the donuts! It is also great if you can bring your own paint brushes and rags as we're always a little short.
On a Saturday just before the production we construct the set at the Hall. The full cast and crew are needed for this and the dates will be shown on your rehearsal schedule. We start at the Hut at 9am to load up the van then it's off to the Hall to unload and start to construct everything, hopefully finishing by about 5pm. Please wear suitable clothes and do ask if you don't have a job, there is always lots to do but the set team are usually busy so might not remember to make sure everyone has something to do. We like to take a break and go for a pub lunch together before carrying on in the afternoon.
The morning after the night before. You've been up all night at the APP, you're still partially in costume and your stage make up has made you look like the bride of Dracula but sadly it's time to get up to the Hall and take the set down. This happens at 10am on the Sunday after the final performance, all cast and crew are required, and any members who aren't involved in the production but who show up to help with the strike anyway will be treated like royalty. We take down the set, load up the van including props and furniture and take it all back to the Hut. The Hall is then cleaned and we say goodbye until next time. The more people who turn up for this, the quicker it gets done and the more sociable it is... then it's off to the pub for a hair of the dog about 12/1ish.
We love any excuse to get together so we tend to do something after every performance - often pub, curry or party. We also have an annual summer BBQ, Christmas party and a bi-ennial awards night, plus other social activities throughout the year.
Generally the Technical Rehearsal is on the Sunday morning of the Dress Rehearsal (about 10am) and the full cast and crew are called for this. The technical team use this time to run the show from the start to finish and practice the lighting, sound and set changes. The cast will be needed to practice entrances and exits and help with setting the lights. It can involve some hanging around but it's a good chance to practice your lines, dance moves and get your costumes sorted for the Dress Rehearsal. We tend to take a break and go for a pub lunch together before we start the Dress Rehearsal.