The following pages are for new and existing Directors to assist them with planning and running readings, auditions, rehearsals and play week. If you have any problems or wish to discuss anything, please contact a member of the committee or any of the people mentioned in this document.
Readings, Auditions, Casting and Rehearsals
Organise Readings
Organising Auditions
Casting a Play
Rehearsals
Harrogate Theatre Studio Productions
- Sight lines can be an issue in the Studio Theatre.
- The set building team has access to plans which show the best way to arrange seating so that these issues can be minimised.
- Numbers in the studio are generally limited to 50 seats to assist with this.
- Audience members attending a dress rehearsal are not allowed except under exceptional circumstances. Committee agreement is required for anyone attending.
- Costume department, a photographer, the chairman and/or the president are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal.
- Only HDS members are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal if exceptional circumstances are identified.
- A maximum of 12 people, including director, costume, photographer, chairman and president are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal if exceptional circumstances are identified.
- Directors need to liaise with Angela Ponsford and/or Dylan Powell to request “after show” bar/party facilities (see Appendix 5 for Front of House information).
- Post Production User Feedback Forms (sent by Harrogate Theatre) to be completed by the Director.
Organising a Theatre Production meeting (Studio)
Set Design (Studio)
Creating a Back Stage team (Studio)
Harrogate Main House Productions
- Audience members attending a dress rehearsal are not allowed except under exceptional circumstances. Committee agreement is required for anyone attending.
- Costume department, a photographer, the chairman and/or the president are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal.
- Only HDS members are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal if exceptional circumstances are identified.
- A maximum of 12 people, including director, costume and photographer are allowed to attend a dress rehearsal if exceptional circumstances are identified.
Creating a backstage team (Main House)
Organising a Theatre Production meeting (Main House)
Creating a Back Stage team (Main House)
COMMUNICATIONS
- Communication with both cast, crew and publicity is vital.
- Directors are responsible for keeping timely, open and accurate communication with all of the above
- The easiest and quickest way to communicate is by setting up a WhatsApp group (include crew, set design and publicity in this).
- Directors are responsible for reading posts and responding regularly.
- If communicating in a different way (email, text, phone messages etc) Directors are responsible for responding regularly.
- Production meetings should be set up to include all backstage crew and set builders.
BUDGET
- Directors can request a draft budget for each production from the treasurer.
- Factors such as theatre hire and licence fees are non-negotiable. These will be included in the draft budget.
- The number of seats to be sold is part of the licence agreement and non-negotiable.
- Expenses such as costume, wigs, furniture, wallpaper etc. will form part of the draft budget.
- Receipts must be kept for all expenditure and passed to the treasurer for re-imbursment.
- Close liaison should continue with the Treasurer for approval of any exceptional expenditure.
PUBLICITY
- Liaise with the publicity officer (currently Mel James) regarding all publicity.
- Communication with publicity should take place prior to readings and continue until the show is completed.
- A cast list should be sent to the publicity officer as soon casting is completed and all actors have accepted their assigned roles.
- Publicity will deal with cast photographs, posters, flyers, theatre advertising, social media etc.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS
- These can only be issued in line with the policy approved by the Executive Committee.