By Hannah Jolliffe

From 2002 to 2003, 24% of the UK population went to see a live play, with a further 32% opting for a show such as ballet or classical music. So, despite stories that theatres need more 'bums on seats' the statistics prove that theatre-going is as popular as ever. If you're enticed by the magic of the theatre, you could volunteer and go one step further than simply spectating.

Behind the scenes

There are numerous ways to help get the show on the road. If you've got a creative streak, costume, props and set design are fun ways to watch a show take shape. Others can get technical expertise learning about lighting, sound and stage management.

20 year-old Alexandra Rich volunteered with The People's Theatre Company in Surrey on their recent tour of the family show, The Witch's Bogey. A budding actor, Alexandra originally contacted the company to audition for a role in the play, but was offered volunteering experience on lighting, sound and publicity when all the roles were already filled.

"It was great for me to get new experiences," she says. "I've acted in shows before, so I've seen what goes on backstage, but I've never had to do any of the technical work before. By the end of the tour I was able to programme the lights on my own."

"I feel so much more confident now," Alexandra continues, "and if I ever do another tour I'll know exactly what to expect. I'm sure this experience has helped to strengthen my applications for drama school - now I can show that I have a wider perspective of theatres and how they work, beyond acting."

Front-of-house

If meeting and greeting is more your thing, volunteers are often needed to sell programmes and ice creams, usher and work on the box office - the kinds of roles that you can get involved in without any prior experience.

Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells is a charity, so it depends on volunteers to fill roles like these. It currently has around 100 people volunteering, making up 90% of the box office staff and 99% of the front-of-house staff.

"There's no way we could survive without volunteers," says Operations Manager Ann Emmett. "It takes about an hour to train a new volunteer in safety procedures and it's entirely up to them how much time they want to give. Some people come three or four times a week, others three or four times a year - we're keen to be flexible to meet their needs."

And who better to look after the needs of volunteers than someone who's already been there and done it? Although Ann is now a paid member of staff, she started out volunteering as an usher for the theatre when she left her job for a career change. She worked her way up to front-of-house manager, a highly responsible role that saw her unlocking and locking the building, managing the ushers, distributing the jobs and tasks they do and 'sending the show up' when the audience are seated.

Ann's current paid job at the theatre draws upon all these experiences - skills that she had no prior experience of before volunteering for the theatre.

Reciprocal relationships

Ann believes that the volunteers help to create the unique atmosphere at Trinity Theatre. "The fact that people are volunteering means they are interested in what we are doing and in the organisation as a whole. It can be difficult as it's hard to discipline someone who's doing the job for nothing, but you do end up with staff who are keen to be here."

But it's not just the theatre that gains. Volunteers give their time for many reasons. "You don't get paid but the perk is that you get to see the show. This is definitely one of the main pulls for volunteers - especially for those who can't afford to spend lots of money on tickets," explains Ann. Others see the huge network of volunteers as an opportunity to socialise and make new friends. "We sometimes have socials, and groups of ushers become friends. It's a really nice atmosphere."

Although the volunteer network at the People's Theatre is much smaller, Alexandra echoes these sentiments. "It definitely helps the theatre company to have volunteers on board - when we were touring we were all mucking in together and it felt like a mini family. I'd advise anybody to do it."

Search the do-it.org.uk database for volunteering opportunities with theatres in your local area.

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