Getting involved with Harborough Theatre is both enjoyable and fulfilling. It gives you chance to meet and mix with a group of enthusiastic volunteers and gives you the opportunity to realise your creative talent whether on-stage or behind the scenes. If you are interested in joining our team we would love to hear from you.
Joining the team
There are a wide choice of activities available. Click on the headings below to find out more about the different ways you could get involved.
Get involved with acting
Acting in a play is an exciting, rewarding and exhilarating experience.
How it works
We hold open auditions for the forthcoming productions. Details about up-coming auditions are displayed on this web-site and in our newsletter which is regularly sent to members.
Commitment and reward
Learning lines and attending rehearsals requires a great deal of commitment and hard work spanning several weeks. However seeing a play develop and come to life is a very rewarding experience. You will be in a tight-knit and supportive team which includes the back-stage teams which all comes together during a week long play run.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Drama Officer (drama@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with lighting
The lighting team is responsible for the design, rigging and operation of the lighting for each production. On some productions it can also include pyrotechnics and other special effects. is an exciting, rewarding and exhilarating experience.
How it works
Each production has a lighting designer. The lighting designer will work closely with the director to create a lighting plan that will satisfy the needs of the production. The lighting team will then set up the lights in a process called ‘rigging’. The lighting cues are then programmed into the lighting desk so that lighting changes can be automatically initiated on cue by the lighting operator. Towards the end of the rehearsal process there will be a ‘technical rehearsal’ where all the lighting cues are rehearsed with the actors and the director and final adjustments made. During the performance run the lighting team will operate the lights using the pre-programmed cues.
Commitment and reward
Working in the lighting team means that you are fundamentally involved as the play comes to life. If you have less time to spare then you can help operate the lights on a rehearsal or performance night. As your experience builds you will be encouraged to progress to designing a lighting plan for a production and given all the necessary support.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Lighting Coordinator (lighting@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with sound
The sound team is responsible for the design, creation and operation of music and sound effects for each production.
How it works
Each production has a sound designer. The sound designer will work closely with the director to source the music and create the sound effects that are required for a production. The sound effects are stored as a set of ‘cues’ in a show control software program on a dedicated laptop computer. The sound operator can then trigger each of these cues in sequence during the production at specific times to match the action on stage.
Commitment and reward
Working in the sound team means that you are fundamentally involved as the play comes to life. If you have less time to spare then you can help operate the sound on a rehearsal or performance night. As your experience builds you will be encouraged to progress to creating the sounds and designing the sound plan for a production and given all the necessary support.
What to do next
For more information contact our Sound Coordinator (sound@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with set design and construction
The set provides the environment in which the dramatic action takes place and creates the mood, atmosphere and sense of time and place. They can range from the abstract to detailed interior or exterior locations. The director will work with the set designer who will produce a scale model of the set. Once the set design is complete the set construction team will build the actual set on stage.
How it works
No previous experience of set building is required although any DIY skills that you have will be valuable. Learning takes place on the job under the supervision of an experienced set designer. Set backdrops are often painted by a scenic artist. Set building often raises interesting challenges to solve but is always fun.
Commitment and reward
Working in the lighting team means that you are fundamentally involved as the play comes to life. If you have less time to spare then you can help operate the lights on a rehearsal or performance night. As your experience builds you will be encouraged to progress to designing a lighting plan for a production and given all the necessary support.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Set Builders (sets@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with wardrobe
The wardrobe team is responsible for designing and creating the costumes for each production.
How it works
The costume designer will work closely with the director to determine the number, types and styles of costumes that are required for a production. Costumes are designed and then either sourced from our own extensive stock, made from scratch or hired from commercial hire companies. A variety of skills including, sewing, dyeing, alteration of existing costumes including distressing a costume to look old or worn are used. Once a production is running other maintenance such as running repairs, washing, drying and ironing are used.but is always fun.
Commitment and reward
The wardrobe team are a friendly and and enthusiastic bunch who enjoy having a good chat while sewing and making costumes. Learning is done on the job and you will find a warm welcome whatever your current level of experience is.
What to do next
For more information and to find out how to get involved with the wardrobe team, contact our Wardrobe Coordinator (wardrobe@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with stage management and prompting
Stage management and prompting are an integral part of any theatre production, especially for people who don’t necessarily want to be seen on stage, but want to be involved.
How it works
As we rehearse each production we identify where it will be necessary for scene changes to occur, or where back stage crew will need to communicate with cast. During the play, the prompt will sit by the stage and, of course, will hopefully never be needed but is there as required.
Commitment and reward
The roles requires a great deal of commitment and hard work spanning several weeks. However seeing a play develop and come to life is a very rewarding experience. You will be in a tight-knit and supportive team which includes the cast, and front of house amongst others. The hard work all comes together during a week long play run.
What to do next
For more information contact our Stage Management Coordinator (stagemanagement@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with props
A property or ‘prop’ is anything that is used by actors on stage that is not scenery or a costume. This includes everything that an actor will need to hold, pick up, eat, drink, throw, play or interact with in any way. In addition the props team, in liaison with the set designer and director, will select pictures, ornaments, tables, chairs, sideboards and other items to dress the set.
How it works
Getting the props for a show can involve finding, buying, borrowing, hiring and making items. Imagination and ingenuity are often required as the props team can be asked to source the strangest things.
Commitment and reward
If you enjoy tracking down things then you will be in your element in the props team. We are a friendly bunch and you will be able to learn on the job where full support will be given.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Props team (props@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with front of house
The front of house (FOH) team are the welcoming face of Harborough Theatre. They meet and greet members of the audience, supervise the entrances to the auditorium and wish patrons a safe journey home at the end of the night. They are responsible for the safety of the audience and building.
How it works
Working in conjunction with the front of house manager the FOH team will be responsible for helping the audience members by being friendly and approachable, helping with any needs or problems that may arise, answering questions, selling programmes, showing people to their seats etc.
Commitment and reward
If you enjoy meeting people, are friendly and approachable and can spare an evening or two during a production run then you will find that becoming part of the front of house team is a rewarding and satisfying experience, helping you meet new people with similar interests.full support will be given.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Front of House Coordinator (foh@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with the box office team
The box office is where customers can purchase tickets and can sign up for membership.
How it works
The box office team are present at the theatre on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to sell tickets face to face to customers. They liaise with our on-line ticket agency, TicketSource, which now handles 30% of all ticket sales. Tickets go on sale 5 weeks prior to each production for Market Harborough Drama Society (MHDS) members and 4 weeks prior to each production for the general public. The box office team handle cash and cheque payments which are passed to the society’s cashier who is responsible for banking. The box office provides a ticket selling service to all MHDS productions and also for some visiting productions.
Commitment and reward
You will need to be comfortable using a computer and full training and support will be given. If you enjoy meeting people, are friendly and approachable and can spare a morning or two each week then you will find that becoming part of the box office team is a rewarding and satisfying experience. There are also some back-office roles available which may suit you if you have less free time to spare.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Box Office Manager (boxoffice@harboroughtheatre.com).
Get involved with the bar team
The bar operates on show nights, selling drinks and snacks to members of the audience.
How it works
You will first receive training so that you are fully aware of the legal requirements involved in serving alcohol to our members. You will then be paired with an experienced bar steward when you first start working behind the bar. The cash till is pre-programmed with the prices of all of the drinks and snack which are for sale and its operation will soon become familiar to you. Orders for interval drinks are often taken before the performance starts and these are prepared in advance shortly before the interval by the bar team for collection by the audience members who have pre-booked their drinks. After the performance drinks are served to those members of the audience, cast and backstage crew who want to relax after the show. Finally the takings for the evening are cashed up and put in the safe.
Commitment and reward
If you enjoy meeting people, are friendly and approachable and can spare an evening working behind the bar during a production run then you will be warmly welcomed by the bar team. You will enjoy meeting and talking to audience members as well as the cast and back-stage crew members. You will gain in confidence and will soon an integral part of the show team,
What to do next
For more information, contact our Bar Manager (bar@mhds.org.uk).
Get involved with press and publicity
The press and publicity team are responsible for ensuring that the public is aware of the theatre, its forthcoming productions and the high standards to which it aspires.
How it works
A publicity team acts as a liaison between the theatre and local press and radio stations. Specific tasks might include arranging for a photographer to take publicity shots of rehearsals for press use and liaising with the drama team to produce posters and leaflets for display in the theatre window and the lounge.
Commitment and reward
If you are someone who enjoys being creatively involved with promotion and publicity in any capacity then we would be delighted to have you join our team.
What to do next
For more information, contact our Publicity Officer (publicity@harboroughtheatre.com).
