When it comes to community theatre, Nottingham punches above its weight with a wealth of opportunities. We talk to to Alison Hope, Publicity Coordinator for the Lace Market Theatre, and Robert Dixon, Chair of the West Bridgford Dramatic Society, about their respective theatres and how they’re providing a platform for creativity at all levels…
So, to kick off, how long have your theatres been around?
Alison: We celebrated our centenary last year! The group developed from two amateur societies founded in 1922. In 1970, members purchased an old chapel building in the Lace Market and the Lace Market Theatre Trust, a registered charity, was formed.
Robert: The WBDS was set up after the war, when people were looking for something positive to do. We have scrapbooks from the very beginning - with the first play being The Linden Tree by J. B. Priestley in 1949.
And everyone involved is a volunteer? How do you survive financially?
Alison: Our revenue comes from ticket sales, but everything in our building is sourced and maintained thanks to the passion and expertise of members donating their free time. People volunteer because they love theatre. Even if not on stage, there is a feeling of pride in being part of our friendly team, delivering a good customer experience.
Robert: We’re 100% volunteer-based - we have no paid staff. We do our own sets, front of house service, technical operations, and finances. Tickets cover the costs and make a small profit to keep us afloat, and we invest that in the theatre – lights, facilities, the building, seats, material for plays, and so on.
What do small community theatres bring to Nottingham’s cultural life?
Alison: We focus on drama and, locally, there are fewer opportunities for non-professionals. We have a reputation for offering more challenging and contemporary theatre. Also, our vibrant, award-winning Youth Theatre for eleven-to-eighteen-year-olds gives a great foundation in performance skills, with past members progressing up to the main theatre and into drama schools.
Robert: We love theatre at WBDS. Indeed, we run theatre visits as part of our social programme. But we are local – by the people of West Bridgford, for the people of West Bridgford. We are the only registered theatre in Rushcliffe, and the only public theatre in West Bridgford. So, we offer local people a chance to do something in their community. We love the Nottingham cultural scene - and hope that, in a small way, we add to it, rather than drawing people away from the big city lights.
And what do volunteers get?
Alison: We keep membership costs low and give people opportunities for up to 14 shows each season; for acting and stage management, set building, props, lighting, sound, and costume. Volunteering is a great way to get to know new people, perhaps learn new skills, and enjoy being part of a friendly team.
Robert: We asked our volunteers this and they gave us a long list, including: the opportunity to be involved in high quality plays; lifelong friendships; laughter; the joy of theatre; the opportunity to work closely with people from different backgrounds; increased confidence; and skills for life.
An actor fell off stage and broke a rib, but carried on. Stage curtains caught fire with an ill-placed lantern - they were just stamped out!
Are there any success stories you can share with us?
Alison: Many former members went on to work in the industry, some sponsored by the theatre. Martin Berry is Director of Participation at the Playhouse; Janine Forster is a RADA-qualified professional set builder; Milly White was BAFTA-nominated for her work in production design; Linda Armstrong appeared as Sister Brigid in The Royal; and Alexander Hanson is a well-known West End actor.
Robert: We’ve been going for 75 years. We’ve performed over 300 plays, to a combined total audience of 90,000. There’s no public funding, everyone is a volunteer - so our audiences pay for what they see. We’ve won numerous awards over the years for best play, best director and best actor/actress. Our longest-serving member (still active) joined sixty years ago. So, we are a friendly bunch.
Does anything ever go wrong on stage?
Alison: An actor fell off stage and broke a rib, but carried on. Stage curtains caught fire with an ill-placed lantern - they were just stamped out!
Robert: The most common thing is missed lines, but that’s part of real, live theatre. And technically we get problems too - recently our lighting system was playing up and the whole set went dark. The front of house team simply turned on the house lights. Again, the audience just thought that was the way for that play. So, the motto is - carry on, with gusto!
How can people get involved?
Alison: New volunteers are our lifeblood and warmly welcomed. Visit our website for details of open evenings or just pop down to see what you’re interested in.
Robert: The best way is to turn up on any Tuesday at 7.30pm for club night. If you are more technically-minded, come on a Saturday at 10am, to help with set building.
How do you see the future for your theatre?
Alison: Our focus is to encourage the next generation of actors and, importantly, volunteers, to keep the theatre running. Our doors are open to everyone, and we want to reflect the diversity in our city, continuing the theatre’s excellent reputation for another 100 years!
Robert: We’d like to give more difficult theatre a go - we don’t often do Shakespeare. And we rarely do classic panto - but maybe one with a proper West Bridgford twist could be on the cards. We love to encourage new talent, so would like to see more people take more different roles: directing, set design, sound, and light. So, lots to do!
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