Ipswich Little Theatre Society is not ‘little’. Operating as a theatre company since 1946, it has grown to an organisation that operates continually throughout each year, bringing professional community theatre to our loyal audiences. With our volunteer directors, casts and crews always in some stage of rehearsal, we also need to ensure that our Front of House volunteers can look after our patrons as well.
Each show season at ILT maintains a front-of-house roster. Our seasons usually run for three (3) weeks for 14 performances. 4 volunteers are required for each performance to staff the kitchen and bar – that totals 56 shifts to cover. This is in addition to the dedicated raffle team who work at each of the 8 public performances. Lately, we have been experiencing increasing difficulty in filling these positions, with some loyal members coming in 3 or 4 times each season and even backstage crew or cast having to come and lend a hand during intervals.
We are always looking for volunteers to commit to working even one shift for each production – that’s only 4 times a year. Would you be able to help out? Maybe you could organise a group of theatre friends to work together one night – it’s a good opportunity to catch up and support the theatre at the same time.
Roster time slots for the production are staggered so not everyone is required for an entire shift (though there always needs to be 2 people for fire regulations), but the busy periods are covered. Here are the suggested times and a brief rundown on the type of duties involved. An experienced volunteer is rostered as the Person In Charge.
- PIC (Person In Charge)- 6.00 pm (or matinee 12.30 pm) to finish.
- Unlock, assist with courtyard/bar/kitchen set up, overall management of bar and kitchen, responsible for
- fire-safety and evacuation procedures, and lock-up.
- Volunteers 2 and 3 – 6.00 pm (or matinee 12.30 pm) until after interval.
- Assist with cleaning the courtyard and set up tables, (the theatre cleaner will have been in during the day),
- serve drinks and food before the show, assist with ushering patrons, service of drinks and food during
- interval, then clean up.
- Volunteer 4 – 7.00 pm (or matinee 1.30 pm) until the finish.
- Serve drinks and food before the show and during interval, clean up after interval, assist with lock up.
Each Front of House roster is available via the button below ‘Sign up to help out with Front of House‘ four weeks from the beginning of each season. It would be fabulous if you are able to put your name down for a shift. Initial and reminder emails are sent to show your rostered signup date and details, including the FOH Co-Ordinator.
If you would like to go on our mailing list to receive reminders about volunteering and our upcoming shows, as well as receiving a copy of our always action-packed monthly theatre newsletter, provide us with your email address below and we’ll do the rest.