"Lights, music... volunteer!" call to action at Joseph Rowntree Theatre

Wednesday 3 June, 7.45pm

Life behind the scenes and the public face at the front of house – the spotlight will be on both at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Haxby Road on Wednesday 3 June, when the theatre hosts an open evening for potential volunteers, part of National Volunteers Week.

“The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is unique in York in that it is run entirely by volunteers, from the stage managers who make sure that each show runs smoothly with all the sound, lighting and scenery changes hit on time, to the stewards who welcome our patrons through the door for each performance,” explains the theatre’s Chair of Trustees, Dan Shrimpton, who himself was named ‘volunteer of the year’ in last year’s York Community Pride Awards.  “As the theatre becomes increasingly popular, so we’re looking to grow our volunteers with lots of opportunities right through the theatre, from working the follow spotlight to serving ice cream during the interval!”

Volunteers come from every walk of life, with the theatre offering volunteers experiences ranging from quite literally learning the ropes backstage, raising and lowering curtains and cloths, operating the sound systems and lighting, to steward at shows.  Joseph Rowntree Theatre welcomes volunteers aged 16 and over, who commit to as much or as little time as they wish, enabling them to fit their time at the theatre around busy schedules.

“Whatever role you want to try out, we provide training and support – enthusiasm and an interest in theatre is far more important than experience, but equally, we’re always interested in people with diverse professional experiences to join our board as directors and trustees,” adds Dan.  “We are currently recruiting a new charity finance director, to ensure that the charity’s accounts are kept updated and in good order.”

The volunteering evening runs from 7.45pm until 9.30pm on Wednesday 3 June 2015 at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, which is located at the junction of Haxby Road and Haley’s Terrace (entrance on Haxby Road only).  Free parking is available in the adjacent Yearsley Pool car park. 

For more details on volunteering roles within the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, please visit www.jrtheatre.co.uk.

ENDS

Picture shows: Volunteers at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre prepare to welcome new recruits at the Volunteers' Week open evening.

A high resolution version of this photograph, and other images of the Theatre, are available for immediate download at:

http://news.cision.com/joseph-rowntree-theatre--york 

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins

PR Director

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay.commins@jrtheatre.co.uk