PGP is a company set up to provide technical and front-of-house support for companies wishing to put on shows at the Fringe. As a result some of the jobs that we ask of our volunteers are somewhat different to those required in most theatres. We are looking for volunteers who have experience in each of these areas. Please state on the application form which jobs you have skills in and which jobs you would like to do. Part of our aim is to give volunteers experience in different aspects of technical theatre. We cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate your wishes but we WILL do our best. Our Jobs are:
Week 0 Builder
Week 0 is a by-invite only week where we transform the two buildings into four theatres. Starting times each day will generally be determined by the need to receive deliveries / prepare pick-ups etc. Staff working these weeks should generally expect to work rather longer hours than in other weeks, and should come prepared for hard (and often rather dirty) manual work. If you have a particular aptitude for building and rigging theatres please contact mark nicholson at mark@paradise-green.co.uk.
Week 4 Dismantler
Week 4 is when we transform our theatres back into their normal configuration. So you get to de-rig lighting and sound systems, take down scaffolding, inventory our belongings, clean the venues, etc. Rather like week 0 this can be hard (and often rather dirty) manual work. However, we find there is a great sense of achievement at the end of the week. Many of our regular week 0 staff started out by being week 4 crew but there is no need to have a high degree of expertise to help in this week.
House Manager
The house manager is responsible for the day to day running of one of the venues, and is the "public face" of the venue:
- making sure shows start on time
- assigning staff where required, rotating people between jobs appropriately, and ensuring staff have adequate breaks
- dealing with complaints or problems with members of the public or companies
- keeping the venue clean and tidy, and as welcoming, as practical ensuring fire safety requirements are met (e.g. keeping exit routes clear)
The house manager also has a specific responsibility in case of evacuation.
Stage Manager
The stage manager is responsible for the day to day technical operation of one venue:
- powering up and testing all lighting and sound equipment at the start of the day, and shutting it down at the end of the day
- carrying out visual safety inspections of the lighting grids, and checking fire extinguishers, exits and walkways, seating etc.
- managing change-overs between shows, including refocusing and patching the lights and setting the sound system up
The stage manager also has a specific responsibility in case of evacuation.
Office Manager
The office manager runs the PGP office downstairs in Augustine's. This is where the general day-to-day administration and financial management is done. It is also the main contact point for companies, press enquiries, management of staff (including the shift rota), etc.
Cook
We use a professional grade kitchen inside Augustines to prepare food for staff and sandwiches, soup and cakes to be sold in our coffee bars. A kitchen shift is a daytime shift. While in the past this has been rather stressful, as it has involved heating up food to order, rather than just cooking it, the kitchen shift is now just spent doing the fun bit - cooking. If you like cooking, and want to expose 40+ people to your food, then let us know. Unless you tell us otherwise, if you express a preference for cooking you will have 2-3 kitchen shifts per week, so ensuring you get plenty of experience in the rest of the venue too. If you do not have a food hygiene certificate, we may pay for you to take an official on-line course (lasts about 2 hours) from which you get a nationally recognised qualification.
Press & Publicity Officer
This role is currently being reviewed.
Other Jobs
Apart from the managers named above (and a technician in Augustine's, whose role is to support the stage manager), all staff will be rotated around various jobs. If you have a special reason for preferring not to do a particular job -- for example, if English is not your first language and you don't feel happy working in the box office -- you should discuss this with the House Manager on your shift. However, we do expect that people will generally do their share of all jobs. On a shift, you can expect to spend some time doing each of the following:
Box Office -- The box office is usually the public's first contact with the venue. As well as selling tickets, the box office acts as a communication centre within the venue, especially in case of evacuation, when the box office has specific responsibilities as detailed in the Evacuation Procedures. As well as "front" box offices in both venues, there is a telephone sales box office position in the downstairs office in Augustine's. There are more details of the box office, ticket types etc. in the staff handbook.
Cafe Staff -- Here you will be helping with the preparation and serving of food, clearing and cleaning tables, washing up etc. in the cafe and coffee bar.
Usher -- This job involves managing audiences queuing for shows, making announcements to audiences, taking tickets as people enter the auditorium, showing latecomers to seats, and distributing programmes.
Office Assistant -- The office assistant helps out in the PGP office with tasks such as answering phones, dealing with theatre companies, making staff and company passes, and other general administration tasks.
Other tasks -- there are many other tasks you may be asked to help with, such as cleaning, creating displays of publicity materials, distributing our brochures, or accompanying somebody on a shopping trip to the cash-and-carry.
For more details please consult the staff handbook.