Urgent call for helpers for The Arundel Players
The Arundel Players are putting out an urgent call for volunteers to help them bring their productions to the stage and for other tasks including manning the bar.
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00:00 Good afternoon, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor of Sussex Newspapers. Always lovely
00:06 to speak to Dawn and Stuart Smithers, who are key members of the Arendelle Players.
00:12 And the Arendelle Players has come back well from the pandemic, but you are finding that
00:16 you are short of volunteers. It's a kind of crisis, isn't it? You do need more people,
00:21 don't you? What sorts of jobs, Dawn, are missing? What sorts of people are you looking for?
00:27 Every aspect of the running of the theatre, really. So, bar, bar duties, front of house,
00:34 which is absolutely essential when you're putting on a play, people to run the lights,
00:40 even to design the lights if they are inclined, sound, definitely backstage, we're looking for
00:46 stage managers, and people to help with the set building. Not to build a set themselves,
00:51 just to give a couple of hours every now and then.
00:55 Stuart, what's happened that you haven't got these people?
00:57 Well, I think in a nutshell, it's Covid. I also feel that a lot of our volunteers were of a
01:07 certain age. Well, I suppose I am. And Covid, I think, for a lot of people of a certain age,
01:16 they felt, well, maybe this is a sign, maybe I should cut back a bit now, make life a bit simpler.
01:22 People have stepped back, but not returned.
01:24 They step back and then they find perhaps other things to do. And they think, no,
01:28 I'm not going to go back to the way I did things before. So, we may have lost out there a bit.
01:33 Even before Covid, we were still looking for younger people to come in and do this. And
01:39 by younger, I mean, you know, 40s, 50s, not very young, necessarily. And as I say, Covid has
01:47 intensified that lack of support.
01:49 Can I go back to Dawn? Ask Dawn, what's the implication of not having these people?
01:55 Are there things that you can't do?
01:56 Well, yes, there are. During the Arindel Festival, for example, we nearly had to close the bar one
02:06 evening. Because we did not, yeah, literally, we had to, just somebody stepped in at the last minute.
02:11 And I mean within the last hour, because we just didn't have enough people to cope with the bar.
02:17 And times are hard. I think a lot to do with volunteers. People now are working full time.
02:22 They have, you know, cost of living is dreadful. And they have other things to worry about. And
02:27 they don't find they can give up their time so easily.
02:30 Yeah. But you're reasonably confident that the people that you need are probably out there
02:35 somewhere.
02:35 Definitely. Definitely. Our open day on Saturday proved that. We signed up quite a few people.
02:40 And Stuart, I think this extends a little bit to numbers of actors as well then.
02:46 Yes, it does. We're always on the lookout for more people to join now,
02:53 membership as actors, acting members, especially the sort of middle age group, 30s, 40s, 50s,
03:00 who seem to be in short supply. Traditionally, I think it's always been easier to get girls and
03:07 boys, especially young ones. But nevertheless, it is more difficult now than it was. And we're
03:14 relying upon the same people. And some people are getting cast who are really a little bit
03:18 too old for the part.
03:19 Without acting, isn't it?
03:22 Well, if you can act younger, then that's great.
03:25 But it hasn't actually reached a stage where it's a threat to the society. You can carry on,
03:31 can't you?
03:31 Oh, yes, absolutely. We can carry on. We've got a programme right round till next October.
03:36 I mean, yes, definitely. Yes.
03:41 Sorry, I was just going to say anyone who wants to volunteer, who should they contact and how?
03:45 Well, they can contact me and put my mobile number in. I don't mind.
03:51 Can you shout it out? Do you know it?
03:53 Yes, I can. Yeah. 0791 783 4456.
04:01 Oh, I admire someone who remembers their own mobile phone number. That's impressive.
04:05 Oh, I do my my.
04:06 So just to get in touch and to volunteer with you then.
04:10 Yeah, the amazing.
04:11 Well, good luck with that. Let me know how it goes. Let's hope you get some more people.
04:16 Thank you very much.
04:17 Great to speak to you.
04:18 Thank you.