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.