TOWER THEATRE MEMBERS'
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Friends & Company Membership

How many members does the Tower Theatre Company have? Of this number, how many hold Friends Membership and how many hold Company Membership?

The current (January 2008) figures are 295 full Company Members and 360 Friends, making a total of 655. The Tower Theatre Company also has a combined email and postal mailing list of just over 1,400 names.

I am a Friend. Can I come to the Company AGM and can I vote for the Company Committee nominees?

As a Friend you are very welcome to attend the Company AGM and speak at the meeting. However, you are not entitled to vote in the Company Committee elections or other matters requiring a vote.

I am a Friend of the Tower and would like to try acting. How do I go about joining the acting Company and how long will it take?

To act in a Tower production, you must first audition to become a full Company Member. Company auditions are held every month. Contact the Auditions Co-ordinator (currently Peter Westbury) and he will arrange for you to audition at the next available date, and advise you of what is required. If, following your Company audition, you are accepted, once you have paid the additional subscription (currently £35) you are eligible to audition for all Tower productions.

I am a Friend. I do not want to act, but would still like to become a Company Member. Is this possible and, if so, how do I go about it?

We welcome and encourage non-acting membership of the Company. Ask any member of the Company Committee to place your application before its next available meeting for consideration. If the Committee agrees your application, and on receipt of your additional subscription (currently £35) you will become a full non-acting Company Member, may vote at the Company AGM and stand for election to the Committee.

I thought you had to be a Company Member to be cast in Tower productions - I saw one recently and there were cast members who are not even Friends as far as I know. This is not fair - by giving 'outsiders' parts, it takes away he chance of those of us who are paid up Company Members from being cast.

Anyone who wants to audition for a part in a Tower Production must be a fully paid up acting Company Member. However, in exceptional circumstances a director may be permitted to cast outside the Tower's membership, but only after it has been accepted that a part cannot be filled from within the current Tower membership. This may be because no Tower Members have auditioned for a part or there is no one appropriate from within the membership. The agreement of the Artistic Director must be obtained before the part is cast from outside the Company.

I'd like to borrow some wardrobe stuff for my son's school production. Will the Tower help with this and is there a charge?

The Tower may be able to help whenever it can in return for a charge. Contact the Tower office for more information.

Does the Tower accept items for its Wardrobe/Props departments? If so, who do I contact?

Although storage space is limited, the Tower is always interested in adding to wardrobe and props where this would enhance or suitably augment our resources. Contact the Tower office for more information.

I want to review Tower productions in 'Noises Off' - do you have to be an actor or director or have had any previous experience in reviewing plays? Who do I speak to?

The Editorial Team of 'Noises Off' (currently Jane Pallant and Linda Stewart Birch) welcomes new reviewers for Tower productions. Although it is not essential for you to have reviewed plays before, clearly you will need to have the relevant skills. If you are interested, contact Jane or Linda through the Tower office and they will be pleased to discuss with you what is needed.

I want to have a go at sound/light operating, stage management, set design, wardrobe etc. but I have no previous experience. Is there any point putting my name forward and will there be somebody to show me how it is done? Can I be an assistant on a production to start off with?

Yes, do put your name forward. Although the Tower does not have the time to provide full training facilities, there is usually scope for you to work as part of a team alongside those who are experienced in sound, lighting and the other technical aspects of staging a production. Speak to Moira McSperrin, who is the Chairman of the Technical Group, to discuss how you might be involved.