Download(s)

PDF file: Event Manual - Dumfries (80 KB)

PDF file: Top 10 Employability Skills (168 KB)

​Explore the resource

Why 'turn professional'?

This task incorporates elements of the world of work. Alongside all the creative activity, National Theatre of Scotland staff worked with participants and volunteers to train them to take on roles and responsibilities related to theatre production. This prepares and enhances participants’ skills for work and life.

What are the intended outcomes?

• Production and theatrical roles and responsibilities of your creative Transform Team/groups known.
• Event manual in place.
• Skills for work for of all those involved highlighted and strengthened, including a range of employability skills.

How to 'turn professional'

Take what you need from this list of possible approaches to this task.

Activities

Finding your Performers

You may have noticed those participants who are willing to contribute to your event by performing. You may have a range of performers including: actors, artists, dancers, singers, musicians etc.

If you have participants who are not keen on performing, it does not mean they cannot be part of your Transform project. Below is a list of jobs that many groups will be interested in and can be a part of, that are just as important and creative, if not more so.

Hint/Tip You might want to practice this during the dress rehearsal for good measure.

Technical: training and planning your lighting design; stage management; costume and prop maintenance.

Video: World of Work - Lighting the set

The skills learned as a result of taking part in a Transform project are transferable throughout many different career areas. Participants will also learn specialist skills. This video shows young people talking about their experiences of being part of a technical team.

Video: World of Work – Lighting design

Lighting, set and costume designers are some of the roles participants can learn about while taking part in a Transform project. This video shows a participant and lighting designer talking about creating a lighting design.

Hint/Tip Do you have a stage manager that can oversee all of the processes of the production?

Consider:

• Front of House duties: These duties include meeting, greeting and managing audiences. Front of House staff will require to have good customer service, an understanding of the layout of the venue and an awareness of fire safety regulations. They should also communicate with the stage manager to ensure the performance starts on time and that all audience members are in place.
• Merchandise and enterprise: Think of enterprising tasks that can accompany your Transform. This could include designing or ordering merchandise such as T shirts, book bags, badges and programmes for stalls selling related goods. Is there something your audience will want to have that is unique to your Transform? Are all profits going to cover costs or be given to a charity?
• Event Manual: Create an event manual that will act as your health and safety documentation containing risk assessments, fire procedures and regulations, licence requirements, evacuation procedures etc. Speak to event companies including theatres to find out more information about this.
• Download the Event Manual for Transform Dumfries
  PDF file: Event Manual - Dumfries (80 KB)
• Hospitality: Create a hospitality event for guest nights or hospitality linked to the final performance. This could include refreshments and areas for informal chat and reflection after the performance or during the break.

You may want to have designated Transform Teams for each of these areas, including hospitality. Consider how you want to look after your audience? Can you add any meaning or excitement to the production through hospitality?

Hint/Tip: You may not have all of this expertise within your group so it is important that you make connections with your local community and businesses. Could your local theatre supply your front of house staff with training? Do you have a local printing business that would sponsor the printing of your programme in return for some advertising space? Aim to be creative and enterprising.

Skills for work and life

This may be a good time to pause and reflect on skills that have been developed by the participants. Consider what activities could help prompt this valuable discussion by using the list of the top 10 employability skills in the support materials section below.

Also see further information on Building the curriculum 4: Skills for learning, life and work.

Checkpoint

• Have you reached your outcomes for this task?
• What else must you consider now?
• What have you discovered from tackling this task?

Download video transcripts

Word file: Transform Toolkit -  World of work - Lighting the set - transcript

Word file: Transform Toolkit - World of work - Lighting design - transcript