How to get involved backstage at WT

The creative opportunities for getting involved with a Wokingham Theatre production extend far beyond acting, with the technical teams backstage providing the beating heart of theatre life. As we approach our 2025-26 season, our Technical Director Gary Rees, wants to lift the curtain on backstage opportunities, and take some of the fear out of people who may wish to learn a new technical skill, but are nervous about what it might entail. 

We sat down with him to hear what opportunities there are for getting involved with technical theatre and how to sign up, whatever your level of experience.

For any non-members reading this who might be interested in joining our backstage crew, you can either book a tour of the theatre with our membership secretary or you can email Gary directly at technical@wokinghamtheatre.org.uk to have a chat. Find out more about membership here.

So first things first, Gary, what do we mean by technical theatre?

There are lots of responsibilities that fall under the umbrella of technical theatre or backstage crew. These include sound design, sound operation, set design, set building, lighting design, lighting operation, rehearsal prompt, costume, props, stage management, production manager and even director. It includes everyone who is on our tech rota and is involved in specific productions. 

What is the appeal of technical theatre, do you think?

It’s just a fun way to get involved in the theatre without having to act, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But the technical elements offer such an important part of the picture, without them, actors are just people standing on a stage. The show doesn’t come together until you add all the technical elements. And being responsible for them is such a creative process; the director will tell you their vision and then it’s down to our crew to put their stamp on it, to find a way to make things work.

And how do we organise our crews at Wokingham Theatre?

We have a rota of people who want to be involved in productions, which this season we’re trialing in two halves. We wanted to do it that way, to keep the second half of the season open, so spaces don’t get filled up and people miss out on the chance to get involved who might have done once they know what their year looks like.

And who can join the crew?

Any Wokingham Theatre member can join the crew, regardless of your level of experience. If you’ve got lots of experience but haven’t done it at WT before, you can talk to me and we’ll see what we can do. Or if you’ve got absolutely no experience but would like to learn, we would partner you with someone you can shadow who will show you the ropes. We would never throw someone in at the deep end, because we want more people to learn and feel supported, so hopefully next time they feel confident to take the lead.

So how do people get involved? 

We’ve got a form that people can fill out and express their interest. Members can find this in Prompt and our members Facebook Group, or non-members can send me an email and we can have a chat. But that form details which production they want to sign up for, which area they’re interested in etc. Then we look at the season across the whole, who has expressed interest where, and try to create this whole rota that tells directors their technical elements are in safe hands. 

It’s not too late to sign up for the first half of next season, you can still fill in the form. Or we’ll be opening up the rota for the second half of next season in the autumn, so you can have a chat with me beforehand if you’re still on the fence. 

Members can find the Production Interest Registration form in the May and July editions of Prompt. Non-members can find more information on becoming a member here.