Pembroke Players Guide

So you wanna direct...

Since many directors working with Pembroke Players are first-timers, here’s a brief guide to all the ins and outs of putting on a production:

Applying

Pembroke Players are happy to fund shows in any Cambridge venue, such as the Pembroke New Cellars, Corpus Playrooms or the ADC Theatre. If your application is for anywhere other than Pembroke New Cellars, please be aware that you will need to also apply to the venue separately. However, as long as you sign up to the ADC’s director’s list, you’ll always be updated about application deadlines and info.

Make sure to follow the relevant guidelines for applications as different societies can have different requirements. Pembroke Players’ application guidelines can be found here, and if you’re applying for a slot at Corpus Playrooms or the ADC Theatre, guidelines can be found at the Fletcher Players website and the ADC website respectively.

First Steps

Once you’ve been accepted (see our applications section for details on how to apply) the first things to do are set up a Facebook group or event and also a Camdram account for the show. Never underestimate the power of Facebook in advertising a show – if there’s a while until the actual run, set up a group and an event can be done closer to the time. For details regarding Camdram email our IT Officer and we’ll take you through it – Camdram’s a very handy place to advertise for crew and also record all the productions you’re involved in.

Technical Team

Certain roles are usually essential to a production: Producer, Stage Manager and a Lighting/Sound Director in charge of all things technical. Depending on the size and complexity of your production, Publicist, Technical Director, Set Designer and Musical Director are just some of the other roles you might want to consider advertising.

If you already know people interested in any of the roles, then brilliant! If however you’re starting from scratch the best way to get a technical team together is to advertise the positions on Camdram, the ADC lists and Pembroke Players’ mailing lists. Any adverts on Camdram are automatically picked up by the ADC technical list, but the ADC directors’ and producers’ list needs to be emailed directly. Just contact the Committee to advertise on any Pembroke Players lists.

Auditions

Again, auditions can be advertised on Camdram, Pembroke Players lists and the ADC actor’s list (the ADC list is the most important since most people will see it there – this goes out every Tuesday and Friday).

If you book in advance (through the Committee) then Pembroke New Cellars can be used for auditions; alternatively the New Common Room is an easy audition
spot to get hold of, which Pembroke members can book online on a first-come first-serve basis. Booking a room at the ADC for auditions looks professional and also increases the chance of getting passing thesps to audition – you can also book these online on a first-come first-serve basis.

One tip – getting people’s phone numbers as well as emails at auditions is helpful since if you need to confirm someone urgently for a role, this will be the best way to get hold of them.

Rehearsals

Pembroke New Cellars is the best rehearsal space in Pembroke – to book, just get in touch with the committee and we’ll arrange it (the further in advance the better!). For all Pembroke Players shows, the Sunday and Monday before your run begins will automatically be booked so that you can use this time for technical and dress rehearsals.

If you can’t get hold of Pembroke New Cellars then the New Common Room is the easiest alternative within Pembroke (college members can book this room online on a first-come first-serve basis); if, of course, you’re at a different college then take advantage of whatever you have access to!

For shows not being performed in the New Cellars, you’ll need to contact the relevant societies – the Fletcher Players for Corpus Playrooms and the CUADC director’s rep for the ADC.

If you’ve got quite a technical production planned then it might be wise to have a paper tech rehearsal in addition to the technical and dress rehearsals; doing this sooner rather than later is a good way to spot any issues early on.

Publicity

Different people have different views on what’s the best way to publicise a show, but make sure you consider all the options:

• Facebook – groups and events are really effective ways of making sure people know about your production and are also good platforms for publicity photos and videos
• Flyering – you can flyer colleges and pidgeonholes, the Sidgwick site, and if you’re very committed you can flyer people leaving other shows (however remember that, for example, non-ADC shows aren’t allowed to flyer within the ADC).
• Posters – again colleges and Sidgwick are good places to poster as well as throughout town.
• If you’re feeling adventurous there are other options, such as the Tab which you can buy advertising space in but keep in mind how such alternatives will affect your budget.

The important thing to remember is getting publicity done in time – you should aim to get posters and flyers out two weeks before the show starts so make sure to consider the time it will take to design and print posters. Do your best to make your publicity striking - as you’ll know there’s plenty of posters in Cambridge and anything which makes yours stand out is a bonus!

The Production

We will book out the Foundress Music Room from 7:00pm each evening as a Green Room for your production. You can find this room opposite the main door of the Cellars. As the room returns to its primary function during the daytime, all props and costumes will need to be stored either in the Pembroke New Cellars or the props cupboard.

A notice in the rear corridor reminding residents of the performance are helpful – Foundress Court is an accommodation block, so noise can spill into the Cellars, especially if the doors are open. Here is a template.

Please put directions to the New Cellars on any Facebook group or event – otherwise the Porters are often left to deal with numerous lost audience members which they don’t appreciate! You can direct them to the map on our About page

NB: Due to fire safety regulations, there are two emergency lights pointing to the exits in New Cellars. We appreciate these may be distracting, but we cannot condone the covering of these lights as has been found in the past. Disabling an important safety feature is fraught with danger – please avoid doing it.

Keep in mind that if you’d like to do programmes for the show (which are normally sold at the ADC but done free of charge in most other venues) you’ll need all the relevant information and to print them out before the beginning of the run.

Lastly, remember that if you need any help or advice during the application, rehearsal or performance period, feel free to email the Artistic Director or any other member of the Committee.