Production Team

A production team is the group of technical staff who produce the show. A team generally consists of the following roles but it may differ from show to show.

Common Roles

Director

The director is an instructor in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production (a play, an opera, a musical, or a devised piece of work) by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production. The director's function is to ensure the quality and completeness of theatre production and to lead the members of the creative team into realizing their artistic vision for it.

Producer

The job of the producer is to oversee the production process by monitoring and co-ordinating the different members of the production team. It involves managing the production team, publicity, scheduling and chairing production meetings, keeping track of spending, overseeing ticketing, and loads of other aspects.

Technical Director

The Technical Director is responsible for co-ordinating all technical aspects of the production, up to and including running the get-in and get-out for the show. This will include liaising with the theatre to ensure that everything is being planned in accordance with the theatre's rules, and that all necessary paperwork and risk assessments are completed.

Generally a show at ADC Theatre, especially the mainshow, will have a Technical Director. However, most shows at corpus playroom don't need a Technical Director. It's helpful to have a Master Carpenter for shows with a huge set to help building the set, or to have many set builders and set painters involved casually.

Stage Manager

The Stage Manager is responsible for co-ordinating scene changes and other technical effects that are controlled from the stage during all performances. On complex shows they may have any number of Assistant Stage Managers and a large team of Stage Crew who will actually execute the scene changes and effects, and the Stage Manager should plan not be doing anything themselves, but just to oversee this team of people, ready to step in should anything go wrong. On smaller shows, it may be appropriate for the Stage Manager to do some or all of this work themselves.

Large shows such as Panto and LTM may have Head of Props to help sourcing the props so that the Stage Manager can focus on risk assessment and the fluent running of the show

Deputy Stage Manager

The Deputy Stage Manager will sit at the stage manager's desk during the show (and technical and dress rehearsals), following the script and calling every technical cue, ensuring that all other crew members perform the correct technical effects at the correct time, and that effects only happen if it is safe to do so. Shows at Corpus Playroom don't need a deputy stage manager in most cases.

Lighting Designer

The Lighting Designer Is responsible for creating an appropriate lighting plan, both from the viewpoint of functionality (simply being able to see the actors), and from the artistic appearance of the lighting (e.g. are scenes set indoors or outdoors, in the early morning, mid-afternoon or late evening). ADC main show usually have a lighting team consisting of Lighting Designer, Chief Electrician and Production Electrician to work collaboratively during the get-in and get-out.

Some shows may also have Lighting Operator involved as a separate role to sit at the lighting desk and operate the lighting changes every performance.

Sound Designer

The Sound Designer is responsible for creating an appropriate sound plan, detailing where any live band is to be placed (in the orchestra pit or visible on stage within the set), and how microphones are to be used to allow any band and cast dialogue or singing to be properly mixed. Large production of musical often involves casual roles including Mic Fitter and Mic Runner.

Set Designer

The Set Designer is responsible for creating an appropriate performing space for the actors, both from the viewpoint of functionality (having suitable entrances as required by the script or director), and from the artistic appearance of the set (the decor/style). For ADC mainshow, Techical Director and Set Designer usually split up the job of building the set. For corpus playroom shows and shows at other venue, the Set Designer will be in charge of actually building the set.

Publicity Designer

The Publicity Designer is responsible for designing the poster, flyer and Facebook cover photo, editing the Headshots for a show. For ADC mainshow, the Publicity Designer also design the programme if there's no Programme Designer as a separate role.

Photographer

The Photographer takes photo of rehearsals and the dress run to produce publicity materials. A Photographer also takes headshots for the cast and crew.

Crew

The crew refers to people generally involved in the production but don't have a specific role. They usually come to the get in to help other members of the production.