Women & Theatre is looking for two Volunteers to work on our Word Lounge Theatre Company project, taking place at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) between January – March 2025. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to develop new skills in participatory theatre, working with young people, or looking for an exciting opportunity to meet new people. 

THE PROJECT:

Word Lounge Theatre Company is a performance-based company for children in care, young carers and young people with additional educational needs. 

Women & Theatre will deliver a programme of weekly sessions at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), working with up to 20 young people. The work will be led by the ideas of the young people and will end with a live performance to an audience of family, friends and members of the general public with theatre at the heart. The programme will be a chance for young people to express themselves creatively and explore what they can make as individual artists, as well as a theatre company. 

Creative activity could include devising scripts, songs, poetry, movement and other creative elements that could emerge for the final performance. We intend the final performance to be a showcase of the work created so some of the young people may explore different roles as part of the creative process. 

Project Team 

Activity will be delivered by W&T staff and freelance practitioners; bringing different expertise including drama, music and poetry. Volunteers will support across the team, incorporating your skills, experience and expertise. 

Word Lounge Theatre Company will be facilitated by W&T’s Associate Director Vicky Pritchard alongside other freelance artists. Our established young person-led approach means that we centre participants as artists. We support them to create their own work and build on existing skills whilst raising self-esteem.  

The Role:  

Volunteers will be involved in weekly sessions, being an active part of the group, supporting the young people in creating the performance.It is really important that volunteers are actively involved in the sessions and are willing to perform in the final show if needed. The theatre company is a  diverse group of young people with varied needs, volunteers will need to be responsive and adaptable to work in different ways. 

The role may include: 

  • Storyboarding 
  • Writing 
  • Performing 
  • Creating scripts 
  • Devise creative elements of projects 
  • Assisting the rest of the team in rehearsals 
  • Participating in session debriefs
  • Filming 
  • Working in collaboration with the rest of the Word Lounge Team 
  • Helping set up and set down 
  • Supporting with pastoral care 

What we need: 

We need individuals that are kind, committed, hard-working, flexible, organised and good at working in a team. Ideally, volunteers will have an understanding of creative work and some experience working with young people with varied needs.  

What you’ll get out of it:

Volunteers will work alongside a professional theatre company, Women & Theatre, who have 40 years of experience. This is an opportunity to build a relationship with the company and increase employability skills. We hope that volunteers are able to gain: 

  • New skills in theatre and facilitation
  • Experience of working with young people with varied needs and abilities 
  • Overall confidence 
  • New working relationships and connections in the arts 

You will be supported by the W&T team throughout the project. 

This is an unpaid position but expenses will be covered. 

Dates

It is ideal if volunteers are available for all sessions and meetings, but we recognise people have varying demands on their time. We would ask that you attend most sessions and you do not miss more than two sessions in a row. You should be able to attend the first session, the dress rehearsal and the performance day (dates provided). 

Meetings:           Initial Introduction & Planning Meeting with WLTC Team – TBC early January 2025  

Word Lounge Theatre Company Sessions 

Sat 18th Jan 10:30am-1pm @ MAC  

Sat 25th Jan 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

Sat 1st Feb 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

Sat 8th Feb 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

* half term break* 

Sat 22nd Feb 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

Sat 1st March 10:30am-1pm @ MAC

Sat 8th March 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

Sat 15th March 10:30am-1pm @ MAC 

Sat 22nd March 10:30am-3pm @ MAC Longer day for rehearsals

Sat 23rd March @ MAC ALL DAY Times tbc Performance day

How to get involved: 

If you are interested in volunteering, please send a short email to Vicky Pritchard, at vickypritchard@womenandtheatre.co.uk, stating why you are interested, and any relevant experience. You may alternatively submit a short video or voice recording. Please also let us know your availability for the project period. 

Please email in expressions of interest by the end of Monday 9th December. 

We will invite potential volunteers to an informal interview. Please get in touch if you require additional information or support, either by emailing vickypritchard@womenandtheatre.co.uk, or 0121 449 7117. 

Women & Theatre welcomes interest from all sections of the community. We are particularly interested in increasing the diversity of our team and welcome applications from people from the global majority, people who are disabled, men and non-binary people, people who are LGBTQ+, and/or from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds. We also welcome applications from people with care experience or experience as a young carer.