The activities of the CTC broadly comprise stage productions for the general public, play readings of various types for the membership or invited audiences, and other events organized for the membership. The mounting of a public performance naturally generates a multitude of activities, some of which are covered below.

Play readings

Among the most popular ongoing events in the CTC are the play readings. Typically a member will open his or her house for a group to read through an entire play or selected parts. This is usually followed by a discussion of the play. Readings can also take the form of a project, whereby a group may choose to meet on several occasions to analyse a play more deeply or to explore the works of a particular author.

Rehearsed readings

Rehearsed readings are readings by a fixed cast for an invited audience. They are usually rehearsed a few times, and a director may be appointed to explore the characters with the performers. Unlike staged readings (see below) there is no movement involved.

Staged readings

Staged readings are 'mini-productions' in which the cast performs a play with the script in their hands. Such performances are usually rehearsed a few times to familiarize the cast with the movement required, and can be performed in any suitable space with a minimum of scenery, usually for an invited audience such as CTC members and friends. Staged readings are an excellent way of introducing aspiring directors and actors to the stage. They may well be the outcome of a project, such as the readings mentioned above.

FEATS

FEATS is the annual Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies, which takes place over four days every Whitsun in different European cities. FEATS is enormous fun for those taking part, and provides an excellent opportunity for actors and directors to learn from watching other groups perform and from listening to the adjudication. The CTC entry for FEATS depends on finding a play (which has to be between 25 and 50 minutes long), rehearsing it, designing and transporting a set, and travelling to the Festival. The entry will be in the name of the CTC, and the society will consider a financial subsidy, but travel and accommodation can be expensive. For this reason, the entry is best arranged as a discrete project by those who wish to be involved.

    The group will also have to provide a back-stage crew and people to run lighting and sound. The Festival rules allow 10 minutes to put up the set and 5 minutes to strike it. Since there is less opportunity for back-stage teams to learn in advance about the successful staging of a production for a play festival, FEATS also arranges technical workshops for FEATS technicians, designed specifically to look at the particular staging problems that festival conditions pose.

    See the latest FEATS Newsletter to see what's going on.

Workshops

From time to time the CTC arranges workshops, courses and master classes of various kinds. These can cover any aspect of theatre, be it it acting or directing or any of the technical areas such as lighting, sound, set design, costumes or make-up. Occasionall an outside expert will be invited by the Committee to give a workshop, and members may or may not be asked for a fee, depending on the circumstances. Members with skills in any of these areas are very welcome to demonstrate them to the rest of the membership.

Events

Events cover any one-off arrangement made by or on behalf of the CTC. Events may include play readings, social gatherings (parties, barbecues, etc.), outings to the theatre or cinema, workshops, caboodles and theatre games, or almost anything that brings members together for a specific purpose.

Marketing/publicity

Publicity or marketing is carried out fairly routinely for each stage production, but needs constant review and updating. Publicity for the CTC as a whole, in terms of making the society better known and 'selling' ourselves both to prospective members and prospective audiences, is developing well but needs further ideas and manpower. The true business side, such as sponsorship, has yet to be explored.

Public stage productions

Set design & decoration

The set designer appointed for a particular production (or possibly an event of some kind) is the person who must propose to the director the overall look of the set. The designer must therefore work in close consultation with those responsible for set construction, furniture, lighting, costumes and make-up, in order to ensure that the set works physically and visually. It is essential that the design is as detailed as possible, in order to avoid misunderstandings and last-minute panics; a model of the set is invaluable for this purpose.

    Set decoration comprises everything that is added to the set to provide the physical construction with the desired appearance, as agreed between the designer and the director. The 'Set design & decoration' cell will therefore need to consider the painting (or perhaps wallpapering) of the set and the provision of such items as pictures, curtains, mirrors, carpets, cushions, coverings, table cloths, etc. etc. Close coordination will be needed with those responsible for set construction and props.

Set construction

Set construction is, of course, mainly associated with the stage productions of the CTC, but the maintenance of the scenery and building materials is an ongoing activity. The CTC is fortunate to have a place to construct and store scenery, and these facilities have to be kept clean and tidy. The cell members will therefore be called on from time to time to spend a few hours at the 'barn', usually with lunch and refreshments at the CTC's expense.

    The busiest time, however, is that leading up to a stage production, when the scenery has to be built, transported to the theatre and assembled. And of course the opposite has to be done when the show finishes. It is important, too, that after a show everything is accounted for (especially the CTC tools, etc.) and the scenery cleaned up and stacked away tidily for the next time.

Box office/front of house

As soon as a play is planned, a person responsible for selling tickets must be appointed. Next, the seating capacity of the theatre, ticket prices and any other relevant information must be obtained from the Committee, and the appropriate number of tickets printed. The person selling tickets must be briefed on procedures to be followed.

    Closer to the production, a roster has to be drawn up to ensure that somebody mans the Box Office at each performance (unless the person selling the tickets undertakes to do so). These people must be fully briefed on agreed procedures, particularly regarding access to and use of the cash box kept by the Treasurer. Another roster is needed of Front of House people for each performance. These people must also be fully briefed on their duties, such as handing out programmes, questionnaires, etc., taking tickets, helping people to their seats and coordinating with the Stage Manager.

Wardrobe/costumes

This activity is concerned with designing costumes, making specific costumes, looking after the CTC wardrobe, putting together costumes and making sure they fit the actors. The focal point will also be expected to ensure that sufficient people are present at each performance to look after costumes and help with dressing the actors as necessary.