Volunteering at the Wharf Theatre Devizes

The Wharf Theatre is a 90 seat theatre operating in a converted canal warehouse alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes.  The theatre puts on a variety of productions including plays, dramatisations, Shakespeare, musical performances, travelling shows and our sell-out pantomimes.  The theatre is run and managed by a group of enthusiastic volunteers including tech box, front of house, refreshments, chaperoning, duty manager, box office and bar management.  

My wife Sue and I have enjoyed attending the theatre for a number of years, often taking our grandchildren or the whole family to the pantomime.  Having enjoyed the performances, we were keen to do our bit to help at the theatre.  We started volunteering in 2024, initially refreshments, serving customers tea, coffee, and ice-creams (what is a theatre without ice cream!).  I was then given the opportunity to train as Duty Manager.  This is an essential role, taking full responsibility for the theatre before performances, during the interval and after performances; the tech team and stage manager manage all aspects of the theatre during performances.  Responsibilities include pre-show health and safety checks, ensuring refreshment and programme sales cash tins are accounted for, controlling access to the auditorium (in collaboration with the tech team and stage manager), answering all manner of questions from people coming to watch performances, assisting with queries from box office volunteers such as “how do I …, what happens if …, where are the spare …”.  At the end of a performance ensuring the theatre is locked up and left secure.

I am also a member of the management committee; every committee member has a specific role that contributes to the management of the building, performances, publicity, safeguarding, costume, social media, IT, tech and in my specific case fundraising.  Fundraising for the theatre is about enhancing the theatre for the benefit of our audiences, members and anyone visiting the theatre.

You may ask why I volunteer; often long days, late nights, and lots of responsibility that I could just leave for others to do.  I volunteer for the enjoyment it brings me, doing my bit for community theatre in our small market town of Devizes in the heart of Wiltshire.  I enjoy volunteering alongside other volunteers, sharing stories and building relationships.  I particularly enjoy interacting with our repeat customers, building professional bonds welcoming them back time and time again (yes, I have my favourites, and know their favourite seats and the sorts of performances they enjoy).  Also, I have recently retired, so will have more time to do more at the theatre that I could not do alongside a full-time work commitment.  I feel I can now use my professional skills and qualifications in a creative and engaging way, keeping me active and sharing my knowledge more.

Lawrence Nash