Main shows

Our Executive Committee decides on which production we are doing next and who the production team will be.  This is no easy task!

To produce a show you first have to be granted the legal rights to do so. Not all shows are available for amateur groups to do and some are restricted by a range of factors such as performance dates, location or size of the theatre.  The titles available change all the time and even if you apply it doesn’t guarantee you get granted the rights!  Whilst decisions on what to apply for are discussed with our members to seek their views and discussed during our committee meetings, ultimately it is down to our Business Manager to apply for shows.

Once we have the rights to a show we then employ a production team.

Our production teams tend to consist of:

• a Director
• a Musical Director (MD)
• an Assistant Director and/or Choreographer
• a Production Co-Ordinator (a member of our Executive Committee)
• a Sound Designer (a hired professional)
• a Lighting Designer (a hired professional)

There are many local directors and musical directors known to us and other amateur societies that we may choose to approach to see if they are available and willing to be employed by us for a specific show.

We welcome people to contact us with their CV and covering letter of application should they wish to be considered to direct or musically direct a show.  Our Treasurer and Business Manager decide how much we can pay for their services for a specific production, depending on the overall budget, the going rate and the individual’s skills and experience.

A director may request to have a specific person to assist them, whom they can pay from their directing fee.  However, the Executive Committee has ultimate say on who is appointed as assistant director, and often considers members who have shown an interest and/or an ability to be right for the role. Sometimes an additional choreographer is appointed, depending on the needs of a show, though often this is the same person as the assistant director.

The Executive Committee considers the following factors (though this list is not exhaustive) when deciding upon a directing team:

• Their experience
• Their skills
• Their creative vision
• Their knowledge of the show
• Their communication skills
• Their organisational skills
• How well individuals may work together
• How the membership feels about working with them
• Our Society’s past experience of working with them
• Committee members experiences of working with them
• The quality of production they are likely to create/produce
• Any information they have provided us when applying to be considered
• Reviews on their previous work
• Feedback from those who know them and/or have worked with them
• Their reliability
• For CO2 shows (and shows that require young children in the cast) – how well they work with/how suitable they are for working with children and young people

After a thorough and meaningful discussion by the committee a vote is taken on who to appoint.  A majority vote from the Executive Committee is needed before anyone is appointed.  Sometimes members of the committee are the individuals being considered and if this is the case they are not involved in the discussion or vote to appoint the production team.

If you would like to be considered for a role on one of our production teams please send in a CV, with a covering letter of application telling us why you would be suitable and want to be considered, to our chair via email to chair@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk or use our contact us page.

Concerts

Our concerts are slightly different, in that the Director is a member of the Society, who sets the theme and content for their concert as well as directs it.  They are not paid for their role.  A separate Musical Director is appointed and they are paid.

Members interested in directing a concert are invited to email in their proposals at any time to the Executive Committee for consideration.  We often select concert directors well in advance so it’s never too early or late to submit your proposal!   If you miss out one year, we will consider it for the next year.  You don’t have to have a full set list, just the outline of what you envision your concert to be.

We would like to point out that as part of this role, concert directors become more like production co-ordinators and will organise most aspects of the concert, with the Executive Committee’s support, as necessary.

You can view a job description for our concert director/producer here.

If you are a member of COS and would like to be considered to direct/produce a concert please send in a proposal outlining your vision/concept and any other relevant information regarding your skills and suitability to our chair via email to chair@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk or use our contact us page.