This section lets you discover what the company can offer you if you are more interested in being behind the scenes than on Stage.

We do a variety of shows all with different styles of set. This is thanks to the fact that the company works with a wide range of directors all with different visions on what they want to bring to the stage. This is good news for crew as we are able to develop different skills and are not always making traditional sets. The Purple Theatre Company’s current home is The Compass Theatre, Ickenham. We have also staged outdoor shows and w€e are always looking for other venues and for more outdoor shows to expand the company further.

We have recently moved from our old storage unit and into a new one, which has allowed us to have a large clear-out and sort! This means that we now are in a position to look into hiring out our props, set and costumes to other companies as well as being able to store new sets and props we build. Our set builds are on a Sunday at various locations in and around the Uxbridge area.

We have a large number of flats which gives us the opportunity to use them in a wide variety of ways allowing us to meet the directors’ needs. If there are large pieces of set we tend to build them from scratch which means there is always lots to do on the build up for shows, no matter what your interests! We normally have around a 2-3 month build up to a show and then the fantastic Show Week which is comprises of not a lot of sleep, a hell of a lot of takeaway food and one awesome show! We have a get-in on the Sunday before the show, a technical rehearsal the Monday, a dress rehearsal the Tuesday, and then shows from Wednesday through Saturday, with a show meal Friday night and then the best part of the week; the after show party.

As well as trying to have as many people from the company involved with the crewing aspect of the production there are regular members of the crew who have no desire to be on stage. They have been involved with theatre in various aspects and have a well rounded knowledge of the industry including lighting, set design and sound. We like to encourage anyone who is wanting to be involved in crew to push themselves and challenge what they do and to try new things, and with the knowledge from the regular crew members, it gives people a chance to develop and grow and try out new things. So whatever you feel like trying we normally have someone that has knowledge in that field and if not it is always fun trying to find out how.

The crew is selected for each show once the production manager and directing team has been decided, the technical director will email out for people interested in being part of crew in any role. Looking especially for Stage Manager (SM), Assistant Stage Manager (ASM), Props, Costume, Lighting and Sound. After that, the technical director appoint a SM and then with their input an ASM will be appointed and then the SM and ASM will appoint the rest of the crew. These people will be decided before auditions so that on the day of auditions we can get straight on with the technical side of the show. This does not mean that after auditions, or casting, people can not get involved it just means they will be working alongside people in specific roles. People are selected by the type of show happening, if they want to do it, if it challenges them and if they are able to do the task in hand. Everyone helps out with the set building as well as their specific role so there is always a lot to do.

Between the selection of the SM and ASM and auditions, the directorial team will get together and decide what the directing team want to put on stage and how it can be done, so when the crew meeting happens (on audition day) the set will then be discussed between the SM, TD and the crew on the best way to achieve what the director wants. Once it has been put together the director then looks it over so that by the time of the 1st rehearsal set building can start with everyone on the same page and produce the quality of work that Purple audiences have come to expect.

The crew have a lot of fun with the build up to the show and there is something to be said for seeing a blank canvas morph and develop into a fitted out stage. Seeing the cast when they first see the set and then when they see it all come together on opening night is very satisfying.

If you want any more information please look at the website for upcoming auditions or performances or contact the technical director, using the Contact Us page, for any information relating to crew or behind the scenes with The Purple Theatre Company.