Production & Tech Teams

Our shows need far more than performers. Whether you’re an experienced designer, want to develop a new skill, or simply fancy helping us build something brilliant, we’d love to hear from you.

You don’t need to know exactly where you fit. Tell us what interests you and we’ll help you find a useful way in.

Four ways to get involved

Bring your experience

Already have backstage, technical or design experience? Whether you work professionally or have experience with another society, we’d love to hear what you do and explore where you might fit into a future Geoids production.

Learn by doing

You don’t need to be ready to lead a department. Shadowing, assistant roles and stage-management positions are brilliant ways to build practical skills, understand how a production works and learn from more experienced team members.

Join us for show week

Get-ins, get-outs and show week always need extra hands. You might help build or dress the set, organise props, support a technical department or work backstage. No previous experience is required, and we’ll make sure you know where to go and how you can help.

Not sure where you fit?

That’s completely fine. Tell us what interests you, what you enjoy and whether there’s anything you might like to try. We can talk through the options and help you find a first opportunity that feels right.

You don’t have to begin with the role you eventually want. Helping at a get-in, assisting a department or joining a stage-management team gives you a chance to see how a production fits together, build practical experience and get to know the people involved.

We’ll talk to you about what you’re interested in and suggest an opportunity that matches your current experience. That might be shadowing a designer, assisting on a production, joining the stage-management team or helping during show week.

Fill in this short form to get in touch with our Production Manager. We aim to reply within a week.

FAQ

  • Not at all. Some people join us with professional or amateur theatre experience, while others have never worked backstage before. Tell us what interests you and we’ll help you find an opportunity that suits your current experience.

  • The get-in is when we move into the theatre and turn an empty space into the world of the show. That can involve building and dressing the set, organising props and costumes, setting up lighting and sound equipment, and generally helping everything come together.

    There are jobs for different interests, abilities and levels of experience. You won’t simply be left to work it out alone. We’ll tell you where to go, introduce you to a named member of the team and give you something useful to do.

  • The get-out happens after the final performance, when we dismantle the production, pack everything away and return the theatre to its original state. It is usually busy, practical and surprisingly satisfying. Extra hands make a huge difference and there is usually pizza!

  • No. You might join a production team for several months, help backstage during show week, shadow someone for a few sessions, or simply volunteer for a get-in or get-out. Tell us how much time you can offer and we’ll suggest something realistic.

  • It depends entirely on the role. Designers and department leads are usually involved throughout the production process, while assistants and shadowing roles can be more flexible. Get-ins and get-outs are normally one-day commitments, and show-week roles generally require availability for the technical rehearsals and performances.

    We’ll always explain the likely commitment before you agree to anything.

  • Our Production Manager will read your response and get in touch for a short, informal conversation. We’ll ask about your interests, experience and availability, then suggest any suitable current or upcoming opportunities.

    If there isn’t an immediate role for you, we can keep you updated about future productions, get-ins and opportunities to learn.

  • Yes. Shadowing or assisting an experienced team member can be an excellent way to learn how a department works, meet people and build confidence before taking on more responsibility.

  • Geoids is an amateur theatre society and most of our backstage and production roles are voluntary. If a particular role is paid or expenses are available, we will make that clear when advertising it.

  • You don’t need to become a member simply to register your interest or help at a get-in. Some ongoing production or show-week roles may require membership, and we’ll explain this before you commit.

  • Some tasks involve lifting, carrying, climbing ladders or working at height, but many do not. Please tell us about any access requirements or physical limitations. We want to find a useful role that works for you, without assuming what you can or cannot do.

  • That is completely normal. You don’t need to arrive with a career plan. Tell us what you enjoy, whether that’s making things, organising people, solving technical problems, finding visual ideas or simply being part of a team. We can talk through the options and help you find a good first step.

  • Absolutely. We plan productions well in advance and are always interested in meeting people who may want to get involved in the future. Complete the form even if there isn’t a suitable vacancy listed at the moment.

  • Yes. Lots of people step away from theatre because of work, family or just life, and getting involved again can feel like a bigger step than it should. If you have performed, directed, designed, produced, played or worked backstage before, we would love to hear from you.

    You do not need to prove anything or pick up exactly where you left off. Tell us what you have done, what you would enjoy doing now and how you would like to get involved. Geoids is a place to use the skills you already have, rediscover old ones and develop new ones while making ambitious theatre with other people.

What could I get involved in?

Production teams include a huge range of creative, practical and organisational roles. You don’t need to know exactly which one is right for you. Explore some of the possibilities below, then tell us what catches your interest.

  • Lighting helps shape the atmosphere, focus and visual world of a production. Roles range from designing the overall lighting to programming or operating the desk, rigging equipment and following cues during performances.

    If you’re new, you might begin by shadowing a designer, helping during the get-in or assisting the lighting team during technical rehearsals.

  • The sound team makes sure the production can be heard clearly and that music and effects happen at exactly the right moment. Roles can include sound design, sourcing effects, setting up equipment, fitting microphones, mixing the show or operating sound cues.

    New team members may be able to shadow a designer, help with microphones during show week or assist with the technical setup.

  • The set team creates the physical world of the show. That might involve developing the initial design, drawing plans, sourcing materials, building scenery, painting, dressing the stage or solving practical problems as they arise.

    You don’t need to be an experienced carpenter or designer to help. Get-ins and build days are excellent ways to learn, and there are always tasks for different abilities.

  • Stage management sits at the centre of a production and keeps everything running smoothly. The team organises rehearsals, tracks props and practical requirements, coordinates people backstage and makes sure every performance happens safely and consistently.

    Assistant stage manager roles are a particularly good way to understand how an entire production fits together, even if you eventually want to work in another department.

  • The props team finds, makes, adapts and looks after the objects used by the cast. That could mean tracking down a particular period telephone, creating a convincing fake cake or making sure every item is in exactly the right place before a performance.

    It suits resourceful people who enjoy research, crafting, problem-solving or hunting for unusual objects.

  • This team develops and maintains the visual appearance of the characters. Depending on the production, that might involve costume design, sourcing and altering clothes, fittings, dressing performers, organising quick changes, maintaining wigs or creating hair and makeup looks.

    There are opportunities for experienced designers and makers, as well as people who would like to assist, learn or help during show week.

  • Some, but not all, Geoids productions use projection or video. When they do, the work can include creating visual content, preparing and programming cues, setting up equipment and operating the show. Whether you already have relevant design or technical experience, or would like to learn by assisting, we’d be very happy to hear from you.

  • Production and technical managers help turn creative ideas into a practical, achievable show. They coordinate departments, schedules, budgets, equipment, venues and technical requirements, making sure everyone has the information and support they need.

    These roles usually require some previous production experience, but assisting a production manager or taking responsibility for a smaller area can be a good way to develop the necessary skills.