The 10 Most Influential Women Making Difference In 2024.pdf
Abbie team dynamics and roles
1. Team Dynamics and Roles
General Manager:
Has overall responsibility for the general running of the theatre, working with members of staff
such as the artistic director, the board, the front of house staff and the marketing departments.
Artistic Director:
Works with the General Manager on the artistic tasks, planning and monitoring resources of
the company and liaises with the marketing and publicity departments to develop sponsorship,
whilst hiring other directors and designers.
Director:
Is hired by the Artistic Director and has overall artistic control of the production, discussing
budgets with the Production Manager and liaising with the designers to create the style and
concepts necessary to the production. Directors are resonsible for directing the performers and
advising production departments as to the requirements of the production.
Administrator:
Is in charge of the spending within the company and is responsible for employees’ rights and
pay. They also originate and distribute budgets to the managers.
Production Manager:
Overall control of the staff - Employs and supervises all the production staff ensuring they are
trained in a safe working environment, whilst being responsible for the maintenance of all
working areas and equipment. Also responsible for setting up the Risk Assessment.
Liaises with directors and designers over budgets and desing deadlines, advises the designer
about Health and Safety implications within set design and oversees all ordering of materials
and building work. The PM Controls the budget and schedules and oversees all work during
the preparation for the production, contributing to technical rehearsals also.
Company Manager:
Used for large, on tour productions for organisations of the travel arrangements for the
company, organising weekly payments, organising contractual arrangements and organising
accommodation for the cast and crew.
Larger companies hire a Company Stage Manager (CSM) to back up the other stage
management teams and if a company has two or more stage management teams, the CSM
will be in charge of making sure the cast and crew are aware of the weekly times sheets of the
production, ensuring the stage management is well organised and running smoothly and they
also are responsible for looking after the health and well being of the cast and crew, whilst
covering for the stage managers on show calls.
Stage Manager (SM)
Has overall responsibility for the stage management team and their training but will have to be
flexible. They oversee auditions process, provide rehearsal equipment/space and runs the
technical rehearsals along side the director, production manager and Deputy Stage Manager.
The stage manager co-ordinates the information flow between all departments and is in charge
of the safe storage and return of props, sets, costumes and furniture.
Deputy Stage Manager (DSM)
Assist auditions and sets up/runs rehearsals daily and makes props, whilst being in charge of
blocking, prompting and distributing rehearsal notes and call sheets every day. They create
2. and use a props list alongside the SM and ASM and compiles and distributes setting plots,
running plots and cue synopsis.
DSM’s write up show reports after each performance to maintain discipline and quality
performance and technical standards.
Assistant Stage Manager (ASM)
Also assists with auditions and covers rehearsals when necessary. They have major
responsibility when it comes to props, set dressing and furniture and backstage work during
the run, which helps the process of troubleshooting. They may be asked to work as the DSM.
Set Designer:
Works with the production manager on the budget and safety and the director to create the
visual and stylistic elements of the sets, furniture and props. They will build a scale model of
the set, produce a ground plan and drawings to assist the production and performing teams to
visualise the ideas in the design. They will also oversee the painting and building of sets.
Master Carpenter:
Responsible for building the sets and ensures the quality of a set is maintained, whilst ensuring
Health and Safety regulations are followed. They must also be in charge of other work shop
staff and be responsible for the safe delivery of the set on stage.
Scenic Painter:
Responsible for all the painting elements of the set and the workers within the paint shop,
including making sure everyone follows the Health and Safety legislation in the use of the
various materials required for the job. They also control the paint budget.
Props Master:
In charge of all props: e.g. sourcing, making, the delivery and ensuring all is within the budget.
Making sure they maintain a high standard throughout the run is also important, as is ensuring
staff follow the Health and Safety rules whilst handling dangerous substances and equipment.
Lighting Designer:
Develops the overall lighting interpretation for the production. They decide on the appropriate
types of lights, positions for the lights, auxilary equipment, effects and other specialist
equipment required to achive the specific design. The lighting designer also produces a plan to
convey that design for rigging. They must also ensure the quality of light is consistant.
Chief LX (electrician)
Manages the running of the eletrical department (budget, staff, etc) and is responsible for
maintaining all in-house electrical equipment. They rig, focus and plot equipment whilst training
assistants and making sure the quality of the lighting design is maintained throughout the run.
Sound Designer:
Works along side the director and musical director and designs the overall sound for the
production. With the permission from the production manager, they will choose the positions of
the speakers, monitors and auxiliary equipment whilst making sure the quality of sound all
around the venue is balanced and audible.
Sound Technician:
Responsible for ensuring in-house sound equipment is maintained to a high standard and
operates the sound during the run. They also hire and order equipment needed and record
sound effects required for the production.
3. Costume Designer:
Works with the director and set and lighting designers and will create the visual and stylistic
design of the costumes. They will provide costume drawings and samples of fabrics for the
wardrobe supervisor to understand the design and oversee the making and hiring of costumes
and attends all of the fittings.
Wardrobe Supervisor:
Responsible for the smooth running of the wardrobe department and in charge of the ordering
and delivery of all costumes whilst training wardrobe staff and overseeing the making and
hiring of costumes. They run the fittings to make sure performers are comfortable/happy with
the costumes.
Cutters/Tailors:
Works to the designs provided by the costume designer to physically make the costumes.
They observe safe working practises within wardrobe and attend technical rehearsals and first
night to take notes of required alterations.
Dressers/maintenance:
Responsible for costume changes during technical, dress rehearsals and the run. They ensure
performers are assisted with any difficulties they may have regarding the costumes and
costume changes. They also maintain the costumes throughout the run to provide a constant
quality of appearance.
Technical Stage Manager:
Responsible for all moving elements of the set. Working with the PM, lighting designer and
flyman, they move each pieces of flown scenery to a specific bar. They also manage the crew
and plan scene changes and oversee all technical onstage work during production week and
the run.
Head Flyman:
Maintains the fly floor and flying system. Also in charge of training other crew members
working on the fly floor and is resonsible for safe rigging of all flown pieces of scenery. They
create the flying plots and operate the show.
Crew:
Employed on a show-by-show basis to help out the permanent staff and assists with get-ins, fit
ups, scene changes, flying, get outs etc whilst following the Health and Saftey regulations as
demanded by the production manager.
Front of House/Box Office Manager:
Responsible for the auditorium, restaurant and bar areas as well as the box office, therefore
they must ensure the audience are safe and secure. They manage and train bar/restaurant
staff whilst supporting them and they also hang the front of house displays with the publicity
manager.
Marketing/Publicity Manager:
Responsible for ‘selling’ the show (raising the public profile of the theatre.) They produce
leaflets, posters, advertising and organise the distribution, whilst arranging all the press and
photo calls with the performers in liason with the SM. With the artistic director and general
manager, they also attract sponsorship in order to raise funds and revenue (income.)