Industry Roles

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Overview of the roles in the theatre:

(Holt, 1988, pp.13)
At the top are producers, finance and administrators, such as Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Cameron Mackintosh in the West End. They are usually creative in terms of the area of performance they specialise in, e.g. Shakespeare, musicals, etc, and will usually hire the same creative team underneath them for each show. 

Next is the production manager. They need to be approachable, organised, competently financially to come in on budget, and they usually have worked on all sizes and types of show to build experience. 

Stage management (on medium/larger shows) is a team of people: Stage manager, Deputy stage manager, and Assistant stage manager(s). As a team, they ensure the show runs smoothly in rehearsals and performances. Generally, costume and other creative teams will liaise with the DSM about costume notes, plots, and the show bible. They are the one 'on the book' (with the script on the side of the stage), who pulls calls out, notes cues, mark staging out in rehearsals, plot where costumes and props need to be set, how scene changes are going to work - there are a lot of responsibilities and it is a very physical role. They pass on rehearsal notes to workroom departments, such as telling costume about any quick changes or the physicality of a role. 

There is sometimes a separate Company manager, whose only job is to look after the actors, organising things like hotels and transport when on tour. 

The crew, including dressers and stagehands, are the people on hand during performances, doing quick changes and scene changes, resetting props, etc. 

In the pre-production side of things, there are the creative departments - Costume, Props, Set/Scenery, Lighting, Music/Sound, Choreography - depending on the size of the production and what it requires. Within these, there is the designer, workroom manager, and makers or technicians, as well as possibly delegating work out to freelancers. 

In relation to A Clockwork Orange and King Lear, Fiona is the costume designer, who has the final say on colours, fabrics, and all design details. Marie is the wardrobe supervisor or workroom manager, who checks/arranges schedules with the makers to make sure the work is finished on time. Hayley and Becky are design assistants, responsible for sourcing costumes and props that aren't being made, breaking these down and fitting. They are also bringing notes from rehearsals and building the show bible.
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Holt, M., (1988). Costume and Make-up. London: Phaidon.

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