Every two years at York Theatre Royal hundreds of volunteers sign up to take part in our large-scale community productions. The productions, alongside offering an impressive theatrical experience have community at their heart and many of our volunteers have taken part for several years.
We caught up with one of our costume and props volunteers, Jenny Geddes about her experience working on York Theatre Royal Community productions and why she keeps coming back for more.
Jenny’s history with York Theatre Royal community productions started back in 2013, when as an audience member at Blood and Chocolate Jenny thought “I’d love to be part of something like that.” Twelve years later and Jenny has volunteered for every community production ever since.
This year’s production of His Last Report proved particularly meaningful to Jenny, who having thought she was getting too old to volunteer decided to apply at the last minute. “I thought about my parents at Rowntree’s and the company’s effect on the city and my love and interest in its history. All those connections, I wanted to tell that story.”
Jenny’s parents met at Rowntree’s and Jenny reflects fondly on the impact of Rowntree’s on her family and on the city. “The biggest thing I miss, which you don’t get now, is the smell. The whole city smelt of chocolate.” Jenny explained how the aromas of chocolate, sugar and sweet fruit, presumably from the jellies and pastilles filled the air and could be smelt on your clothes.
Whilst making a white cap for a cast member of His Last Report Jenny was again reminded of the impact Rowntree’s had on her life. “It was the fabric, I thought, I know this fabric. My father wore what looks like a lab coat, it was washed at home every week and I remember ironing them and it was this feel of a fabric that I hadn’t felt for such a long time.”
It’s not just the history involved in our community productions that keeps Jenny coming back for more though, volunteers can expect to develop skills, make new friends and feel part of something special. “It’s being involved. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s very good to get to know lots of other people from different backgrounds. You’re learning all the time, and you learn how to make things for the stage.”
This year’s production covers three different time periods, so our 86 costume volunteers are busy working on the thousands of items needed to dress the 105 cast members. York, as Jenny says “has a reputation as the place to go for community productions. The response is unmatched.”
The sheer scale of the production is impressive, but Jenny also talks about how the story itself should have a lasting impact “It’s dealing with subjects that are still relevant today. The Rowntree’s always said that education is the way out and audiences will leave with a better understanding of people who are in bad circumstances.”
If you would like to play your part in the behind the scenes magic of His Last Report applications are currently open to volunteer across props, hair and makeup, technical and stage management. More information on the roles and deadlines for applying can be found here.
His Last Report is at York Theatre Royal from the 19 July – 03 August.
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