My role in red velvet theatre - production manager

Production Manager

key responsibilities:  

• ‘Works with the Theatre Manager and Management Team to support the day-to-day operation of the ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom, including the Bar, Box Office, sundries sales, equipment hire business, and general administration’ - adctheatre
• ensures safety in the theatre. Making sure work is safe environment
• First point of contact for all productions, meets incoming producer,offers practical guide at each stage of processes.
• carries out bulk of production training
• liaison between cast crew and director
• extensive notes on directors vision
• organise rehearsals and meetings.
• respectfully treat people
• make important decisions regarding casting, costuming, lighting, and other aspects of theatre productions.
• create rehearsal schedules for actors and crew, maintain all contact information, and set up any additional meetings for the cast and production staff.
• Keeping the stage and backstage areas organized is an essential task of theatre production managers. Not only must these areas be swept clear prior to rehearsal, they must be cleaned after each day's work. Some theatres provide production managers with a cleaning crew, but this varies based on the theatre's size and budget.
• Production managers keep accurate blocking notes regarding the position of the actors and props throughout every scene.
• multi-faceted experience in theatre as well as experience managing or organising staff.
• Budgeting

In summary a production manager must be able to forecast the needs of the production , in order therefore to achieve the production targets. They must do this in an efficient way utilising available sources of production. Importantly a production manager must be very competent with budgeting so that costs are minimised in places which are less important and also costs have effective material handling.

A production manager must also be a good leader of there team , therefor keeping up motivation and being a port of call if someone is unsure or struggling in an area.