Can you spare us some time?
Whether you see yourself in a front of house role – helping our audiences have the best experience possible – or creating the magic backstage, we’re always looking for new team members to get involved.
Why Volunteer with us?
Did you know that Taunton Brewhouse is a registered charity? By volunteering with us, you’ll be contributing to our ability to deliver exciting live events, cinema screenings and contemporary art to the county town of Somerset, as well as supporting local artists and creatives.
It’s not all work and no play! It’s a chance to socialise and meet new and interesting people both while on shift, and at the two social events per year to celebrate all that we’ve achieved together.
As a thank you for your support, we offer all volunteers complimentary and/or discounted tickets to select events, a complimentary soft or hot drink when you are on shift, a discount on food and drinks in our Bar and Café, and invitations to training events.
It’s also fun! You’ll be part of a small, dedicated team working on events that you’re passionate about, supporting our staff to ensure that the show goes on, and contributing to the success of the arts in Taunton.
What do our Volunteers Do?
FRONT OF HOUSE (FOH) USHER
WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECRUITING NEW FRONT OF HOUSE VOLUNTEERS.
Front of House is often an overlooked area of a production, but as a public facing member of the team, our Ushers are an important element in encouraging audiences to return to the theatre again and again.
Friendly and enthusiastic, our FOH Ushers work as a team to look after our visitors from the first ‘hello’ to the last ‘goodbye’. They have excellent communication skills and are able to communicate information clearly to our audiences.
We have between 1 and 4 Ushers on duty for every event (dependant on audience figures) whose job is to watch the audience during the performance and ensure that every audience member is having a safe, but enjoyable, experience.
Shifts are primarily during evenings and weekends, though some daytime shifts are available, event permitting.
Responsibilities
- Answering audience queries about the show, including run times, content warnings, and ensuring that any complex visitor related queries are dealt with in a professional manner and escalated to the Duty Manager where necessary.
- Checking tickets and ensuring the audience is safely seated.
- Assisting patrons with access requirements to and from their seats, if needed.
- Looking after the safety and wellbeing of our audiences during a performance by enforcing venue performance rules where required, e.g., no photography and filming, directing latecomers to their seats, asking audience members to sit down etc.
- Acting as an evacuation marshal in the event of a fire alarm (full briefing provided at the start of every shift).
- Selling interval ice creams or merchandise on behalf of visiting companies.
- Operating the supplementary confectionary and refreshment sales points during busy shows (Kiosk/Servery), including processing sales accurately and restocking products.
- Keeping the foyer areas clean and tidy by collecting and washing reusable glasses.
- Helping promote upcoming events at Taunton Brewhouse.
BAR PERSON
As one of the main income generating areas of the business, Bar volunteers are an important element in ensuring the success of the business.
Polite and efficient, our Bar volunteers are calm under pressure, and work in a small team of 1-3 people to serve drinks and snacks to our customers pre-show and during the interval.
A perk of the role – once the interval has finished, and the bar has been restocked and cleaned, our Bar volunteers have the opportunity to leave before the show has finished, making this the perfect role for those who don’t like late nights, and anyone wanting to learn a new skill.
Shifts are primarily during evenings and weekends, though some daytime shifts are available, event permitting.
Responsibilities
- Serving a range of snacks, hot, soft and alcoholic drinks to customers.
- Restocking the product displays and fridges to ensure all products are visible and tidy.
- Processing till sales accurately.
- Checking customers identification and age verification, where needed, implementing the Challenge 25 retail strategy (see the Volunteer Training Manual for more information).
- Collecting and preparing interval drink orders, ensuring orders are accurate and well-presented.
TECHNICAL / MAINTENANCE
The unseen heroes of the theatre world, our Technical volunteers work backstage to support the shows from behind the spotlight.
Meticulous and multi-skilled, our Technical volunteers work together to make sure visiting companies are settled in the venue, and that the shows go up on time. If maintenance is your thing, then there are always odd jobs to do around the venue, from repair work to painting and decorating, and gardening.
General skills in DIY, repair work and construction are useful for this role, but if you’re interested in learning how to operate a sound or lighting desk, then all training will be provided.
Shifts are primarily during evenings and weekends, though some daytime shifts are available, event permitting. All maintenance and exhibition hanging shifts take place during the daytime.
Responsibilities
- Working with the team of technicians to ensure the smooth running of performances.
- Assisting with pre-rigs and get outs.
- Operating the sound and lighting desks during performances.
- Exhibition-hanging in the gallery.
- Set building in the scene dock.
- Helping with general building maintenance to ensure all areas of the building are well-lit and presentable.
MARKETING / PRINT DISTRIBUTION
We wouldn’t have any audience if people don’t know about the shows we put on.
Outgoing and knowledgeable, our Marketing volunteers help distribute our brochures and flyers to venues in the local area, ensuring that more people gain awareness about the fantastic events taking place at Taunton Brewhouse.
If you’d like a role that involves travel and interacting with people at well-known local community events, then this role is perfect for you.
Shifts in the building, or at community events, take place during daytime hours. Distribution shifts take place at your own leisure.
Responsibilities
- Helping to raise awareness of our exciting events programme.
- Delivering leaflets and brochures to shops, businesses, and community groups in your local area – all at your own pace.
- Assisting with local community events, such as Taunton Flower Show, Taunton Pride, Taunton Carnival, and many more to promote Taunton Brewhouse’s activities – as well as free admission to most of these events!
More information
If you’re looking for something new to do and would like to learn new skills in the process, please get in touch.
For further details and to arrange an induction, please email [email protected] or call 01823 283244.
We look forward to meeting you!