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The Role of the Specialists - The Producer

© Marilyn Cameron

In our article, Giving Good Directions, we looked at the benefits of introducing our community drama groups to basic stage directions and theatre terms, in order to make it easier for them and visiting practitioners to work together.

In addition to this, it helps if they are given the opportunity for workshops about some important roles in the theatre, especially since one or two of your drama group members may wish to have the chance of taking on those roles at production times. These are, the roles of the specialists who are not performing.

Many community theatres employ a full time Director and/or Producer who supervises all productions. Many of them are run by volunteers. Sometimes, a Director is paid for each production, and fees are paid to other specialists such as the Designer or Stage Manager.

Whether they are paid or not, and, whether they are coming to work with you, or you are going to them, it is important that everyone in the company is aware of the roles and responsibilities of the specialists they may meet when involved in a production, to ensure a professionally produced performance.

So let's begin where the process of staging a theatrical production begins, with the Producer.

The Producer has overall responsibility for the whole production. The Producer may be an individual, a group of individuals, or even a theatre company. The main roles of responsibility for the Producer may include acquiring the script, raising the money to finance the production, obtaining a theatre or performance space, assembling a creative production tea, and, keeping financial records.

Acquiring the script.

For most theatrical productions, acquiring a playwright's script is the startin point. A Producer who is interested in a new script may take an option on it. This gives the Producer exclusive production rights to the play for a certain period of time. A contract specifies the amount of the author's royalty, (share of the profits), the extent of the Producer's control over the play, and whether or not the playwright is required to be available for consultation and rewriting during the rehearsal period.

Raising required finances.

This is the Producer's most difficult job. Due to the high costs of putting on a theatrical production, few individuals can invest the whole of the required money, and so most Producers will seek funds from many people, groups, or companies/corporations.

Obtaining a theatre or performance space.

If a company has its' own theatre of course this may not be necessary, but if not, it is up to the Producer to find a suitable space for both the performances and rehearsals.

The copyright of the article The Role of the Specialists - The Producer in Drama Workshops is owned by Marilyn Cameron. Permission to republish The Role of the Specialists - The Producer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.