About Us
Founded in 1943, we are the only amateur theatre group in North East Lincolnshire who own and run our own theatre, The Caxton Theatre and Arts Centre, 128 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby. We are a registered charity and rely totally on the support of members of the society in creating each production, whether that is on stage, back stage, building sets, lighting and sound, Front of House, selling refreshments and programmes or bar work. There are therefore many opportunities for members to get involved. You do not need to be an actor or even want to act. Many of our members are happy to just work behind the scenes. All that we ask for is your time and enthusiasm to help in whatever way you can.
Membership Types
There are various types of membership, as follows:
Active Adult Member – for those aged 18 and over, who want to be fully involved in the society. You must be an active member to act on stage, work back stage or be involved in lighting and sound. Active membership has a concessionary rate for students aged 18-24; the unemployed and Senior Citizens.
Associate Member – for those who just want to help with bar work, refreshments, Front of House duties and fundraising. Membership is required for insurance purposes.
Youth Theatre Member – for those under age 18. We have a separate Youth Theatre who meet every Saturday morning in Burnetts, next door to the theatre in Strand Street. Membership is limited to 40, so there is sometimes a waiting list. Youth Theatre members do perform in main-house productions, but also perform in their own productions both on the main stage and in the Novartis Suite.
Whichever membership you choose, you will join a society with a long and productive history.
Performances
Our auditorium seats 184 and we normally produce eight main-house productions per year in it. These productions last for seven performances – Saturday to Saturday (excluding Sunday), and are produced every six to seven weeks. (For 2010 there will only be six main house productions.)
Performance Production
A reading of the play normally takes place 14-16 weeks before opening night, where normally anyone can come along and listen to the play being read by current members. At the end of the reading, audition pieces are available to take away to prepare for the auditions, which take place a few nights later.
Auditions take place in front of a casting panel of three directors, one of which will be the director of the play concerned.
Rehearsal periods last about 12-13 weeks before opening night. The number of rehearsals you will be required to attend depends on the size of the part you have. The director will draw up a rehearsal schedule at the beginning so you will know when you are required.
As we always have at least two plays in production at any one time, the first period of rehearsals take place in our rehearsal rooms (Burnetts) next door to the theatre in Strand Street. Then immediately after the preceding play finishes rehearsals move to the actual stage until opening night.
We also put on smaller productions, normally for two or three nights, in the bar area – the Novartis Suite. Rehearsals for these productions vary, depending on the director and cast involved. There is not normally any reading or auditions for these productions.
We hope the above information gives you a taste of our society.
Getting Involved
If you would like to join us please complete an application form, which is available on the Get Involved page, and return it along with your membership fee. Full details of fees and where to send them are on the form. We do ask on the form if you are willing to be CRB checked, if necessary. This is in case, as an adult, you wish to be involved with the Youth Theatre.