At Walterdale, we are all members and volunteers.  Everyone is considered equal within this structure; however, we do have different roles and responsibilities and by respecting each other, we can make theatre in a safe, productive environment.

Walterdale is proud to be a community theatre and welcomes members of all experience levels.  Stepping into your first production can be a daunting experience as there are many unwritten rules and etiquettes followed in theatre.

To help new members acclimatize, and to refresh the memory of experience members, below are some best practices for communication and demonstration of respect for the process in our theatre:

1. Show respect to everyone you work with, regardless of your positions in or out of the production.  The theatre is an environment full of passion and sometimes this passion gets misdirected.  If you experience communication challenges, please feel free to speak with your Director, Stage Manager, Production Manager, or Walterdale’s Artistic Director.
2. Treat your costumes, props, set and the theatre as a whole with respect.  This includes respecting the costumes or props of others by not moving or touching them.
3. Clean up any mess you make.  This includes washing your own dishes, throwing out your own garbage, and properly storing any food you have at the theatre.  This last item is especially important, as we have had issues with rodents in the building.  Any food left out will not only get contaminated but will encourage any mice to stay.
4. During rehearsal and performance, remain quiet while backstage, in the lobby, or upstairs.  Walterdale was not originally built to be a theatre; therefore, the building lacks adequate soundproofing.  As the ceiling is quite thin, while upstairs you must be mindful of loud talking, moving chairs, or walking with hard-soled shoes.  You also can’t flush the toilet or run water during the performance because water pipes run through the house and the audience will hear the sound of rushing water.
5. The show must go on; please bear this in mind.  Any time anyone has to miss part of the production, it can affect dozens of others.  If an extreme circumstance arises, preventing you from attending any part of the production process, speak with your Stage Manager as soon as possible.
6. Take all notes the Director (or Stage Manager) gives you.  If you don’t understand the note, arrange to speak with the Director after everyone else has gone.  If you don’t trust the note, try it anyway.  Remember, the Director can see issues you can’t while you are in the middle of the process and it is not in the Director’s interest to give you a bad note.  One of the most important elements of creating theatre is trust.
7. If you are not the Director, do not give notes to any actor.  If you are not the Director or Stage Manager, do not give notes to any member of the technical crew.  It’s encouraged to do things such as confer strategies with others to understand the play better, discuss subtext, and sometimes brainstorm as a team to solve issues, but not to suggest to another actor or crew member how to perform their role or duties.  If there is something you have concerns about, bring it up to the Director.
8. If you accept a role within a production, whether as an actor or crewmember, honour that commitment.  This means staying with the show for the entire length of the production until the set is struck after Closing Night.  This also means performing your duties to the best of your abilities; including things like learning your lines on time, being punctual, completing tasks on time, and keeping any negativity to yourself.
9. Maintain proper hygiene.  We work in close quarters with many other production members.  Washing yourself, brushing your teeth, using deodorant and/or antiperspirant, and wearing clean clothes are all ways to keep the experience enjoyable for everyone.
10. Don’t be late.  Whether it is a rehearsal, a meeting, or a performance, being late tells everyone else that you do not respect them.  Arrive on time and be ready to work.  If you need to warm-up or prepare beforehand, come early.