What are the advantages of becoming a member?
- By becoming a member you get free access to all our plays (as long as you are paid up).
- You also get member discounts for all our social activities and parties.
- You can act in our productions (if selected by the director at try-outs).
- You can become a member of the Board of Directors and vote at the Annual General Meetings.
- And the best is…you get to be a part of this FUN group!!
Do you prefer American or British accents for actors?
At least for the acting, that depends on whether the play is set in a particular culture. Some plays particularly require either a british or american accent. However, this is usually not the case, so as long as diction is clear, having a british or american (or australian, german, dutch, anglo-argentine etc) accent is not a problem.
The english spoken in Suburban Players is very varied: there are native british speakers, americans, anglo-argentines who speak english at home, argentine nationals who have learned english at school or at an institute, new-zealanders, germans, dutch, australians, etc, and it is a very fluctuating population. Everyone is more than welcome. The mix is part of the fun!
I need rehearsal space. Can I rent your venue?
Suburban Players does (selectively) rent out its space for rehearsals and sometimes other shows. However, this depends exclusively on the type of event proposed and the timing, because we need to ensure that there is no clash with our own club activities.
If you are interested in renting our space, please contact a Board Member with your requirements and once the Board has analyzed the request you will be provided with a quotation and conditions of rental.
Preference is given to rentals requested by members of the Club.
If I become a member, can I write or direct a play?
Yes. We have often produced plays written and/or directed by our members. As a member you have the right to present your project to the Board of Directors, which has the final word on approval. This is usually decided taking into account the suitability of the play for our audiences, budgetary concerns and the dates available during the season. Sometimes, particularly for new directors, the Board requests that the candidate prepare a play-reading first, to gauge acceptance of the play, or directing capacity. Often a new director can be assigned a more experienced mentor to help with the production.
English is not my first language, can I still join?
Certainly. We welcome anyone who enjoys English and/or theatre, cultural events, or just socializing. Members come from different backgrounds. Some are foreigners from English speaking countries, some are Anglo-Argentines who speak English at home, and some learned English at school or at an institute. Everyone is welcome.
To act in a play, you usually need to have a working command of English, unless the play has very small parts or non-speaking roles. The choice of actors is entirely up to the director of each project, who holds auditions prior to selecting. Auditions are open, which means that anyone can participate to try and get a role. However, even if you are not comfortable enough with your English to try out for a part, you can still participate in the plays by assisting backstage, or helping to run lights and sound. That way you get to use your English, be a part of the production and have all the fun without the stress.
Do all members have to act or can I be part of the backstage crew?
No, you do not need to act. If you would like to act, you can attend the try-outs that are held for each individual play, where the director chooses those who fit best for that particular play.
However, we are always keen to welcome anyone who would like to work backstage. There are lots of things to do backstage according to your time availability and preferences.
Some of the positions that are needed backstage are:
- Assistant director – helps to organize rehearsals, coordinates with backstage people, and generally gives the director a hand with the organization of the show.
- Lights – There are several levels here. If you have some experience, you could help to design the lighting plot, or help to set it up. If you have not done lights before, you could also be lighting operator, who runs the lights during the show.
- Sound – One of the jobs of sound is to find, recreate, tape or download the sound effects or music needed during the show and then operate the sound board during performances. If you are technically minded or into computers, this is a good option.
- Props – This is a fun one! You get to beg, borrow, steal or make any movable items needed on the stage. This can vary from borrowing a vase from your mum to making a plate of fake sardines in jelly, or a carnivorous plant that can move.
- Set – This is preparing the stage. i.e., building walls, or finding furniture, or painting backdrops. If you are handy with a screwdriver or a paintbrush, so much the better!
- Costumes – This means taking care that what the actors wear is right for the period and their character. Depending on the type of play, this can be very easy or very difficult. If it is a period piece, it requires getting to know the type of wardrobe people used in those days and then checking through our stores to find something suitable, or else finding somewhere to rent what is needed. In the case of modern plays, it may just be deciding what sort of thing the actor should wear and making sure they get it.
- Backstage crew – you dress all in black and creep around on the dark stage moving things around during the blackouts and provide actors with their props in time for their entrance.
- Front of House – means running the bar, ushering, ticket office, etc. This is good if you do not have much time but can make it mainly for the performances.
Can I get discount tickets?
Our discount ticket policy is determined according to each play. There are usually discounts for Groups of 10 or more, which may be a direct discount for up-front payment or a one-free-ticket per 10 people arrangement.
For individuals, the best way to achieve a discount is by becoming a member. When you are a paid up member to have free access to our productions as many times as you like.
How much does it cost to become a member?
We have a yearly fee for membership payable at the beginning of the year. Deadline for payment is usually our first social event of the year in March. Cost is as follows:
YOUTH (18 -25) $ 600
INDIVIDUAL $ 800
FAMILY $ 1000
Family membership includes all children under 18 years of age. Once they become 18, they must become members as individuals
How can I become a member?
You need to contact a member of the Board of Directors (emails of all Board Members figure on the Board of Directors tab), fill in a membership form, and pay your yearly fee.