The Props (short for properties) department is made up of a very special team of people, with some unusual properties of their own !  Their job is to gather together, find, make, borrow or steal, all of the items which are used on stage by the performers. Things such as glasses and crockery, suitcases and bags, food etc etc. Items actually carrried by the performers such as spectacles and pocket watches are known as 'personal props'. We have a good collection of  items in the Props Room, but occasionally there is a requirement for something obscure. This is where the special talents come in handy ...

   When a member of the Props Team visits other peoples' homes, part of the visit involves mentally cataloguing every potentially useful item they can see !  They also have the ability to establish good relationships with local shops, and are able to borrow almost anything. The end result is that they are never stumped by any request, no matter how obscure, rare or precious the item.

   Anything which cannot be found by these means might have to be made, and so craft skills are a valuable attribute.

   During the run of the show, organising ability comes to the fore, the Team ensuring that the right items are in the right place and at the right time. Often there will be a small Team for a busy show such as the Pantomime, and secondary tasks like organising the sweets backstage, (and the parties !) are readily taken under their wing.

   If you enjoy a good team spirit and are organised or good at finding or making things, then Props is a very good place to start a theatrical hobby.