School Theatre Support Group
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Unfortunately, our next conference will not be going ahead, which was due to be held on Saturday 12th February 2022 at The King's School in Canterbury.
As yet, we have not made any firm decisions on a substitute event. This may be another Virtual Conference in February, or perhaps a postponed conference in Summer Half Term 2022.
We will announce further details in due course.
The latest version of the PS Award is available for members to download from our shared drive via the Member Portal , ready for use in the coming term. This includes the new Unit 9 for Front-of-House / Production. Certificates are available to download for Bronze and Silver levels.
Details for the ABTT Gold Awardees and the resource guides are to follow as soon as possible.
As part of the ABTT Virtual Theatre Show in June 2021, we presented an introduction to the STSG.
You can view the recording below, to find out about how we can support you, our conference and the STSG Performance Support Award. Plus we chatted about technical production and venue management issues in schools.
2020 began as normal for STSG with our Annual Conference at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. As the UK braced itself for the arrival of Storm Dennis, we met for a packed day of workshops, seminars, break-out sessions and exhibitors, finishing with a splendid dinner at Ampleforth's on-site pub, The Windmill. (Photos )
Unfortunately back in February 2020, none of us could have predicted the impending severity of the emerging coronavirus situation, despite one delegate missing the conference at the last-minute with suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
By the end of March, we had to cancel our planned committee meeting and postpone the fully-booked 'IOSH' training course. However, for the most part, the STSG continued as a remote organisation - for the support and benefit of our members, as well as disseminating important advice and updates from the ABTT and other industry bodies. Some of us also attended the excellent webinars provided by the ABTT (see ABTT website for resources).
It was an uncertain time for us all, with schools closed for the rest of the academic year, moving to virtual teaching, no productions, and no clarity about schools opening again in September. We were sorry to hear of some members being made redundant. We created a Members' Survey as planning for Autumn Term productions commenced - which indicated a wide variety of responses to the pandemic, from the complete shutdown of Performing Arts, to near-normal plans for shows before Christmas. We quickly created a Shared Drive of COVID resources, with some members sharing their work on risk assessments and working policies.
Towards the end of the first lockdown period we began regular/weekly STSG Virtual Meets, which allowed members to share their thoughts and concerns, as well as simply being able to talk to others in the same situation. We continued to host several themed Virtual Meets during the Autumn Term 2020; the most popular of which was a session on Live Streaming - as many of us had to quickly become filming/editing/streaming experts as live performances were substituted by filmed events.
Plans for further STSG training courses had to be put on hold, including a repeat of the popular Props Making Workshop last held in September 2019 (Photos ). However, we were finally able to undertake the postponed 'IOSH Working Safely for Theatre' training course in October 2020, albeit virtually. Other excellent Virtual Courses were provided for members during 2020-21 covering 'COVID-19 Compliance', 'COVID-19 First Aid Top-up' and 'Working at Height', at the request of members.
The culmination of our remote planning was a Virtual Conference in February 2021, which was well supported by members and our industry friends, including the first-ever STSG Pub Quiz after the event. A full report can be found on our Conference page.
The STSG isn't able to be as proactive about supporting members as the larger organisations, but please be aware of the support which is available - whether that be within school, a union, the ABTT, friends, family or another source. The industry-run Theatre Helpline is as much for those working in school theatres/drama departments as it is for mainstream theatre. It is free and available 24/7 on 0800 915 4617 or advice@theatrehelpline.org
@SchoolTheatreUK
We are supported by RB Health & Safety Solutions who provide essential Health & Safety services to STSG members, including free email consultancy, plus discounts on audits and training.
STSG also runs training courses for members, including IOSH 'Working Safely for Theatre' (every 3 years). If you would like to host a training course, or have specific training needs, please contact us.
Members can find details of STSG services on the Member Home Page.
ABTT's Bronze, Silver and Gold professional development awards for technicians are available every summer in Coventry and elsewhere in the country at other times.
Please visit the ABTT website for details of the next available courses.
Since June 2014 the STSG is affiliated as a committee of the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), giving us wider recognition as an organisation and also raising awareness of theatre work within schools.
We are continuing to operate independently with our own Constitution and Committee, but we will be adhering to the principles and objectives of the ABTT.
We are represented on the ABTT Council by Alexander Cann (former STSG member).
STSG membership is separate to ABTT membership, although from January 2020 eligible ABTT members can join STSG for free. For each member enrolled in this way, the ABTT will contribute a subsidy to the STSG at no extra cost to the member.