NT : Go Backstage : Departmental Glossary
Departments A to C
Articles published in our programmes, that look at a backstage area in greater length, are published in Departmental Profiles.
The Access department work with the entire organisation to endorse a positive outlook towards social inclusion for visitors, staff and other working partnerships, with the aim of making a visit to the NT as easy and enjoyable as possible. Access arrange audio described performances and touch tours for blind and visually impaired people; sign language interpreted and captioned performances for deaf and partially hearing people, and other services for disabled visitors.
See Access in discover: Making Theatre
The Archive holds the administrative and technical records of the National Theatre from the company's inception in 1963 to the present, including production photographs and stage management 'bibles' for each production. Archive staff conduct cataloguing and preservation work, direct the records management policy for the NT, provide a public enquiry service, offer a picture-loan service to publishers and run the Archive research room. The archive catalogue and performance database are on the website (see Archive), as well as articles about the National's history, images from the collection and a Document of the Week feature, designed to stimulate research interest in the collection:
Document of the Week
The Board is the governing body of the National, which is a company and a charity. Board members, all unpaid, are responsible for controlling the management and administration of the National, which is carried out by the Executive. The full Board meets at least six times a year and there are also various Board committees. The Company Secretary is responsible to the Board for compliance with charity and company law and provides administrative support to the Chairman, the Board and its committees. NT Board has a full list of current Board members.
The Bookshop stocks texts of all the published plays in the National's repertoire, identifies forthcoming titles, maintains stock levels and selects non-theatre titles as background to the National's productions. The buyers' predictive work helps publishers to set print-runs for new titles and reprints, and to fill gaps in the market. The merchandise buyer originates generic and show-related NT gift ideas. Booksellers handle a range of enquiries, liaising with customers in the shop, by phone, e-mail and fax, and worldwide mail order. All staff deliver a high level of customer service, impart knowledge, and ensure that displays are complete and stock is where customers would expect to find it. See Bookshop
The Box Office is usually the first contact that the public has with the National Theatre, and the staff provide information, guidance and advice to our diverse audience. Selling nearly a million tickets a year, the Box Office is responsible for the ticketing of all of the National's productions, Platforms and Education events. Box Office details. See Box Office in discover: Making Theatre
The Casting department work with Nicholas Hytner and directors of individual productions to cast actors for each production. Some of these come from the existing company of approximately 100; others are employed from outside, as the Company reflects the constantly changing repertory of plays at the National. The department see actors' work in other theatres and work closely with agents and drama schools. See Casting in discover: Making Theatre
The in-house Catering department at the National provide everything from a cup of tea to a fully-themed banquet arranged by a team of specialist event planners. The department manage two waiter service restaurants - the Circle Cafe, Terrace Cafe and Mezzanine - as well as the Espresso Bar, the Lyttelton Buffet, and bars throughout the theatre offering a pre-show, interval and post-performance service of food and drink. They also provide for catering needs backstage, by operating a daily restaurant and bar service in the Blue Room and Green Room for theatre staff and Company members, and by meeting other hospitality requirements, such as refreshments for internal functions and meetings. See Catering in discover: Making Theatre
Company Administration. The Company Manager is responsible for the allocation of the actors' dressing rooms and assists with the general welfare of the Acting Company. The Company and Contracts Administrator manages all aspects of personnel work relating to the Acting Company; co-ordinates the annual Equity negotiations for actors; negotiates and issues contracts for directors, staff directors and specialists including choreographers, fight directors and voice coaches; negotiates terms of US/UK Equity Exchange Agreements when necessary, secures work permits for foreign artists, and makes travel and accommodation arrangements for visiting artists and companies. The Head of Voice is voice coach to the Acting Company and is responsible for any other voice and dialect practitioners who work with the Acting Company.
Costumes come to life via a chain of expert in-house craftmanship and, once made, emerge from the daily rigours of performance and powerful lighting ready for the next performance, thanks to the care of a maintenance team. Costume Production support the costume designer of each production to transfer their designs to the stage. They source, locate, buy, dye and treat fabrics; construct, fit and alter contemporary and period costumes, and devise and make accessories and costume props. The team also ensure that costumes are historically accurate and sufficiently broken down to appear realistic on stage.
Once a production is on stage, Maintenance Wardrobe is responsible for maintenance, cleaning and repair, and for ensuring that each costume is ready for every performance. The staff are responsible for managing smooth costume changes during performances. They ensure that the costumes remain as the designer intended throughout a production's run at the National, and assess the need for replacements.
See Costume in discover: Making Theatre
Wigs & Make-Up offer the same services as Costume Production and Maintenance Wardrobe, producing and maintaining all wigs, hairpieces, facial hair, wig props, hairdressing (contemporary and period), make-up and blood effects for all productions. They recycle stock for future use by the NT and for hire. See Wigs in discover: Making Theatre
After a production ends, the Hire Department store costumes and accessories, which may be used for future productions. By maintaining a database of stock, they monitor levels and demand for different periods and styles. The department administer hires to individuals, amateur and professional theatre and film companies, and schools and colleges, providing good quality costumes and props at an affordable price. The stock also provides a valuable visual resource for all, from students to professional costume designers.