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Karen Sims | Image by Richard Batson

New Champion Helps Theatre Volunteers Campaign

Retired teacher and retail manager Karen Sims has been helping at Sheringham Little Theatre for four years – tackling a range of tasks from welcoming people “front of house” to serving in the Hub café bar.

She has now been named the theatre’s volunteer champion as it launches a drive to find more people just like her who can give a few hours of their week to carry out vital roles.

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “We simply could not operate our theatre without the manpower of our army of helpers – but we need more of them.

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“There are roles for people of all backgrounds and skills from practical hands-on tasks such as set building and costumes, to behind the scenes administration support including fundraising and publicity.

“These are challenging times when we are operating with a small staff, so the volunteers are becoming increasingly important in how we operate. But it also gives them a new ‘family’ of friends, and a genuine insight into how a community theatre is run.”

Volunteer roles include: ushering and door stewarding, odd jobbers, set painters, costume assistants, publicity people, and helpers in the Hub café and box office.

Karen says she finds volunteering very rewarding, adding: “It is putting something back into the community, and I love working as part of team. During Covid I enjoyed taking on more roles to help the theatre out.”

Karen in some of her volunteering roles

She had a twenty-year career as a teacher in the Norwich area, having earlier spent ten years in management at Marks and Spencer. Before she retired to Sheringham she was a regular visitor to the theatre, so was keen to get involved once she was on its doorstep.

“People are my passion and I love getting to know the customers who come into the theatre,” said Karen, who is looking forward to her new role at the arts venue where she says “there is a real sense of community” and where she would like to encourage more people to enjoy being part of the volunteer team.

People interested in volunteering at the Little Theatre can drop in for a chat, email debbie@sheringhamlittletheatre.com or call 01263 822 347.


 

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