Volunteers

Volunteer support has always been vital to the success of the company.

Volunteers play a crucial role in all that we do at Blue Apple. From helping our members with their lines on and off stage to providing a friendly face or listening ear at group rehearsals.

We are greatly indebted to Blue Apple volunteers who help us deliver over 400 drama and dance workshops a year with over 125 participants, in addition to two professional theatre shows each year and touring productions.

Above, volunteer Michelle Pluck backstage in Blue Apple’s The Railway Children in 2020

Michelle supports our Monday and Wednesday Drama Companies.

Volunteer profiles

Mary Richards

What is your volunteer role at Blue Apple and what does it involve?

“I assist with the Monday drama group, which presently is still on Zoom and consists of reading lines for our forth coming production of Frankenstein. The volunteers read with the students assisting them in how to portray their lines. We discuss the meaning of their lines and how they fit within the context of the complete play.”

What first attracted you to getting involved with Blue Apple?

“I have known about Blue Apple for many years and when I watched The Railway Children I was very impressed by how each cast member was able to have a part in the production, however small. It was a totally inclusive production. I’m retired and wanted to get involved with a group that enriched adults with learning issues and Blue Apple filled this role.”

What does it bring into your own life?

“Being a widow I find that helping out at Blue Apple gives me a sense of purpose again and the students certainly do enrich my Monday evenings.”

What would you say to encourage someone who has never been a volunteer before?

“Don’t make excuses for not volunteering - you will be amazed at how satisfying and rewarding it is.”

Chris Pearce

Chris Pearce has been a regular volunteer for 10 years with the Main Company in Winchester, and he has also supported individual projects that have taken Blue Apple Core much further afield -including to the USA in April 2018.

My background is in care work and volunteering, working with people of all ages and abilities. This has included: Over The Wall, a charity providing life-changing activity camps for children, teenagers and families living with serious health challenges; Osborne School for pupils with learning disabilities; the Jumbulance Travel Trust, which organises holidays for adults with disabilitie; KIDS SNAPS, a charity that ran various activity schemes for children and young adults with learning disabilities; the Winchester Night Shelter; and working as a Day Opportunity Facilitator at the Romsey and Waterside Day Services, supporting adults with learning disabilities through a variety of independence-building activities.

Having joined Blue Apple ten years ago in a supporting capacity, I believe that my diversity of experience has better enabled me to collaborate with the Blue Apple cast and assist in the development of their confidence, as individuals and as performers. I have been able to provide my support during rehearsals, on tour and backstage. Meanwhile on stage, as I have become more involved as a performer, the cast have certainly carried me through productions, with their vital professionalism, eager confidence and dynamic stage presence.  

During the past decade I have witnessed Blue Apple grow as a professional company, along with the stunning theatrical capabilities of the cast and their ability to produce inspiring performances. My proud involvement with the company has become a very important part of my life, adding purpose and achievement to my week, as I believe it does for all the cast members. To me, Blue Apple is a tribute to believing in people’s ability to achieve anything we put our minds to.

Chisato Inoue

Chisato is currently supporting our Young Company for Performing Arts.

“I did ballet for 15 years, at Ayumi Ballet School, at Aki Ballet Studio and at NIC International College in Japan. I have had various experiences including stage ballet, musicals, and back dancer. I wanted to be a ballet dancer, but I changed my course when I was 18 years old. Now, I am studying Theatre Production at the University of Winchester. My goal is to create a show that as many people as possible can see and share my joy of performing arts (dance, singing, and acting).”

“I am going to share my wonderful experience from the Young Company session. This volunteer opportunity is absolutely great for me because I have got professional skills I need for a theatre job such as communication skills, keeping energy, bring fun and joyful feeling through over a year of Blue Apple work. The Young Company children have a lot of energy despite Saturday morning, and they keep having passionate and fun feelings. They keep learning performing arts such as dancing, singing, and acting. I also learn their attitude to learning and their joyful emotion. We do a lot of group work and creative stuff. We have practised dance for two or three weeks, and they have got a lot of choreography ideas every Saturday morning. They also advised each other and discussed their dance. They were absolutely creative and professional. We share a great time on Zoom, but we can feel as if we are in the same space actually. I have a fun time every Saturday morning with them. The children keep learning, but I also keep learning through my wonderful volunteer opportunity.”

Joseph Donellan

Joseph is currently supporting our singing group ‘Blue Apple Singers’.

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Rachel Collins

Rachel supports our Monday Drama Company.

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Sue Dashper

Sue supports our Monday and Wednesday Drama Companies

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Volunteer group assistant role

Some information about what is involved when volunteering as a group assistant with Blue Apple.

Volunteers help support the performers to rehearse in smaller groups once they have been set tasks by the facilitator, to work separately on specific sections of the piece so that they can move things forward faster. The volunteers also join in with full group activities and exercises, help contribute to discussions and provide supportive feedback.

There are also opportunities to support the performers during the shows for those interested in performance themselves, for example help with learning lines, stage positioning and other support.

Drama experience is very useful but is not essential. The volunteer will need a recent DBS check or be prepared to have one undertaken for the role.

To apply, please phone 07510 844480 or email outreach@blueappletheatre.com