Amateur Theatre Judge
Arts Richmond
SWAN Judge
Arts Richmond is the proud organiser of the SWAN Awards for amateur Drama and Musicals, Richmond’s very own Oscars. We are seeking new judges to join a dynamic panel of volunteers who collectively assess around 45 productions per year. All productions are within the borough of Richmond. Each judge is expected to attend at least 25 productions in a season and be available for the 12 panel meetings which are held during the day. We particularly welcome interest from minority and marginalised groups who may currently feel underrepresented on the Richmond arts scene. If you have an interest and some experience in theatre arts, we would welcome your expression of interest. Applicants should have experience of theatre and a knowledge of the dramatic and/or musical theatre repertoire, as well as being prepared to attend 30 to 35 productions in the Richmond Borough between September 2025 and July 2026. Judges meet approximately every six weeks to debate the shows and agree on a long list of award nominees. A further meeting in July reduces this to the short list of nominations which are then announced, and the panel meets once more to agree the winners for each category. Judges are expected to keep a ‘paper trail’ of their thoughts and decisions to aid the creation of both the long and short lists. No judge can have any input in assessing a production in which they have been actively involved. Benefits of being a Swan Judge include receiving two free tickets for all the shows assessed, spending time with like-minded theatre lovers, and helping to support and reward excellent local theatre in the Borough! If you are interested in becoming a Swan Judge, or would like to know more about what’s involved, then please email Linda Hansell at info@artsrichmond.org.uk or phone 020 8892 9446.
Entertainment
Negotiating, Organising & Planning, Reading & Writing
Arts Richmond Judge for Swan Awards for Drama & Musicals – Specification Arts Richmond is pleased to announce that it is looking to refresh the Judging Panel for the Swan Awards for Drama & Musicals for the 2025/26 season. The Judging Panel currently consists of six people, divided into two groups, one of which assesses Drama and the other Musical Theatre, Pantos and Youth Productions. The next season will run from September 2025 to July 2026, during which the Judges will assess all productions entered for the Swan Awards by drama and musical theatre societies in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The Awards recognise excellence in all elements, including acting, design and overall production. • Experience of theatre and a knowledge of the dramatic and / or musical theatre repertoire are essential. • Judges should also be prepared to attend around 30 to 35 productions between September 2025 and July 2026, assuming that the panel remains six people. It is possible, should we receive a sufficient level of interest, that we might slightly increase the size of the panel, meaning each judge assesses slightly fewer productions. However, the aim is that all productions will be assessed by three Judges, who will receive a minimum of one month’s notice of the showdates. • Judges will be expected to create and keep a ‘paper trail’ noting their views and observations on the productions assessed, to support the panel’s discussions and decisions on award nominees and winners. • Judges meet approximately every six weeks, usually during the daytime, to debate which productions, performances and technical elements are worthy of nomination for a Swan Award. They should also be able to communicate between meetings via email and Zoom, if necessary. During the year, the panel thus creates a ‘long list’ of nominees, out of which, at the end of the year, a ‘short list’ is agreed, which is announced at the end of July, with nominees receiving certificates at an event in early August. The panel then meets once more in August to decide upon the winner of each award and to write a citation for each winner. Judges therefore need to be available for at least some of July and August in order to meet to agree the ‘short list’ and the final winners. The latter are announced at an annual event in mid-September. Judges are invited to both the nominees event and the final awards party. • Judges cannot have any input in assessing a production in which they have been actively involved. Although appointed by Arts Richmond, Judges should retain total independence from both Arts Richmond and any affiliated drama or musical theatre society, and must also keep all discussions confidential and any decisions on the short list and winners likewise until they are formally announced. Benefits of being a Swan Judge include: • receiving two free tickets and programmes for a large number, and wide range, of local theatre productions; • spending time with like-minded lovers of theatre; • actively supporting and rewarding excellent theatre in the Borough. Arts Richmond welcomes applications of interest by 19th May 2023. Please contact Linda Hansell at info@artsrichmond.org.uk to express your interest or if you require further information. Arts Richmond’s Drama Committee will then invite all applicants for an informal interview, with the aim of confirming the new Judges for the 2025/26 Swan Awards season by mid-December
Free theatre tickets all year round to local theatre and looks good on your CV
Approx 30 productions per year
TW1 2AR
C/O Arts Richmond
N/A
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