The thought probably never occurred to me that theatre productions would involve volunteerism, given that the very idea of “volunteering” evokes mental images of people physically straining themselves to serve disadvantaged or underprivileged groups and which very likely involves confronting and overcoming personal comfort zones, to learn and appreciate differences. Helping out in this activity definitely awoke me to the myriad of worthwhile social causes that aren’t restricted to what I had previously perceived!
A sharing session with Toy Factory’s Arts Manager, Larry, gave us a better idea of the challenges faced in producing performances like ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ - from securing funding, to marketing and advertising campaigns, to scripting and casting. Resources in the local industry did appear really stretched. At first, I didn’t think much of what I was asked to do as the tasks seemed rather simple and ordinary. It wasn’t as if I was performing any special function. However as I listened, I realised that every bit of help I offered or any little good that I could do, really would make a difference. And with the many others involved in this type of volunteering activity, together we would significantly contribute to the national arts scene in Singapore.
Convinced by the importance of our role, we enthusiastically set out as ambassadors sharing these seeds of knowledge with the patrons and collecting donations to the cause. The response to our efforts was overwhelming! Being involved in the front of house operations also allowed us to see things from a behind-the-scenes perspective, from organising the set-up of the registration and promotion counters, to distributing flyers and programme booklets. It was enjoyable supporting this cause, where a big dose of passion keeps things chugging along. And I’m certainly looking forward to other interesting, ‘non-traditional’ volunteering opportunities!