Our volunteers, both young and old play a vital role here, welcoming theatre-goers and making sure everyone's visit is relaxed and enjoyable. 

Morgan Ward, at 17 is one of our younger volunteers so we caught up with him to find out about how he got involved and his experiences so far...

So, how did you find out about volunteering here?

I'd seen the scheme advertised on the website and on social and wasn't really thinking about volunteering. Then I came to see a show and thought I'd get involved. I study drama, Welsh and sport so it’s been ideal and it's opened up a lot of opportunities for me.

What’s a typical shift like?

You come in for a briefing. It’s all very relaxed and everyone is really casual. Then you go over the show schedule before heading to your position ready for 'House Open'.

You welcome and greet everybody as they arrive and then once the performance starts, you make sure everything is okay and secure for them. Then at the end, you close the doors and make your way back down.

What shows have you seen so far?

I started during a WNO season so it was mostly opera. I didn’t really think I’d like it, but I’ve actually come to enjoy it a lot more now. I used to only come here to see musicals but I'm now seeing things I'd never have watched before, like 'Trocks' which was great.

As a regular volunteer, have you caught the bug or do you just want to see lots of performances?

It's a bit of both really. Because the shows are on here, you don't want to miss the opportunity to see them, but also its good fun being part of it all too.

Which venues do you normally work in? 

Most of my shifts have been in the Donald Gordon Theatre but I’ve also done a couple of shows in the Weston Studio and BBC Hoddinott Hall.

Hoddinott Hall is a bit more formal, but it's casual at the same time... if that makes sense? The Weston Studio is an altogether different feeling where meet completely different people, watching more unusual performances, which is fun.

How has volunteering helped you?

It’s definitely helped towards getting my drama A-Levels but it's also opened up a new world of art to me that I'd not normally have chosen to see. It's great meeting new people and improving my confidence and communication skills which will help in the future.

What would you say to other young people, considering volunteering?

It's a great opportunity, even if you don’t have a massive interest in the arts. You gain so much from doing it and it looks good on your CV too ;)

But in all seriousness, you get a unique opportunity to experience and see so many new things, and that’s probably the best thing about volunteering here.