Last Friday, we held our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. We are blessed with over 230 volunteers who donate thousands of hours to the theatre every year. Dozens have been with us for over twenty years, and one, the indefatigable Joan Peggs, has been volunteering for 50 years!

The photo above features the Golder family (Oliver, Mike, Charlotte, Barbara, Martin, and Christine) – three generations volunteering at the Belfry. That has to be a record.

Our sincerest thanks to all of our volunteers.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Mesa Familiar, who provided the delicious meal and desserts for the volunteers.

Volunteer Stories

We also asked our volunteers to send us stories about their time volunteering at the theatre. Enjoy.

From Joan Peggs: 

Going back many, many years, I remember volunteering in the Concession – at the back of the theatre tucked into the north east corner of the theatre. There was a curtain that was pulled across while the play was being performed. 

Did we sit there to watch the play? I cannot remember. I do not think we did, but I recall stools in the back. When there was just the theatre, patrons entered and departed via the one main entrance/exit. As ushers/ticket takers, we stood inside the door to welcome patrons.  Volunteers worked set weeks – similar to now. 

As there was no Sign Up Genius and no email, a person was the matinee or evening coordinator for a set day. I was the Friday coordinator. Volunteers would call me if they could not work their ‘set’ shift. I would then call to find a replacement. 

Then came email – I was still the Friday night coordinator; communication was via email. It was necessary to confirm that everyone would be there. Then came Sign Up Genius. I recall some of the coordinators were upset that ‘they had been done out of a job’!! It did not bother me! 

An interesting point is the number of Friday night volunteers who were part of the Friday team when it was calling, and then onto email and now Sign Up Genius. Winnie Cooper, Anne Wong, Marg Buckland, Ingrid Schmidt, Sheila Wilson, Russ Moir (he was working the other night with me; I had not seen him for years).

From Norma Quinn: 

I can’t remember what year it was, sometime in the early 90’s, I think, but well before the renovations and before our big beautiful lobby and concession area came into being.  I worked in the concession, and it felt like crawling around in a small closet!  The area we had was under the far stairs, so it had a low ceiling and maybe three feet between the counter where we served and the wall behind us.  It was tight quarters and didn’t really have room for two people to pass each other.   

We didn’t offer nearly as many choices for patrons, so in a way, it was easier then, but at least now, two people can walk past each other in the concession without having to turn sideways and hold their breath. 

From Nancy Martens: 

I started volunteering at the Belfry Theatre in the fall of 1988 after my marriage ended. I didn’t know what my entertainment budget would be. Through volunteering, always in concessions, I made many friendships that continue. I’ve loved how the Belfry Theatre has evolved and grown by starting the Belfry B4 Plays. The best description of this addition was, (and yes I’m dating myself) “Going to the Belfry B4 plays is like going from black and white grainy TV to high definition, colour with surround sound, as I gain so much background of the production. This truly enhances my pleasure of attending plays.”

As a concession volunteer, a father and son requested two alcoholic drinks. But first, I asked to see the young man’s ID. He was 3 days past the legal age. The Dad winked at me as this was his son’s first legal drink in public. 

From Teri Bembridge: 

Can’t recall the exact date/year but it was December, 20something, and the play was A Christmas Carol. A non-traditional staging of the historical tale.  My story has 2 simultaneous events, making for a memorable volunteer evening at The Belfry. One, a mildly inebriated patron and two, an accident on stage that was significant but not serious.  This story highlights the importance of our volunteer training and the crucial role of the Front of House Manager. 

Let’s begin with the patron. Oh…both my husband and I were ticket takers for the evening performance, plus I also did some greeter duties. Our patron (as she will be known for this anecdote) and companion entered the lobby, beautifully dressed for the season.  She was vivacious, and I noticed her immediately in my Greeter role. Later, she really made herself known when I asked her to exchange her wine glass for a plastic one to enter the theatre. She was not pleased with that request and asked my husband if he couldn’t just let her ‘sneak in, pulease’.  Rather than exchange her glass, she gulped her wine and in they went to their seats in the front row of the balcony. My husband and I also had balcony seats. The audience was anticipating the play’s opening, and our patron was finding it difficult to settle herself into her seat. Her companion seemed to ignore her fidgeting and mumbling. Her immediately seat- mates looked visibly uncomfortable. 

House lights darkened, and the actor playing Marley came onstage to explain the Ghost Light.  Well, that was a bit much for our patron. She felt the need to lean far forward and attempt to engage with the actor about the Ghost Light. My husband and I watched, wondering what we might have to do. Nothing, as it turned out. The actor was masterful. Our patron settled. The play began. 

We met the characters and we were enjoying the retelling of the story and the innovative set design. The Fezziwigs were enchanting, especially during the party scene. Decorating for the party took place on stage using wheeled trellises. That’s when something happened. I’m not really sure what, but someone or something fell. The Front of House Manager called for House Lights. As volunteers, we used our training to guide the audience members into the lobby. We kept a subtle eye on our patron who attempted to order another glass of wine. But Concession volunteers used their training, kept the bar closed and calmed her. The Front of House Manager and staff did what they needed to do, and an announcement was made to end the evening’s performance. We volunteers helped to usher people out. The quiet exit changed when our patron’s companion sought us out to ask if we had seen her because he couldn’t find her. That’s when the Front of House Manager took over.  

The next day, we were told that the show was cancelled for an additional day, but went on for an entertaining run. And, our patron? Seems she had taken a taxi home. 

From Judy Haynes: 

Maybe I am a theatre junkie and a country singer junkie.  Several years ago, there was a Summer Show at the Belfry about the life of Patsy Cline, a popular Country Singer. 

She and four other Grand Ole Opry singers died in a small plane crash in 1963 during some extremely bad weather. 

A play was written about her life, featuring her music, and it was a Summer Program at the Belfry.  As a volunteer, I saw this play 33 times.  I enjoyed it so much that I kept filling in when the theatre was short of volunteers.  I probably hold the record for a volunteer attending one production. 

Several years later, I attended an AGM, and one of the speakers was the man who produced this production. I chatted with him at the end of the AGM and mentioned I had seen the play 34 times. His comment made me laugh. “If I had known you saw the play so many times, I would have hired you to play the Sound Effects”. 

I still enjoy her music and would enjoy seeing this production again.