One of the ‘raisons d’etre’ of the Bromley Theatre Guild is to assist, when possible, in the sharing of resources between our member societies. We’re all in this together, and it can only be a good thing if we are prepared to offer, and ask for, help in finding all the stuff we need to put a show on.
With this in mind, it was my original plan for the Guild website to offer a sort-of recycling service/noticeboard where people could let each other know if they had useful stuff to pass on, or were in need of something, whether it be costume, props, lighting of whatever.
Fortunately for my coding skills, somebody beat me to it, and has created what could be the perfect solution. www.theatrical exchange.co.uk was set up recently by Elaine Carroll, a friend of mine whom one or two of you may know, in order to give people in the theatre a way of letting each other know who’s got what, and who needs it.
The idea is that after a show, if you have stuff you wish to get rid of, for reasons of space, or because it will never be needed again,
put a mention of it on the site and let everyone know. Likewise, if you are in desperate need of a stuffed eagle or twelve Zulu head-dresses, it can’t hurt to put out a call for assistance.
Theatrical Exchange is purely a meeting-place; it doesn’t stock anything, or sell anything, it’s just an online noticeboard. It’ll put
people who have whatever-it-is in touch with people who are on the lookout for a whatever-it-is. If you’re just giving it away, fine. If you’re hiring stuff out, fine too. If you’re a business, selling stuff we need, equally fine; it’s called ‘advertising’.
It’s early days at www.theatricalexchange.co.uk , and like any online forum or business, it needs a ‘critical mass’ of activity before
it really starts to roll under it’s own steam. The first person to put an item on Ebay must have been a heck of an optimist, and I’m reminded of the New Yorker cartoon of Alexander Graham Bell wondering who to ring up. However, I know there are people out there with stuff they want rid of. I know this because they keep offering it to me. Likewise, I know there are people out there in need of stuff.
At the moment, there is absolutely nothing to lose in trying it out. Theatrical Exchange is a non-profit-making organisation. It’s not meant to be; that’s just how it’s panning out so far. So in a mutual-back-scratching venture, the annual fee of £17.00 is being waived for any society that is part of Bromley Theatre Guild, and if the twenty of us start bunging stuff on there, by the time the fee comes around again, we’ll very likely feel it’s worth it.
So, if you hire out costumes, or have spare lamps you’re sick of tripping over, or you have a complete play-set of ‘Dry Rot’, or you’re the one with all the Edwardian furniture, tell the right people. You’ll get some valuable space back in your store; you may even get money. I know profit isn’t the be-all and end-all for Drama societies, but I’ve never known one to spurn a fiver, if offered.
To investigate further, click.
Tim Hinchliffe.
‘Ars Gratia Pecuniae’