About the Group

The Group was founded in 2005 as an organisation for professional theatre technicians working in school theatres. As theatre practitioners in a teaching environment, school technicians occupy a unique and isolated situation, outside of regular theatre but with the same intentions, products, rules and problems. For this reason, the founders felt that a network of school-based theatre technicians would be mutually beneficial.

The Group is open to all professionally-employed theatre support staff working in schools, colleges or other educational establishments; primarily technicians, designers and managers, but also anyone with an active interest, such as teachers with responsibility for the technical side of productions, for example.

We have members from a wide range of independent schools, state schools, colleges and universities around the country, allowing us to share ideas and problems specific to school theatres, as well as keeping in contact with those working in a similar situation. We are also an information resource for those teaching drama and theatre, or working with young people in other areas of theatre.

Regular activities include a popular biennial conference with workshops, seminars and a social evening; meetings at the major trade shows; visits to members' schools; training courses and product demonstrations; and participating with the annual conference of the National Independent Schools’ Drama Association (NISDA). The Group also produces a newsletter and has its own internet forum. All members are part of the network, which can be accessed on-line.

Current projects include promoting backstage-theatre to students and encouraging more students to consider a career in the industry. For this, we are working closely with The Stage newspaper, who have already published a set of 'e-books' aimed at students and careers advisors. We are also investigating options for a national skills-based reward scheme to acknowledge students' technical skills at an extra-curricular level.

STSG also organises training and product demonstrations. Topics at our most recent conference included powered loudspeaker systems, lighting equipment and wireless communications. We have also run accredited courses on pyrotechnics, lifting equipment and access towers.

If you work in a school or similar establishment, or have some other link with education and theatre, please see the Join page. For general enquiries, further information, or details of corporate support, please contact the Group Administrator via the Contacts page.  Details of our sponsors and supporters can be found on the Resources page.

 (Pictured: Top: Sound workshop at NISDA 2009, Alleyns School, London. Bottom: Zero 88 stall at Conference 2008, Rugby School.)