How to join us

Membership of the Carlton Dramatic Society gives you many benefits, whether you are interested in acting with us, working behind the scenes or simply enjoying the social life of the society. Here you can find out how to join our group, and choose the membership option that suits you best.

Joining The Carlton
You can join us at any time during the year, simply drop into one of our rehearsals, see what we get up to, have a chat with us. You may prefer to talk to us after one of our shows - there will always be Carlton members to talk to in the theatre bar after each production!

If you intend coming along to a rehearsal, it's always best to contact us first before turning up, particularly around production weeks and in holiday periods. While we normally rehearse on Mondays and Thursdays at Wimbledon Community Centre, there will normally be no rehearsals during productions and over Christmas, and occasionally they may be moved to different days or to alternative venues.

The Carlton accepts new members with all levels of experience from complete novices to trained actors, directors and stage crew. New members are not required to audition, although we do hold auditions for most of our productions. If you audition for a production and get a part, you will be required to become a full member (see membership rates below). If you would like to get involved with the Carlton we would normally ask that you join no later than your fourth visit. Please remember that we are an amateur organisation and cannot take people for work experience.

Joining age
Membership of the Carlton Dramatic Society is open to all from the age of 16 and upwards. We do not have a junior section, although occasionally we may require children for one-off performances. Our productions are mostly adult oriented - for children's activities we would recommend a dedicated theatre such as Wimbledon Polka. In situations where we do invite children to participate in our performances, we require that they be escorted by a parent or guardian.

Membership Year

Membership is renewable each 1st of July, but any new members joining later in the Carlton year may pay a reduced rate, based on the number of months remaining in the financial year. Associate members may upgrade at any time to become full members, again paying the difference based on the number of remaining months. Members also receive a regular newsletter, Stage Whispers, keeping them informed of up-coming events, audition dates, reviews of plays etc.

Membership rates
We have two types of membership – full and associate – depending on what involvement you wish to have in the Carlton’s activities. Membership fees are payable annually on the 1st of July.
Full membership: £40 per year. Members may act in plays, propose and direct plays, work backstage, attend our social events, be nominated for committee posts and vote at our AGM.
Associate membership: £20 per year. Members may work backstage, attend our social events and vote at our AGM

Other fees
Full production performance fee: £50 for large parts. £20 for small parts All members of the cast of a full production must pay a performance fee. Size of the fee will be determined by the committe in consultation with the Director and be determined by the number of lines and length of time on stage.

Carlton Review and rehearsed reading performance fee: £20. This must be paid by all Carlton Show Case or rehearsed reading cast members.

Tea and coffee: 40p. Available at rehearsals.

Membership Philosophy

The Society aspires to be as inclusive as possible. If you have difficulty paying the membership or performance fee, for example as a result of being unemployed, a student, or on a pension, you may apply to the committee, in confidence, to pay a reduced rate or in instalments, by approaching the Treasurer or Director of the production you've been cast in. This decision is at the discretion of the committee but rest assured all applications will be met sympathetically and treated in strictest confidence.

Constituion

Full details are available in the official Constitution of the Carlton Dramatic Society, which is available as a downloadable PDF file – please click the link on the left.

Membership fees, acting fees, and associate membership activities may be altered by action of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Carlton members.