The Prompter Blog
Notes from the wings.
Practical writing for the people who keep community theatre running — and honest comparisons for those weighing up their tools.
Why community theatre needs position descriptions more than the professionals do
In professional theatre, roles are contracts. In community theatre, they're assumptions — and that's exactly why writing them down matters more, not less. Includes a free pack of editable position descriptions for every head-of-department role.
17 July 2026 · 8 min read
Casting across and beyond gender: how to do it well
Gender-blind and cross-gender casting are everywhere in community theatre — usually out of necessity as much as artistry. A practical guide to doing it thoughtfully, from the licence up.
27 June 2026 · 4 min read
Prompter vs Google Drive: the shared folder isn't a production system
Most community theatre companies run their shows on Google Drive. Here's exactly where the shared folder stops coping — and the honest case for when it's still fine to stay.
27 June 2026 · 4 min read
Running a community theatre committee that actually functions
Most community theatre companies are sunk or saved by their committee, not their cast. Here's what a functional committee actually does — and the failure modes to design out.
27 June 2026 · 3 min read
What a production secretary actually does — and why your show falls apart without one
The production secretary is community theatre's most important undefined role. Here's what the job really involves, what breaks without it, and how to support the person doing it.
27 June 2026 · 4 min read