Volunteer

Three volunteer ushers stood in front of the bar in Theatre Royal Winchester's foyer.

Volunteer with us

Our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do. Whether you want to give back to your community, learn new skills, or simply share your passion for the arts, we would love to welcome you to our theatre family.

Theatre Royal Winchester is proudly part of the arts and education charity Play to the Crowd. Because we are part of a wider creative family, all our volunteer opportunities are managed centrally on the Play to the Crowd website.

Volunteer ushers at Theatre Royal Winchester

If you love the buzz of a live show and providing the warmest of welcomes, joining our front of house team is the perfect fit. Our volunteer ushers ensure every visitor has a magical, safe experience in our beautiful heritage auditorium.

What you will be doing:

  • Welcoming visitors to the theatre warmly and looking after them during a show.
  • Showing visitors to their seats, selling interval ice cream, and assisting with queries.
  • Helping to keep everyone safe by assisting in emergency fire evacuations (full training provided).

The schedule:

  • Theatre shifts generally last around 4 hours, starting one hour before the show begins. There is no minimum shift requirement — our programme is varied and we offer total flexibility to fit around your life.

Please note: Volunteers must be aged 16+. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Other volunteer roles

Through our charity, Play to the Crowd, you can also get involved in incredible arts initiatives beyond the theatre walls:

  • Hat Fair festival volunteers: Join a bold, high‑energy team every summer to help run the UK's longest-running outdoor arts festival on the streets of Winchester.
  • Community engagement support: Work alongside our team to help facilitate inclusive, joyful creative projects and workshops across the district.

Our commitment to you

We ensure all our volunteers feel valued, safe, and supported. When you join us, you will receive:

  • Full training and a warm induction.
  • A flexible commitment that fits around your schedule.
  • Regular social events to connect with your fellow volunteers.
  • The chance to see some of the best live performances in the country.

Interested in volunteering?

Email us at volunteers@playtothecrowd.co.uk and let us know how you'd like to get involved.

Discover more volunteering opportunities on the Play to the Crowd website