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LETTER: Volunteers behind success of Festival of One Act Plays

'Thanks for all you did... Volunteers are special, and we appreciate you and everything you do!" artistic director of Very Useful Theatre Company writes
OneActplays
Newmarket International Festival of One Act Plays.

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To all the actors, theatre directors, stagehands and staff who volunteered hundreds of hours to ensure the Newmarket International Festival of One Act plays was a success, thanks for all you did. They created and built sets. Carted their sets to and from the Old Town Hall and used a bench in three different plays. We couldn't get along without you. Volunteers are special, and we appreciate you and everything you do.
 
In a day and age where time is a precious commodity, it's important to find the right words to thank all the volunteers who took time from their busy lives to donate their talents to the festival. Volunteering your acting and directing talents takes time and energy, and to state the obvious, it's not like you’re getting paid. The festival profoundly appreciates your time and effort.
 
Special thanks to Darryl Erentzen, the festival’s amazing web developer, for his wonderful work developing the site and keeping it up to date. Specific mention to Brian Steeves, who donated his film and video talents to livestreaming the performances.
 
Thanks to Mary Rose Talani, who took on the job of coordinating the directors and setting the rehearsal schedules. She recruited some of the directors and actors and took on the responsibility of directing not one but two plays in the festival.
 
Outstanding thanks to the extraordinary Tom Pearson. Tom created all those video clips that were posted on social media, wrote and published all the news releases, posted stills and video clips on the website and Facebook from the rehearsals and took on the duties of the festival stage manager. Not to mention providing his tent, table and promo cards for the festivals booth at the Newmarket farmers market. I may have missed other activities he performed. Thanks for your amazing generosity and dedication. This project couldn’t have been as successful without your involvement. Thank you so very much for volunteering.

Break a leg, and we hope to see you again next year.

John Dowson, artistic director, Very Useful Theatre Company, Newmarket