Shakespeare & Volunteer Company

The Stars of the Show!

Shakespeare & Company volunteers love what they do – and make a difference doing it!

If you enjoy theater and have a love of community, we invite you to become involved in one of the world’s premiere Shakespearean companies. 

Volunteers not only become important parts of the Company, but also touch thousands of lives, from audiences to youth groups to actors-in-training, in the community and around the globe. Shakespeare & Volunteer Company puts the individual skills, knowledge, and life experiences of more than 200 people at center stage. Volunteers come from diverse locations, backgrounds, and lifestyles, support the work of Shakespeare & Company year-round, and have a lot of fun in the process. It’s an enriching, rewarding experience that includes great theater-performances, fascinating people, and opportunities to connect with friends both old and new.

Volunteer Opportunities

Ushers – Reporting to the House Manager at the Tina Packer Playhouse and Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre one-hour before showtime, Shakespeare & Company Ushers typically:

• Welcome patrons;
• Scan tickets;
• Offer patrons assistance before show and during intermission;
• Stuff and distribute programs;
• Help patrons locate their seats;
• Assist at the Gift Shop during intermission when needed, and
• Collect programs at the end of the performance. 

Administrative Support – Assistance with mailings, research, posting flyers, and other administrative functions.

Company Events – Assistance at Shakespeare & Company events for patrons.

Company Hospitality – These Volunteers offer assistance to Shakespeare & Company artists and staff, particularly during busy periods such as the Summer Season and Fall Festival of Shakespeare, including but not limited to:

• Baking breads, coffee cakes, muffins, or other treats;
• Hosting when there is no available housing for visiting artists/guests. Visit may be a few days, or occasionally longer. Volunteer may provide breakfast;
• Redecorating housing for artists by painting, hanging draperies, stocking kitchens, or rearranging furniture;
• Creating and delivering flower arrangements for Artist areas;
• Making suppers for cast and crew, or
• Providing transportation for artists at airports/train stations, or rides to stores, etc.

Gardening – Join the merry band of Volunteer Gardeners who maintain the plantings in the Shakespeare Garden, around the Tina Packer Playhouse, St. Martin’s, and the Miller Building! This volunteer position also offers the opportunity to research and participate in interpretive programs focused on the natural landscape and gardens, and their special place in Shakespeare’s world and work.

Gift Shop Sales Associate – Volunteers with a flair for retail will love to staff our unique and accessible gift shop, open to patrons prior to showtime and during intermission.

Oral History and Archive Support – The Oral History and Archive Support Volunteer Team are intrinsic to preserving the Shakespeare & Company story, even when it's stored on a cassette tape. With the goal of creating a digital archive and online database for anyone to explore, these Volunteers catalog, digitize, and preserve materials and corroborate accounts from artists, staff members, and others.

Tours – Assisting with scheduled tours beginning at 10:30 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, these Volunteers answer questions, keep participants moving, and engaged with them in myriad ways throughout the tour. 

Shakespeare & Volunteer Company Members Enjoy:

• Vouchers to free performances of plays and to special programs at Shakespeare & Company;
• Community Service credits for honors programs, college applications, and resumes;
• Dinners with Artists in exchange for home-cooked meals;
• Opportunities to participate in interpretive garden programs centered on the grounds;
• Learn the workings of one of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the country, and
• Meet a dynamic and diverse group of professionals who appreciate the effort in support of Shakespeare & Company. 

How to Join the Volunteer Company

• Email the Volunteer Office at volunteers@shakepeare.org. Leave your name and phone number and a Membership Committee member will contact you. Or, fill out a Volunteer Application here!