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Community theatre is a local, non-professional theatre group where members of a community produce plays and performances together, usually as volunteers. It differs from professional theatre in that participants are typically not paid, and it differs from school drama in that it is open to adults of all backgrounds. If you want to act, direct, build sets, or simply watch live theatre close to home, a community group is often the most accessible entry point. Franklin Players, based in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg, is one example of this model.

How community theatre differs from professional and amateur theatre

The three terms overlap, but the distinctions matter when you are deciding where to spend your time.

The practical takeaway: community theatre prioritises access and involvement over credentials. You do not need a drama degree to walk into an audition.

Typical activities in a community theatre group

A group like Franklin Players, which describes itself as providing a platform for creative expression and community development through the arts, generally runs a cycle of activities across a year:

• Productions — full staged plays or shows, usually the main focus.
• Auditions — open calls where anyone can read for a role.
• Rehearsals — recurring evening or weekend sessions leading up to a run.
• Festivals — one-act play festivals or similar events, which the group's own keywords reference.
• Backstage and front-of-house roles — set building, costumes, lighting, sound, props, publicity, box office, and ushering.

The last category is the most underrated. If you are not ready to perform, these roles still put you inside the production and are usually the fastest way in.

How to find a community theatre group near you

1. Search by area plus the term. For example, "community theatre Roosevelt Park" or "community theatre Johannesburg" surfaces local groups directly.
2. Check the group's own site. Franklin Players' site (franklin.org.za) is the authoritative source for its current activities, auditions, and contact details.
3. Look at what they have actually staged. A group's past productions tell you more about its style and scale than any description.
4. Ask about the next open event. Auditions and festivals are the natural first contact points.

How to audition or volunteer with little or no experience

The steps below apply to most community groups; confirm specifics with the group you contact.

1. Find the audition notice. Groups publish these on their site or social channels. Note the date, venue, and whether you need to prepare anything.
2. Prepare the minimum. If a monologue or reading is requested, choose something short and rehearse it aloud. If nothing is specified, expect a cold read from the script.
3. Arrive early and sign in. You will usually be given a form with your contact details and any experience.
4. Read, take direction, and be yourself. Directors at this level are assessing whether you are reliable and receptive, not whether you are polished.
5. If you are not cast, ask about backstage roles. This is the standard route from spectator to participant.
6. For volunteering, state your practical skills. Carpentry, sewing, design, admin, and social media are all in demand.

What to expect: no payment for your time, a real time commitment during rehearsal periods, and a social group that depends on people showing up.

Costs, time commitment, and what to expect

• Costs: Community theatre is volunteer-based, so participation is generally not a paid service. Any membership fees, ticket prices, or production contributions are set by each group — check directly rather than assuming. Franklin Players' site does not publish pricing details, so contact the group for current information.
• Time: Rehearsals typically run over several weeks to a few months before a production, often on weekday evenings and weekends. Backstage work can be more flexible or more intense close to opening night.
• As an audience member: You get local, affordable live theatre and a direct connection to the people on stage. Ticket and booking details come from the group itself.

Why groups like Franklin Players matter

Franklin Players is a community theatre group based in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg, providing a platform for creative expression and community development through the arts. That description captures the core function of the model: it gives local people a structured way to make theatre together, whether they are on stage, backstage, or in the audience. If you are in the area and curious, the group's site is the place to check for auditions, productions, and how to get involved.

Go directly to rte.ie in any browser to reach the official RTÉ homepage. That single address is the entry point to RTÉ's Irish and international news, its live TV and radio streams, and the broadcaster's other services. No account or app is required to browse the site; you only need a working internet connection and a browser.

Reaching the homepage

• Type rte.ie into the address bar and press Enter. The site resolves to RTÉ's main homepage.
• If you search instead, look for the result labeled RTÉ Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster and confirm the domain reads rte.ie before clicking.
• Bookmark the page once you're there so you skip search results on future visits.

What the homepage gives you

The homepage is a hub rather than a single article. From it you can:

• Read breaking news — top Irish and world headlines are surfaced on the front page, with up-to-the-minute reports on breaking Irish stories and international news.
• Watch and listen — RTÉ's video and audio streams for Irish news stories are reachable from the site, so live and on-demand TV and radio content sit alongside the written coverage.
• Move into sections — navigation leads to areas such as News, Sport, Entertainment, and Player, letting you go straight to the coverage you want instead of scrolling the front page.

Confirming you're on the official site

Because news brands attract lookalike pages, check two things before trusting a page:

1. The domain is exactly rte.ie — not a variation with extra words, hyphens, or a different ending.
2. The page identifies itself as RTÉ, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster.

If either check fails, go back and enter rte.ie directly rather than following the link.

Common snags

• Search ads and aggregators can appear above the real result. The domain check is what separates them.
• Live streams may sit behind the Player section rather than the front page, so if you don't see a stream immediately, navigate to Player.
• Regional redirects or consent prompts can appear on first visit; these don't change the underlying address, which should still read rte.ie.

Once you're on rte.ie, everything else — headlines, live streams, and section navigation — is one click away.