We love talking posters here at Spencer Minuteman Press, especially when they’re for a school or community group. The truth is, we do a lot of digital printing for businesses in Melbourne, and a school poster is a lovely bit of levity. We see schools and community groups creating posters for all sorts of events, from fundraisers to schedule changes. We’re feeling a bit dramatic today, though, so we’re sharing tips specific to a theatre production!
Riverside Hamlet Poster
The poster is mostly about the picture. First, you have to decide if you’re going to use a single image or a collage of pictures. A single image makes the poster easier on the eyes and helps readers immediately understand what your poster—and the play—is about. But if you have kids in your theatre production, they will love seeing themselves on a poster. In that case, a collage is a good choice.
Now, for a single image, you can use an illustration instead of a photograph. If your theatre production is a famous story associated with an iconic image, such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Great Gatsby or Hamlet (‘alas, poor Yorick!’), using it on your poster will make it instantly recognisable to viewers. If your play takes place in the 1950s or 60s, use an illustration that fits the vintage theme. Always pay attention to copyright when choosing an image.
If you go with a photograph instead, you can either use a still from the play or a posed picture. A still can convey so much emotion, and it gives the reader a sneak-peak of what to expect at the play. On the other hand, a posed picture makes it easy to identify the actors. If you have a local celebrity appearing in your theatre production, you’ll want to make sure their face is front and centre!
Make sure your text is visible. You have to consider the size, weight and colour. A lot of these decisions depend on your background; if you will be overlaying text and images, the font really needs to pop.
You can play around a bit with mixing and matching fonts, but it often looks cleaner to simply change up the size. You’ll want to make sure you have the name of your school or community organisation on the poster, too. That can be in a slightly smaller font than the name of the play, which should be the most obvious bit of text.
For the production information, such as the time, date, and location, consider using a text box. This makes it easier on the readers, and will increase the likelihood they’ll attend.
You’re now ready to create a poster, but you might also want to check out our tips on creating a banner. You can never advertise too much! If your school or community centre is looking for CBD printing services for your theatre production, try out Spencer Minuteman Press.