Redcoats (Butlins)

Redcoats is the name given to the entertainment staff at Butlins holiday camps.

Uniform

When Billy Butlin opened his first he realised that the entertainment was the very heart of Butlins. In order to make the camp entertainers stand out he ordered them to wear red blazers and the famous Redcoat uniform was born. The uniform changed over the years but retained its original 1936 style of red blazer and white trousers or skirt. Over the years, braid and badges were added to the blazers. Famous designers such as Jeff Banks and Zandra Rhodes have redesigned the uniforms. The current uniform retains the trademark red jacket (no longer a blazer) and was redesigned and launched in 2004. Redcoats now have two uniforms, the traditional formal uniform (called their number 1's) and a new casual outfit (their number 2's) to match their additional role as children's entertainers.

Recruitment and training

The Redcoats are viewed as the elite of the entertainment staff and have to undergo a rigorous selection and training process.cn Recruitment roadshows are held nationally and prospective redcoats have to show potential in a range of fields including dancing and singing.Successful candidates attend the now defunt Butlins ‘Academies of Excellence’ and receive rigorous entertainment training. Training includes aspects of direction and production and success usually leads to membership of Equity. Attendance at a Butlins academy is an achievement that enhances a showbusiness résumé.

Roles

Redcoats provide virtually all the in house entertainment on the camps. They perform on the Centre Stage and have their very own venue called Reds. Reds is also home to 'Reds TV' (See below) which showcases the talents of the Redcoats. Redcoats also run the various children's clubs which provide sporting activities, competitions and arts and crafts. Each redcoat will have many different roles to fulfil in any given week.

Redcoats TV Series

The ITV series Redcoats (now showing on Sky Travel) is a docusoap following the lives of Redcoats at Butlins Minehead and Bognor resorts. Extending to 41 episodes over three series, it shows the selection process, the Redcoats entertaining the visitors and life behind the scenes. The series was made by Pilgrim Productions, Canterbury and follows Redcoat life through the year.

** Series 1 - 10 x 30' First shown 13 February 2003 - 24 April 2003
** Series 2 - 17 x 30' First shown 21 August 2003 - 18 December 2003
** Series 3 - 14 x 30' First shown from 22 April 2004.

The Series came to an abrupt end in 2004 when Bourne Leisure, Butlins' parent company, decided to deny the production company further access to film, as the programme was no longer consistent with their marketing and branding strategy, although a one off special was recorded and aired later in 2004. The series followed many of the workers of the two southern resorts (Bognor Regis and Minehead)and did nothing to dispell the "hi-de hi" and camp image of the entertainers and many of the featured Redcoats were hand picked, badly, and this indirectly discredited the large advertising campaign trying desperatly to show that Butlins isn't the camp/kitsch resort it once was. The Series was a PR nightmare for Bourne Leisure and quite rightly dropped it and started from scratch again with yet another brand re-launch.

Reds TV

The origins of the in-house TV system began in 1995 when Butlin's decided to make use of the, then, 'empty' fifth channel (Channel 5 was still two years away from their launch). A teletext system was installed, together with a backing of incidental music, overseen by Redcoat/Stage Manager Tony Filer - and piped through to the guests' chalets to provide first an alternative, then an accompaniment to the printed programme of events. Filer (now a successful radio producer) installed a video camera in the new 'studio' to enable visiting celebrity interviews and 'Know your Redcoats' discussions to be shown. The Butlin's 'Channel 5' name was changed to 'BTV' a year before the new fifth terrestrial TV channel emerged - and later became known as 'Reds TV' - providing another excellent vehicle for today's Redcoats who - according to Tony - have really done justice to his 'baby'!

Other similar staff

Other chains of holiday camps also have their own versions, although they are less prestigious or well known. They include Pontins' Bluecoats and Warners' Greencoats.

In fiction

The BBC television series Hi-de-Hi! featured the Yellowcoats as a fictional analogue.

Famous Redcoats

Many famous entertainers have made their career breakthroughs as a result of their careers as Redcoats and becoming a Redcoat is still seen as a step onto the showbusiness ladder.Although this is now seen within the entertainment industry as a less desirable way entering showbusiness. Recently music guru Simon Cowell has been known to "..hate redcoats". This is because of the "cheesy" cabaret style in which redcoats are percieved to deliver. (which despite very clever advertising campaigns depicting the contrary is still rife within the three camps, notably the skegness resort)

References

External links

* http://www.butlins-memories.com/other/redcoats.htm
* http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/index.cfm?page=2265&wt.svl=582345
* http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/media/studentpack2006.doc?wt.svl=588731
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4886610.stm
* http://www.thisistravel.co.uk/travel/news/Butlins-unveils-new-lookRedcoats-article.html?in_article_id=40267
* http://www.butlins-memories.com/other/faq/index.htm