12 August 2020

Dear our potential new Executive Director,

As Lise Bell leaves after 2 years to start a new position as Executive Director of The Director’s Theatre Writer’s Theatre, the Gate is looking for a special individual to take on the role of Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive. Building a strong working relationship with Ellen McDougall, the Artistic Director and Joint CEO, the partnership will co-lead the company to achieve its exciting and ambitious artistic plans and intention to secure a new building.

As Joint CEOs, the work of the Artistic Director and Executive Director is understood to have equal value to the staff, Board members and stakeholders and is respected as such.

The Gate is run by a small and dynamic team. We seek out individuals who care about their colleagues, the work and the experience of our audience members.

This pack contains: • An outline of the Gate’s mission, vision and values • A job description • A candidate profile

To apply, please submit: • A CV and a letter outlining your reasons for applying for the role • An Equal Opportunities monitoring form which will remain anonymous

You are encouraged to contact either Sarah Nicholson, Consulting Executive on [email protected] or Deborah Sawyerr on [email protected] for an informal and confidential chat about the role.

Your CV and letter should be emailed to [email protected] with ‘Gate Theatre ED Application’ in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 16th September 2020 at midday.

The first round of interviews will be held on Wednesday 30th September 2020, and the second round will be held on Thursday 8th October 2020. Start date to be mutually agreed.

Thank you for your interest in this post.

Joseph Smith Chair, Gate Theatre

Effigies of Wickedness - Photography by Helen Murray ABOUT THE GATE THEATRE

MISSION The Gate Theatre was founded in in 1979 to present groundbreaking international plays.

Today, the Gate exists to make international theatre that is representative of our diverse local communities; from the people we collaborate with, to the stories we tell, our work investigates what it means to be alive now.

The Gate is a nurturing space for artists to imagine, play, think, and create theatre that surprises, challenges and inspires. Our productions push the boundaries of what theatre is and what else it could be. In 2021 we will be exploring new collaborations and co-productions and taking our work outside of our building locally and nationally.

Our work is a live conversation with our audience and our local partner organisations. Currently, our theatre is an intimate, 75 seat space that transforms with every production – no two visits are ever the same.

VALUES

REPRESENTATION We want to create a working culture at the Gate that is collaborative, inclusive, anti-racist, respectful, kind, open and supportive.

We recognise that upholding this culture involves work and education that is ongoing and involves everyone in our organisation. We invest in mentoring and training to ensure that we are constantly doing this work.

INVENTION Our work fundamentally explores what theatre is and what else it could be. The relationship between a story, its form, and the audience, is reimagined for every production.

We will continually work to question and evaluate the structures of how we create productions to ensure we work in a way that is caring, inclusive, sustainable, and anti-racist.

We are not afraid to take artistic risks or try new things.

INTERNATIONALISM We are proud of our history of collaborating with artists and companies from outside our borders.

Today, we recognise that our local area is one of the most diverse areas in with a rich history of Land Without Dreams - Photography by Cameron Slater immigration from all over the world; the most spoken languages being Arabic and French.

We believe that international collaboration and artistic encounters between cultures and across borders is an important act.

COMMUNITY Our theatre is a space for our local community to share stories and experiences that are representative and relevant to them. This extends to our work with our partners, including Harrow Club and Migrants Organise. Our work happens outside our theatre too, both outdoors, and in local community spaces.

DURING LOCKDOWN Since March we have made available online two of our past shows: The Unknown Island and Suzy Storck, both of which featured in Ellen’s inaugural season. This has allowed us to broaden our reach and audience. The Gate Young Associates are currently working on their summer project which sees them develop scenes from plays from our Faces in the Crowd - Photography by Ellie Kurrtz archive. In addition, we have invited practitioners across different disciplines to lead Zoom workshops for them including Casting Director Lotte Hines, and actor, singer, director, writer and producer Gable Roelofsen.

Prayer: originally developed to be an installation at the Gate itself, Designer Rosie Elnile has reimagined this project for a digital space, currently available on our website. Prayer experiments visually and aurally with different ideas around performance design, communal spaces and spaces from which to imagine new futures.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY The Gate is a National Portfolio organisation, reliant on financial support from Arts Council England as well as other funders. Our total income in the last financial year was £752,000. Fundraising is integral for the Gate to survive and the small permanent team is encouraged to participate in all our fundraising activities. We fundraised £272,000 last financial year which represented 36% of our annual income for 2019/2020.

CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY We also actively recognise that climate justice is our responsibility. The climate crisis is also a crisis of the imagination, and we commit to responding to this challenge both practically and creatively.

We actively encourage our audiences and artists to join us in our commitment to long term sustainability.

EXCELLENCE The Gate has a long tradition and reputation for being a The Ridiculous Darkness - Photography by small-scale theatre that produces work of exceptional Helen Murray quality. It has nurtured many leading artists at the very beginning of their careers. , Paterson Joseph, Sarah Kane, Sophie Okonedo and, more recently, began their careers here.

We recognise that excellence is totally dependent on creating a safe, nurturing environment, that is empowering and supportive for everyone who works at the Gate.

FIVE YEAR VISION The Gate will be an international theatre for our local community. It will be a space to meet one another across cultural and international borders, to share stories and imagine new futures.

We will remodel and reimagine how theatre is made so that it is sustainable, anti-racist, and a space that is truly shared with our local community. As work begins to look for a new accessible home, we aim to create a porous, fully accessible space where everyone is welcome, and work is also taken out to communities nationally.

We will be an Equal Opportunities employer, with a staff team and Board that reflects the diversity of our local community.

Mephisto [A Rhapsody] - Photography by Cameron Slater Job Description Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive

Responsible The Gate’s Board of Directors/Trustees of the Charity to: Line Theatre Manager, Producer, Development Manager, Marketing manages: Manager, Head of Finance (freelance p/t), and Projects Manager (p/t).

Responsible for the business side of the Gate, you will be able to demonstrate clear strategic skills and an understanding and enthusiasm for the Gate’s artistic mission, striving to fulfil our ambition to make the Gate a theatre for the local community and a thriving hub where you will see work that is unexpected and unlike anything else on stage in London.

A confident and compassionate leader, with proven line-management experience, you will have a clear understanding of how to make a small organisation with big ambitions thrive. You will have a proven track record for fundraising and income generation, and will put representation and inclusion at the heart of your thinking.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership, Strategy and Planning • With the Artistic Director, develop and lead the vision for the Gate • Co-deliver the company’s Business Plan for the period 2018 – 2022, ensuring that objectives are met and revising the plan annually to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and in line with the company’s long-term vision • Create and implement the Business Plan for 2022 – 2026 • Ensure the organisation is financially stable and adhering to good working practice with employment and health and safety legislation • Create a working environment and culture that enables the Gate to realise its creative ambition whilst recognising the limitations of its financial, time and human resources, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organisation • Responsible for all major stakeholder relationships, including RBKC (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) - staying aware of their arts and culture policies and outputs, the theatre’s landlords at the Prince Albert Pub and ACE (and the delivery of the Gate’s NPO agreement) • Create and maintain good working relationships with all industry partners ensuring that we are a part of the wider activities and debates of the cultural sector • Develop relationships with potential visiting companies and co-producers worldwide, exploring opportunities to create collaborations that expand the scope of the Gate’s artistic ambition and support resource and budget • Seek exciting and like-minded partner organisations and charities in our local community, and beyond, to create shared activities which strengthen the Gate’s mission • Create a positive working culture and support the staff and creative team as a whole, with specific line-management responsibilities for the Producer, Theatre Manager, Development Manager, Head of Finance, Associate Director and Marketing Manager. Instil the importance of looking after and out for colleagues and ensuring the team’s wellbeing is valued when making artistic and future decisions

Financial management • Set and monitor the organisational budget for the company and productions • Work closely with the Board’s Finance subcommittee in annual budget setting, quarterly reporting, and to ensure the continued financial viability and strength of the organisation • With the Head of Finance create and present quarterly management accounts to the Board and ACE • Work with the Head of Finance on the annual audit process • Ensure that all staff adhere to the Gate’s Financial Controls Policy and internal finance guidelines Funding and income generation • Cultivate relationships with potential funders, taking a hands-on approach at events and meetings with donors • Oversee the Development Manager in creating a long-term fundraising strategy and case for support, and support them in meeting the ambitious annual targets for Individual and Trust fundraising • Oversee all funding applications to Trust and Foundations • Working with the Artistic Director, create and submit the company’s next NPO application

Board and Governance • Build strong relationships with the Chair and Board members • Arrange and attend Board Meetings, and ensure Board members are kept informed on finance, legal and HR matters • Act as Company Secretary, including submitting relevant paperwork to Companies House and the Charity Commission • Maintain the Risk Register for the Gate • Ensure implementation of and compliance with all policies, procedures and legal requirements, including employment law and GDPR • Ensure effective policies and plans are in place to promote anti-racism, equal opportunity, access and diversity, and Environmental Sustainability, that they are regularly monitored and reviewed, and reflect best practice

Productions, Operations and HR • Alongside the Marketing Manager, lead on the development and implementation of the Gate’s Communications Strategy, seizing opportunities to raise the Gate’s profile in the theatre sector both in London, nationally and internationally • Explore opportunities for the Gate to take its work elsewhere including on tour and within its local community • Oversee the Producer and Theatre Manager in their delivery of the day to day activities of the theatre and their budgets • Broker conversations with co-producing and visiting companies • Work with the Producer to negotiate authors’ rights and commissioning contracts • Manage agreements for office space, the pub and the storage space • Lead on all HR matters to include: recruitment; issuing employment contracts; day to day management; grievance procedures and leading on annual appraisals

Shared responsibilities with all staff members • Promote the work of the Gate both within the industry and to all potential audience members • Adhere and actively contribute to all policies and procedures including health and safety, anti-racism, safeguarding and Green Gate • Additional tasks as required, commensurate with the overall purpose of the post

A Small Place Rehearsal - Photography by Helen Murray Candidate Profile:

Essential • An enthusiasm for the Gate’s future • Experience of financial responsibility for multiple projects/productions, including setting and managing budgets • An understanding of how a theatre building operates day to day and the production process • A personal drive to create an inclusive, diverse and accessible world • Proven successful fundraising experience • An understanding of audience development and marketing • Experience of HR and people management • Experience of contract negotiations including artists, and co-productions • Strong IT skills • A confident leader and excellent team worker • A clear decision maker with strong communication and presentation skills • Ability to work to deadlines • Ability to stay calm under pressure

Desirable • Knowledge of the London and national theatre scene • Familiarity with the current theatrical landscape nationally and internationally • Experience of using box office databases • Knowledge of a range of theatre practices from live art to new writing

Contract Details Contract type: Full time, permanent Salary: £35,000 Annual holiday: 30 days including public holidays Hours: Office hours 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, additional hours as required to include, but not limited to, press nights and fundraising events.

Ideal handover week/ start date: Mutually agreed

Benefits • 2 comp tickets to each Gate production, plus access to limited friends and family discounts* • A free play text for each Gate production • The option to get a 12-month TFL travel loan • Employers’ contribution and option for employee pay into a workplace pension • We operate a TOIL policy

The Gate Theatre is an equal opportunities employer. This means we welcome applications from all sections of the community, and we encourage people with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence our working practice. Please note that the Theatre is currently not wheelchair accessible. The Gate Theatre is an Arts Council, England National Portfolio Organisation.

Mephisto [A Rhapsody] - Photography by Cameron Slater