Resident Assistant Producer Trainee Scheme 2020

The Theatre503 Resident Assistant Producer (RAP) scheme offers the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the workings of a new writing .

RAPs will train in all areas of theatre producing as well as playing a crucial role in the day to day running of the venue. The scheme is ideal for those who have a commitment to a career in theatre producing or arts management and are looking for access to the industry. Previous RAPS have gone on to have successful careers in everything from independent producing, to venue management and programming in major venues.

Due to our current funding the role is an unpaid trainee role, with a small monthly contribution towards travel costs. In order to fully benefit from the scheme, the role would suit someone who can commit three days per week with some evening/weekend responsibilities but there is flexibility in terms of hours and days to allow candidates to support themselves and any dependents.

SCHEME DESCRIPTION

The Resident Assistant Producer will train with the core Theatre503 team across several departments and on numerous shows.

Producing ● Casting and Creative team recruitment ● Contracting ● Budgeting and financial management ● Production planning and scheduling ● PR and press liaising ● Producing two nights of short plays – our Rapid Write Response nights

Literary ● Reading and reporting on new plays ● Watching shows on behalf of Theatre503 ● Attending programming and literary meetings.

Supporting External Companies ● Setting up events on Spektrix; tracking sales and coordinating payments ● Setting up and managing events in our sales and marketing database, including sales reports and ongoing data capturing. ● Acting as the first point of contact at the theatre for actors, producers, visiting companies and marketing managers. Marketing ● Supporting the Marketing Coordinator in writing newsletters and arranging reciprocal marketing with other venues ● Maintaining the 503 website and managing social media accounts ● Writing copy for shows and helping in strategic marketing planning ● Box Office management through Spektrix and Front of House shifts

Theatre503 Development and Strategy ● Inclusion in development and fundraising ● Shadowing senior management on aspects of the running the building

Professional Development ● Attending workshops for professional development ● Bespoke training sessions with senior team on producing, marketing, fundraising and script reading. ● Networking and meeting similar level writers, directors and actors for future collaboration.

Previous RAPs have been employed full time at The Globe, and include successful production companies including Tara Finney Productions and Helen Milne Productions.

“Theatre503’s RAP scheme is the reason I am a producer today. The chance to be able to cover every area of producing, at the UK’s leading new writers’ theatre, is a priceless and essential experience on the road to becoming a producer. It has provided me with the necessary experience to take the next step and work for bigger venues, work with the best emerging talent, and has given me the platform to network and meet like-minded creatives.” - Previous RAP

Mentoring

Theatre503’s Producer, Gabrielle Leadbeater, provides individual mentoring for each of the trainees and oversees the RAP scheme. Gabrielle’s producing experience with Theatre503 includes The Fairytale Revolution: Wendy’s Awfully Big Adventure. As an Associate Producer with Ellie Keel Productions, Gabrielle presented Anna Bella Eema (Arcola Theatre), Collapsible (Assembly & ), HOTTER ( & Underbelly), Son of Dyke ( & Underbelly) and Where to Belong (Summerhall). Her credits as independent producer include CHILDISH (John Thaw Studio), Your Little Play (Michael Pilch Studio), Medea (Belgrade Theatre) and My Mother Runs in Zig-Zags (North Wall Arts Centre). Gabrielle is also the Producer of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, co-founded with Ellie Keel Productions in association with Paines Plough, and has been a member of the National Youth Theatre since 2015.

Access

Due to the limitations of our building, access to Theatre503’s office is via a flight of stairs (22 steps). Access to the theatre is via a further flight of stairs (11 steps) or 4 additional steps, if accessing via the backstage corridor entrance. There is also a step down into the front row. WCs are located in our first floor foyer (2 additional steps to access). There are currently no disabled access toilets on site or lift access. Please also note that Theatre503 is housed above a pub.

Theatre503 receives no regular public funding and is reliant on the generous support of trusts, foundations and patrons. We are undertaking a period of strategic development, in part through the ACE Catalyst Evolve project, which will allow us to increase our regular core funding. As such the RAP Scheme is currently unfunded but a contribution is made towards travel costs, with flexibility allowing for other paid opportunities.

Working Hours

Office hours are 10.00am - 6.00pm with an hour lunch break. The role would suit someone who can commit three days per week with some evening/weekend responsibilities but there is flexibility in terms of hours and days to allow candidates to support themselves and any dependents. Any extra hours worked may be taken as time off in lieu (TOIL).

APPLY TO THE RAP SCHEME

We’d like you to apply for this role in a way that feels most comfortable for you so please send an outline of your suitability for the role in a PDF or Word cover letter/email or video (.mov, .mp4)/audio submission (.wav, mp3). Please can you also include your CV along with our Equality Monitoring Form.

Please send your application to Gabrielle Leadbeater, Producer, c/o [email protected] by 10am, Monday 16th December.

In your application please detail any relevant experience to date, what you would bring to the scheme, why you are interested in training with Theatre503 and what you hope to learn.

Interviews will take place the w/c 30th December, with the role/s starting in January.

For questions, please call the Theatre503 office on 020 7878 7040.