creative assistant (kickstart)
SOHO THEATRE is London’s most vibrant producer for new theatre, comedy and cabaret. In ‘usual’ times, Soho’s busy Dean Street venue presents a year-round festival programme of shows across three performance spaces, playing to audiences of over 250,000. Our mission is to produce new work, to discover and nurture new writers and artists and to target and develop new audiences.
Soho Theatre’s creative work pursues excellence, harnessing an artistic spirit that is based in our new writing roots, inclusivity and being welcoming to all. We work with artists and performers representing different communities, cultures and backgrounds. Our work takes many forms, drawing on the radical ethos of the fringe and the traditions of punk culture and queer performance. We champion voices that challenge from outside of the mainstream, and also some that poke out from within. We identify and nurture new talent through commissions, awards and schemes, and we broaden access through participation work.
We work beyond Soho bringing artists to and from the world’s major creative festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival and tour performances across the UK and internationally with strong connections to India, Australia and the US. We have developed a digital wing which has filmed our own comedy shows licensed for UK television, AmazonPrime Video UK, and onto international airlines with a dedicated British Airways channel. Our own digital download site, Soho Theatre On Demand is available throughout the world hosting our theatre, comedy and cabaret.
This is a period of excitement for Soho Theatre, as we establish a new Walthamstow venue – a ‘local theatre with a national profile.’ It is part of a broader vision for Soho Theatre’s strategic growth which encompasses its Dean Street venue and acclaimed festival programme, a fast-growing digital arm, increased UK and international touring with particular links to India and Australia.
We have a busy and hard-working team at the heart of all we do. In January 2021 we welcomed a Head of Creative Engagement, who leads a team working on participation and community projects across all of Soho Theatre’s activities, and is developing an engagement strategy for the new Walthamstow Granada. We run a number of Creative Learning programmes and workshops, recently transferred to online – from playwriting to sketch and stand-up courses, and more; our Soho Labs help to identify, nurture and develop talent. Our two Associate Directors and Literary Manager work closely with writers, artists and agents to develop and identify work for Soho Theatre to produce and present. We collaborate with artists in a variety of ways - from commissioning and full producing of new plays, to co- producing new work and presenting the best new emerging companies.
sohotheatre.com | www.sohotheatreondemand.com | @sohotheatre
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: CREATIVE ASSISTANT
Responsible to: Head of Creative Engagement
Working with: Associate Directors, Literary Manager, Community Engagement Officer
DUTIES The Creative Assistant will work across the Creative Engagement Team to support its smooth-running, providing administrative assistance on our engagement and development work, particularly with the local community in Waltham Forest.
They will support events and projects connected to community engagement in the preparation of materials, programmes and communications as well as seeking out further and future opportunities to engage communities across the borough of Waltham Forest (where our new venue is underway) and beyond. This will involve working with local community partners and helping to identify opportunities for collaboration.
The Creative Assistant will also assist in a series of community events in July and August in Waltham Forest, including 'Fellowship Square' at the Town Hall, helping to promote Soho Theatre activity and make connections with local communities. This will involve preparing communications around the project, supporting the running of the events and documenting feedback from participants and partners when the events have finished.
They will act as a point of communication for workshop participants or enquiries about our activity; support the Creative Learning team in admin and shortlisting processes; provide support to ‘on-the-day’ running of workshops and activity and play a role in the coverage team, attending other work and performances on behalf of Soho Theatre.
This role is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the development and engagement work of Soho Theatre, and discover the ways in which we engage with communities, and develop new work.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The Creative Assistant will work across a busy team, and will need to be a collaborator but have the ability to work independently too. They will be a natural at creating dialogue, a safe space and making people feel comfortable.
This is a varied role in a fast-paced environment, where no two days are likely to be the same; the Creative Assistant should be able to work both reactively as things happen, and proactively when working towards project deadlines. They should have strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise different tasks. Experience in helping make events of any scale happen would also be useful.
The ideal candidate will have an interest in theatre, comedy and performance and in community engagement work. A strong and demonstrable connection to the borough of Waltham Forest is desirable, as this is where we are building our new venue.
Also desirable: bilingual in Polish, Urdu or Romanian.
The role will also involve using computers and interactions via email, so strong written communication skills are needed. Some experience using spreadsheet software (such as Excel or Google Sheets) is desirable, but this is a skill we can teach you if you haven’t used them before.
EMPLOYABILITY SUPPORT
Creative Access will provide ongoing employability support throughout the placement. The successful candidate will attend an induction day, including sessions on goal setting, workplace etiquette and managing expectations. They will also attend monthly evening masterclasses throughout the placement including employability tips, practical support, mental health advice and inspirational figures.
Creative Access will also allocate a professional mentor to the candidate and ongoing pastoral care, advice and support.
At Soho Theatre, the successful candidate will have an initial meeting with a member of the team to discuss what they would like to get out of the placement. These goals will then be reviewed periodically throughout and reflected on at the end of the placement.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Equal Opportunities Running through the core of Soho Theatre are the values of equality of opportunity, diversity of background and inclusion and accessibility for all. Our artists, audience and staff reflect a diverse London and we work hard to increase representation across cultures and experience.
Terms of Employment This job is offered through the DWP Kickstart scheme and is a fixed term, part time contract for 6 months. It is open only to those in receipt of Universal Credit who are referred to apply through local Job Centres by a Work Coach.
Salary £10.85 per hour.
Holiday entitlement The full paid entitlement is 20 days plus 8 Public and Bank days and any other public holidays as declared from time to time. This is pro rata’d for part time contracts.
Hours This is a part time role: 25 hours per week. 3 full days (7 hours) and 1 half day (4 hours) per week (as a guide, this may vary from week to week) Occasional evening and weekend work will be required. There are no overtime payments but TOIL is negotiable on occasion with your line manager.
Staff Benefits Tickets for Soho shows (subject to availability) Season ticket and Cycle to Work loans and other travel schemes Employee Assistance Programme including health insurance Seasonal flu jabs Training and development opportunities Discount at Soho Theatre Bar and other local businesses Annual staff party and other social events
March 2021