We are currently recruiting three freelance roles on our upcoming R&D of A Shanty for an Atomic Town in Cumbria. The show is a part-devised sea shanty musical about maritime mythology and nuclear power on the west coast of Cumbria, being made in collaboration with Theatre by the Lake, Rosehill, University of Cumbria and Barrowfull, supported by ACE. Please see the job specifications below for more information. If you would like to apply for any of these roles, please send your CV and a written (300 words max) or video/audio recorded statement (2 minutes max) telling us about your relevant experience and why you are interested in the job. Applications should be sent to Emily and Patch at obscuratheatre@outlook.com. Please fill out this Equal Opportunities form once you have applied.

 

The deadline to apply for all three roles is 31st January 2024.

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The R&D dates are:
Tuesday 2nd - Saturday 6th April 2024
Monday 8th - Friday 12th April 2024 (sharing during the afternoon of 12/04)

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STAGE MANAGER

We are looking for a Stage Manager to take the lead on managing the rehearsal room, supporting the company and helping to facilitate the workshop sharing. We are looking for a Stage Manager who is excited by an unconventional and collaborative process. Desirable but non-essential is being from or having a base in Cumbria or the North West. The Stage Manager will support the company and creative team and manage the cast, ensuring efficient running of the workshop. We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in stage management for plays, musicals and/or devised theatre on varying scales.

• Experienced managing small budgets, eg. rehearsal, props budgets and petty cash.

• A collaborative team player with experience working with smaller companies and teams.

• Willing to join collaborative conversations and team building exercises in the room when available and suitable.

• Organised and approachable, with attention to detail and flexibility.

• First aid trained.

• Able to remain calm under time pressure, and to be a creative problem solver.

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Fee: £1500 total, covering two weeks in rehearsal and half a week remotely for preparation and handover. Subsistence and travel support is available depending on your location.

 

Key responsibilities:

• Facilitating the creative team in achieving their artistic aims for the workshop..

• Working in accordance with venue H&S policy, and ensuring compliance with rehearsal space regulations.

• Creating the workshop risk assessment, and taking appropriate action to minimise risk.

• Attending rehearsals full-time, overseeing the smooth running of the space

• Working with the designer to support sourcing of any necessary props.

• Compiling and distributing paperwork including rehearsal calls, accident reports and cue sheets.

• Managing small budgets including rehearsal budget, prop budget and petty cash, compiling necessary receipts and records.

• Ensure appropriate breaks are taken and that work resumes promptly following breaks.

• Prepare and share schedules.

• Operate QLab and technical elements where needed in collaboration with the sound designer.

• Manage venue get-ins and get-outs with support from the company.

• To support the project's compliance with the Theatre Green Book's baseline standards on sustainability.

• Any other duties suitable to the role as may be required by the company.

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Trainee Assistant Director

We are looking for a Trainee Assistant Director based in or from Cumbria who is interested in directing, and is looking for their first professional assistant directing credit. We’re keen to meet candidates from backgrounds currently under-represented in our industry, particularly rural backgrounds with historically limited access to theatre and the arts. The Trainee Assistant Director will work closely with director Emily Oulton and the wider creative team, receiving mentoring and the opportunity to observe and participate in a research and development process. The Trainee Assistant Director will support the director, creative team and wider company, while having opportunities to learn, ask questions, give thoughts/feedback, and be part of a collaborative process. We are looking for someone who has:

• A background in performance or theatre making (including fringe performances, community theatre, student theatre or digital work).

• An interest in directing, music theatre and devising.

• Confidence offering creative, administrative and research support.

• Commitment to supporting the cast and creative team.

• Great communication, organisation and written skills.

• A desire to learn, and a willingness and excitement to get stuck in to a collaborative process.

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Fee: £1200 total for two rehearsal weeks.

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Key responsibilities:

• Assist the Director and wider creative team in rehearsals.

• Collaborate with Trainee Assistant Sound Designer to write a rehearsal blog to be shared on the Obscura website. 

• Keep a record of all workshop exercises and outcomes.

• Manage the working document compiling script and lyrics.

• Engage in collaborative conversations and devising exercises. 

• Lead some warm-up exercises and games.

• Lead on a devising exercise with the support of the Director.

• Support with research in the room.

• Make performance notes during run-throughs to share with the Director.

• Support the facilitation of the sharing.

• Support the project’s compliance with the Theatre Green Book’s baseline standards on sustainability.

• Any other duties suitable to the role as may be required by the Director, creative team or stage manager.

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Trainee Assistant SOUND DESIGNER

We are looking for a Trainee Assistant Sound Designer based in or from Cumbria who is interested in a career in sound, sound design, and/or composition, and is looking for their first professional assistant credit. The Trainee Assistant Sound Designer will support the sound designer, creative team and wider company, while having opportunities to learn, ask questions, give thoughts/feedback, and be part of a collaborative process. We’re keen to meet candidates from backgrounds currently under-represented in our industry, particularly rural backgrounds with historically limited access to theatre and the arts. The Trainee Assistant Sound Designer will work closely with sound designer Patch Middleton and the wider creative team, receiving mentoring and the opportunity to observe and participate in a research and development process. We are looking for someone who has:

• An interest in sound, music, and theatre.

• A background in any creative endeavour related to sound (including sound production, composing, playing a musical instrument, etc.).

• Confidence offering creative, administrative and research support.

• Commitment to supporting the cast and creative team.

• Great communication, organisation and written skills.

• A desire to learn, and a willingness and excitement to get stuck in to a collaborative process.

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Fee: £1200 total for two rehearsal weeks.

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Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the sound designer and wider creative team in rehearsals.

• Collaborate with sound designer to source, record, and edit sounds for the R&D and the sharing.

• Collaborate with sound designer on creating and editing the QLab for the sharing, and at times operate the QLab in the room.

• Engage in collaborative conversations and devising exercises, with a specific ear for sound.

• Keep notes on feedback during R&D period related to sound and composing.

• Support with research in the room.

• Support the facilitation of the sharing.

• Support the project’s compliance with the Theatre Green Book’s baseline standards on sustainability.

• Any other duties suitable to the role as may be required by the sound designer, creative team or stage manager.