Salary: Rehearsal fee of £601.27 per and show fee of £687.36 per week, plus subs where eligible
Location: Chester, UK
Contract: Full time, Fixed Term for 2 months until Sunday 2nd March 2025
Closing date for applications: Thursday 24th October 2024
About us
Storyhouse is one of the UK’s foremost cultural charities; its home in Chester incorporates a library, theatres, and a cinema. It is also an acclaimed theatre producer and runs the country’s most successful regional open-air theatre in the city’s Grosvenor Park, as well as the innovative Moonlight Flicks open-air cinema each year.
Storyhouse plays an important part of cultural life in Chester and continues to be a beacon of inspiration for many other cities and towns for the role it has played in social and economic regeneration, its successful and unique integration of world-class theatre, cinema, and library facilities, as well as its bold, exciting, diverse, and award-winning programming. It is also a great place to work. We offer a flexible and supportive working environment, value experience as well as skills and qualifications, and work to ensure everyone in the organisation is aware of our equality and diversity commitments. We want to support all staff to fulfil their potential and enjoy a happy and healthy workplace.
About the role
We are seeking Deputy Stage Manager to work on a brand-new musical premiering at Storyhouse in 2025, based on a best-selling children’s book. You will join the Production team working closely with the Stage Management and Creative departments, and the wider Storyhouse team. You will also work closely with Scenario 2, with whom we are coproducing the piece, and Tim Jackson, the director.
Key dates:
6th January-8th February: Rehearsals in London start
10th February: Tech at Storyhouse
15th February: Opens at Storyhouse
1st March: Closes at Storyhouse 1st March
This is a fixed-term contract ending on 2nd March 2025.
Key Responsibilities
You will:
- Be responsible for the smooth running of the rehearsal period and production, ensuring the creative team and company are suitably supported
- Along with the Head of Producing and other members of the SM team, liaise with the creative team and facilitate their requirements to the highest standard
- Run the rehearsal room to a high standard, ensuring the needs of the company and director are met
- Assist the stage management team with rehearsal requirements, including script copies, stage mark up, rehearsal props and furniture requests
- Be responsible for monitoring and documenting the rehearsal process, including noting entrances and exits, use of props, blocking, and costume changes
- Flag any potential issues during rehearsals before hitting the stage
- Keep appropriate paperwork pertaining to cues, setting, technical, costume, etc. Produce and distribute concise rehearsal notes on a daily basis to the relevant teams and show reports, and contribute to the distribution of call sheets as required, in conjunction with the CSM
- Attend and minute production meetings as required
- Create a comprehensive prompt book showing all blocking, entrances and exits, lighting cues, scene changes, and technical cues
- Call each performance, noting any issues and inconsistencies in the performance
You will also:
- Along with the Head of Producing and SM team, liaise with the company and creative team to ensure access requirements are identified, met, and maintained to the highest standard
- Support the CSM in the running of the technical and dress rehearsals, ensuring the needs of the company, creative team, and production are identified and met Write a fully comprehensive show report after each performance and distribute to the relevant teams
- Deputise for the CSM where necessary
- Be an active member in creating the piece in the rehearsal room
- Create accurate production-related paperwork and ensure the prompt book is up-to-date and concise for archive upon completion of the run
- Support the ASM during the run in the daily setup of the show, and lead on pre-show tech checks
- Uphold health and safety standards in line with company policy
- Manage working hours and breaks in conjunction with the SM team, and keep timesheet records up to date
- Act in accordance with Storyhouse’s policies and procedures, and undertake any training as required by Storyhouse
- Act as a role model for other staff and contribute to the life of the organisation as a whole
- Carry out any other duties as may be required as part of the Deputy Stage Manager’s role
Skills & Experience
- Demonstrable professional experience
- Knowledge and experience of creating production paperwork and prompt copy
- Experience calling from a musical score, and confident reading music
- Previous experience calling a busy musical
- Experience working with creative teams, and the ability to manage expectations
- Experience working on shows with swings/understudies
- Experience working with child performers
- Able to manage a team and cover for the CSM where necessary
- Excellent musicality
- Attention to detail with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Proactive and flexible attitude, with the ability to prioritise effectively
- Able to manage lots of groups of different people in a kind and friendly manner
- Discretion and sensitivity when dealing with confidential information
- Able to work under pressure
- Knowledge of Equity agreements and good working practices
- Knowledge of current Health and Safety guidelines
Download the full Job Pack below.
Our Diversity Statement
This house is your house.
Across everything we do, we work to give people the power to build their own creative communities, through inspiring stories and shared creative experiences: this house is your house.
As we blend theatre, library, restaurant and cinema services, we share inspiring stories and stage creative events which empower people to nurture their creativity and connect communities. We create belonging. Through our work, we hope to build a more connected, inclusive, creative community of communities.
The more open we are to the true and rich diversity of our communities, the more vividly we will fulfil our purpose. More engagement by more of our communities will make more of Storyhouse.
We are committed to creating a team which is representative of our communities and to bringing together those with a variety of skills and experiences to help shape what we do and how we work.
How to apply
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter expressing interest in the role and a CV demonstrating relevant experience online at:
Applications should be submitted on or before Thursday 24th October 2024. We will review applications and interview suitable applicants as they are received. This role will close early if a candidate is successful before the advertised close date. For an informal discussion about the role or support in the application process, please contact our Head of People, Emma Hutt, at peopleteam@storyhouse.com.
Interviews will take place w/c 28th October 2024.
Apply Now
- Salary Offer Rehearsal fee of £601.27 per and show fee of £687.36 per week, plus subs where eligible
- Application Pack Storyhouse-Deputy-Stage-Manager-Recruitment-Pack-October-2024.pdf
