Job Summary

KIT Theatre is expanding its trainee scheme to include a trainee director. The trainee will receive training in directing immersive theatre for young people; progressing to lead on projects and become one of our regular directing partners.

Job Description

The director trainee role will work closely with core KIT staff, assisting Artistic Director Tom Bowtell and our regular freelance directors. They will work on projects throughout the year learning KIT’s signature style of performance/ facilitation and getting to grips with the core mechanics of our Adventures In Learning model. The trainee will follow projects from start to finish and once they feel confident, will be given opportunities to lead and direct projects themselves.

While a majority of the trainee’s time will be spent assisting and directing on projects, they will also be invited to support certain elements of core company activity, such as budgeting and production. This will allow them to get a sense of the daily running of a not-for-profit organisation and experience of producing work.

Much of our work centres around school timetables, so we often have busier “hotspots” in term time and quieter times during school holidays. With this in mind, we are offering an element of flexibility to this role which will allow the successful candidate to build a schedule with us across the 8 months. There will likely be busier periods where one could be working for KIT up to 4 days a week, but then there could be several weeks off, allowing the trainee to commit to other projects. We recognise that creatives often balance multiple commitments and where possible, we would like to facilitate and support this for our trainees.

Pay: £115 per day for at least 56 days of work spread across 8 months. This will amount to £6440 minimum.

Whilst this is a freelance contract, we will offer benefits including statutory holiday pay, sick leave and pension contributions.

Where the trainee takes on additional responsibilities such as fully leading projects as a director, they will be paid higher fees in line with KIT’s standard day rates for such roles.

Job Requirements

We are looking for early career/emerging directors for this position. This may be someone with experience of directing small scale/fringe work or assistant roles, but it could also be a performer or facilitator looking to transition or upskill. We recognise that experience may differ person to person, but ideally we are looking for a candidate with a demonstrable passion for directing. Due to the nature of our work, preference will be given to candidates with a particular interest in immersive theatre, education and creating work for young people.

KIT Theatre is committed to ensuring that the creative leadership of our work is representative of the communities we serve. With this in mind we are keen to hear from applicants who are underrepresented in the arts and particularly those from the global majority.

Job Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL

• Some demonstrable experience of professional theatrical environments
• Experience of being an Assistant Director or Director (This does not have to be a paid role, it could be in Fringe theatre or an educational environment for example).
• Strong team player
• Strong communication skills
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt to situations and use initiative
• Leadership and management skills
• Some demonstrable experience of working with young people
• Passionate about creating work for young people and using theatre as an educational tool

DESIRABLE

• Some administrative experience
• Passionate about immersive theatre
• Living within a commutable distance to London
• Facilitation experience
• Experience of working in educational settings such as work in a school