Deadline:
JERWOOD DESIGN ASSISTANT - BEST OF ENEMIES
With the support of Jerwood Arts we are providing an opportunity for those interested in theatre design to work on our production of Best of Enemies written by James Graham, directed by Jeremy Herrin and designed by Bunny Christie.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This assistantship is a chance for someone who has had limited opportunity to explore their interest in designing sets and costumes for theatre. We recognise that the path into theatre design can be difficult and this is an opportunity for those whose ambitions and progression may have been limited by a lack of access to educational opportunities.
You won’t have studied theatre design at drama or art school but have an interest in finding out more about how a designer works in theatre with the director, lighting and sound designers and production team.
We are interested in people who have a strong visual imagination and an interest in communicating through images. There are no age restrictions but you should be over 21 years of age.
We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We are particularly interested to hear from those who are Black or from the Global Majority, and those who self-identify as disabled and neuro-divergent and working class.
If you are based outside London we will provide travel expenses as needed – both during the recruitment process and the assistantship.
You should be resident in the UK when you apply.
THE PROGRAMME
The program provides the Design Assistant:
- An assistantship on a Young Vic production
- A one-week placement observing day to day running of the theatre, attending planning and management meetings and spending time in departments such as marketing, production and development
- One-week placement with the production team in a department of your choice (this could be lighting, sound, stage or production management etc.)
- A chance to observe the work of the Taking Part department on work for schools and colleges inspired by the show they have assisted on
- A small pot of money to see shows
Each assistant will receive a fee to cover the assistantship on a production, placement and work with Taking Part.
ASSISTANTSHIP ON A YOUNG VIC PRODUCTION
At present we are looking for an assistant to work on Best of Enemies by James Graham directed by Jeremy Herrin and designed by Bunny Christie.
Dates
Rehearsals from: 25 October 2021
Technical Rehearsals: week commencing 29 November 2021
First Preview: Thursday 2 December 2021
Press Performances: Thursday 9 December 2021
Final Performance: 22 January 2022 (possible extension to 29 January 2022)
The role is full time from 25 October to 9 December 2021. There may be meetings before these dates and attendance would be dependent on the person’s availability.
You will have the opportunity to take part a range of activity that will include:
- Being involved in design meetings
- Time with the designer to talk through their ideas behind the design concept
- Observing rehearsals
- Visiting set builders
- Supporting costume fittings
- Attending tech rehearsals, previews and press night
As much as possible we will tailor the assistantship to the interests of the individual. The experience will be focused on the production process once the rehearsals start.
PAYMENT
There is a fee of £3,000 to cover the period from start of rehearsals to the press night (25 October to 9 December 2021). There may be meetings before these dates and attendance would be dependent on the person’s availability.
For each week-long placement there will be a payment of £450 per week. Dates for these will be post press night and will be mutually agreed with the Young Vic and the Design Assistant.
HOW TO APPLY
What is theatre design - Introductory Workshop- on Zoom
We will be running a workshop session on Zoom which is a chance to learn more about the role of designers in theatre, ask questions, find out more about this opportunity and decide if it is for you or whether more generally theatre design is something you would like to explore. You don’t have to attend this session to apply.
If you are interested in attending this workshop please send an email to opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org with ‘What is theatre design - Introductory Workshop’ in subject heading and we will share follow up information about this workshop.
Application
If you would like to apply please send the following:
- A CV or biography that gives us a bit of information about your experience to date (no more than one A4 page).
- Visual examples of your art work and ideas. They can be drawings, sketch books, paintings, photographs, design ideas, production shots. The examples do not necessarily have to be related to theatre. You can provide this by sending us a power point, a link to a website if you have one, a folder of images via we transfer. You should provide between 10 – 20 images in total
- Approximately 200 words, or 2 minutes if you are submitting an audio or video application, about an image (from a film, photograph, music video, theatre piece, visual art, or sculpture) that has had an impact on you. This will help us to find out a little more about you.
- A completed equal opportunities monitoring form below.
* Filling in the form will help us to be as representative as possible, in the makeup of our creative teams. Our aim is to embrace diversity, ambition and excellence. To achieve this, it is useful for us to know a certain amount about who you are.
Please address and send the above information to Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director at opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org
Please confirm that you are free for a majority of the dates outlined above. If you know you have any prior commitments during the period outlined above, please let us know and we will try to accommodate these as much as we can.
If you are disabled, experiencing mental health issues or are neuro-divergent please let us know the adjustments we need to make the application and interview process fully inclusive for you.
The Young Vic is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
CLOSING DATE
Closing date for applications is noon Tuesday 31 August 2021.
NEXT STEPS
We will get back in touch with everyone who applies. If your availability changes please contact Tia Begum tiabegum@youngvic.org so we can withdraw your expression of interest.
Ideally we will meet with everyone who has expressed an interest and fulfils the criteria identified above regarding level of experience etc. Dependent on the number of applications we may receive, this might not be possible, and so we will provide full selection process information after the closing date.