Associate Artistic Director

We're looking for a theatre director who shares our vision and energy, someone who wants to shape the future of theatre with us.

We're on the hunt for a new Associate Artistic Director. We make big exhilarating productions that centre around a brilliant idea. We often find those ideas in unexpected places - the same is true of the people we work with. So, we welcome applicants from all walks of life.

Our new Associate Artistic Director will take a senior creative role in one of the UK's most vital touring companies. You'll work alongside Holly to develop and deliver an ambitious artistic programme that connects deeply with artists and audiences nationally, creating thrilling theatre with social substance.

You'll also lead on education and community partnerships, empower emerging theatre directors through our Director Development Programme, Headlong Origins, and drive inclusive engagement that resonates nationwide. What's important is that we'll share similar values: we're brave, we thrive on a challenge, we do a lot with a little, and we believe the pursuit of justice is inextricably linked to high quality art. We exist to provoke progress.

We are an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Last year we established a new operational model with place based partnerships in Bolton, Leeds and Oxford. Over the last few months we have moved our 'home ground' to Oxford, and the team frequently works from Oxford, as well as our new London office in Somerset House.

Our new Associate Artistic Director will be expected to work from both bases frequently, as well as travel to other co producing and partner venues. There is flexibility built into this model, and we look forward to negotiating with the right person and working to ensure that there are no barriers to their work with Headlong.

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Contract: Full time, 2 year fixed term

Location: Hybrid working in Oxford, London, from home and on tour

Apply by: Monday 24th November, 12pm midday

Interviews: w/c 8th December (online) and w/c 15th December (London)

We're looking for a theatre director who thinks nationally and acts locally. Who thrives in collaboration, believes in access and justice, and wants to help rewrite the narrative of who gets to make and lead theatre in this country.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• At least five years experience of directing within a professional theatre context
• Proven dramaturgical skills and commitment to diversifying the theatrical canon
• Experience of being in a mentoring position
• Experience of and commitment to leading community, youth or education based work
• A strong passion and understanding of national touring and regional theatre contexts
• A deep commitment to ensuring access and inclusion within the arts, eco practice, touring and creative equity

For the full Person Specification and more information, please download the Application Pack from our website.

Key aspects:

• Deputising for the Artistic Director on a diverse range of projects
• Taking a leading role in the development of our community and artist development programmes
• Nurturing Headlong's relationships with theatres and artists across the UK

In addition you will:

• Direct, develop and/or support Headlong productions
• Support the Artistic Director on the artistic programming of Headlong alongside our Literary Manager & Dramaturg
• Lead and design our annual Headlong Origins programme for emerging directors
• Design and/or direct community based projects that live alongside our productions for year olds
• Create meaningful learning experiences for schools with a focus on Oxford, Leeds and Bolton alongside all our productions in collaboration with our Producing Team
• Support our developmental and strategic work
• Contribute to our Justice Work

For the full list of the role's responsibilities, please download the Application Pack from our website.

Contact for more info: emailprotected