About National Theatre
Learning The National Theatre’s extensive UK-wide learning and participation programme supports young people and schools through performance and writing programmes like Connections, New Views and Let’s Play, while Public Acts creates ambitious new works of participatory theatre in sustained partnership with theatres and community organisations around the country. The National Theatre extends its reach through digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries, and the National Theatre Collection, which makes recordings of shows available to UK schools and the global education sector. The National Theatre invests in the future of theatre by developing talent, creating bold new work and building audiences, partnering with a range of UK theatres and theatre companies.
About Connections Connections
is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre programme. We commission new plays from leading playwrights for young companies to produce and perform in their schools and home venues, and at a network of Partner Theatres across the UK. Connections Mentor Directors are a core part of the programme; they support and advise Connections companies, offering feedback on their performances and supporting their transfer to Partner Theatre Festivals.
The Mentor Director’s role includes:
- Attending performances of their assigned groups at their schools / youth theatres, meeting the director ahead of the performance, and hosting a Q&A with the company after the performance.
- Taking notes during the performance and giving detailed and comprehensive development feedback to the company’s director, either verbally or through written notes.
- Highlighting companies that need additional support ahead of their festival performance and identifying what support they would benefit from.
- Inputting into the planning for your allocated Partner Theatre Festival.
- Supporting companies at their Partner Theatre Festival, including working with company directors on their tech and dress rehearsals, and running warm-ups and workshops.
- Sharing feedback regarding companies and attending feedback meetings with the Connections team.
- Reading all plays in the Connections portfolio and attending a briefing day ahead of the start of visits.
- Being a representative of Connections and the National Theatre at company’s home performances and at Partner Theatre Festivals.
- Extensive travel across the UK to visit companies and Festivals.
We are looking for Mentor Directors who have:
- Experience of working with young people, and an interest in youth theatre.
- A breadth of experience, working across different contexts in theatre, such as
- Experience of running technical rehearsals in a professional context, such as at producing theatres or on touring work.
- An interest in new writing.
- Experience of and / or an interest in theatre across the U.K.
- Experience of giving notes on rehearsals and performances, with strong dramaturgical skills.
- Strong communications skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, including teachers, young people, and theatre makers.
- A strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the sector.
- Strong organisational skills.
- An interest in and willingness to travel to see work across the UK.
We want our workforce to be representative of all sections of UK society and welcome applications from everyone, although for this call out, we are particularly interested in hearing from:
- people who are disabled
- people from the global majority
- people are who are based outside of London (across the UK including Northern Ireland)
Fee
- Mentor Director visits (including pre-show meet and greet, post show Q&A, and written / verbal feedback) are paid at a rate of between £100 and £200, depending on travel and overnight stays required.
- Partner Theatre Festivals are paid at a rate of £230 per day.
- Meetings are paid at a rate of £120 per day / £60 per half day.
- The National Theatre pays for all travel outside of the Mentor Director’s hometown / city, and for any accommodation required.
Timeframe
- Briefing day – January 2022.
- Visiting home performances at schools and youth theatres and giving feedback – from February to April 2022. Visits may be weekdays or weekends and are likely to include some long journeys and anti-social hours.
- Partner Theatre Festivals – dates between mid-March and mid-May 2022
- Good availability during this period is required, but Mentor Directors do not need to be exclusively available.
Mentor Directors are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure and appointment to the role is subject to the NT being in receipt of a satisfactory DBS Disclosure, under section 115 of the Police Act 1997.
Application Process
Applications close Midday on Friday 6 August
Interviews (online) Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 August
After applications close a shortlisted number of candidates will be invited to a short online interview with the NT Connections Team and members of the NT Learning Department.
How to apply
Please complete this application form by midday on Friday 6 August.
Please note, as part of this form you will be required to upload your CV. We encourage applicants to apply in whatever form (e.g., a video or an audio) is most accessible for them.
If you would like to talk to the team about another way of applying, or have any questions at all, then please do not hesitate to get in touch on connections@nationaltheatre.org.uk If you need anything else to make any part of the process accessible to you, please let us know and we’ll put it in place.
Working with NT Learning
The National Theatre’s Learning Department periodically recruits for new practitioners, writers, designers, workshop-leaders, artists and theatre-makers to join their pool of freelancers. If you feel you do not meet the desirable criteria for this role, but would like to register your interest in joining the freelancer pool, please email learning@nationaltheatre.org.uk