Head of Stage - Derby Theatre

At Derby Theatre, we are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.  

Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby and are a home for higher education students. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and offer training for young people too, with opportunities for learners of all ages. It’s all about empowering people to tap into their potential and achieve.  

The Technical Department is part of the wider Production Department, led by the Technical Manager and comprises of the Head of Stage, Head of Lighting & AV, Head of Sound, and three multi-disciplinary Technicians. The department work on all Produced and Received shows, and on external hires and internal projects, including the theatre's large Youth Theatre and outreach events.

The department provides all aspects of technical theatre support, from set builds to show operation, fit-ups to get outs, workshops with school groups to assisting the university Theatre Arts students; if there's a technical part then we're part of it.

The Head of Stage line-manages the Stage Department, overseeing the day-to-day duties of the team, ensuring their Health and Safety and welfare, and assessing any training and development needs.

Duties for Produced work will include managing the build of set and scenic elements in our workshop, and ensuring a full compliment of competent staff are called for shows. For Received work, duties will include liaising with incoming companies to ensure their production is fit for presentation in our venue, and running the Get In and Get Out in a safe and timely manner. All to the highest standards possible within the time and financial resources agreed and available.

The job involves both hands-on and office-based work, and regular evening and weekend work will be expected.

Salary - £28,520 To £31,689 per annum plus overtime and UKT/BECTU Get-Outs as applicable.

Potential interview date - 4th March

You will have good experience in a lead Stage role in a professional theatre or entertainments venue, you will have solid knowledge and expertise of technical theatre, including producing shows.

You will have proven leadership skills, and have the ability to work with a wide range of people, personalities, and departments, sometimes under a great deal of time pressure.

You will be competent and confident in regards to industry Heath and Safety, accomplished and accurate in IT skills and record-keeping, and have an interest in supporting learners of all ages.

As this role involves working with young people, a full DBS check will be required.

1. Lead the team of stage technicians, ensuring the wellbeing, motivation, professional development and satisfactory conduct of all assigned staff.
2. Directly supervise the work of technicians. Instruct team members, allocate work and ensure work is processed accurately and on time. Overseeing and running fit-ups, get-outs and operating shows in accordance with staff rotas.
3. Administrating the running of the department; providing schedules, budgets and time sheets as required. Recruit, supervise, and manage all Stage Department team members working at Derby Theatre ensuring their time is scheduled as effectively as possible adhering to the UK Theatre/BECTU Agreement.
4. Use judgement, technical knowledge and expertise to provide advice, guidance and solutions in your specialist areas of risk and expenditure. Influence outcomes to achieve long term resilience for your department.
5. To be a proactive member of the production team promoting and maintaining high production values.
6. Keep yourself and your team aware of developments and issues developing in Derby Theatre and the wider theatre industry.
7. Identify and ensure appropriate training and induction is given to all departmental staff and provide in-house training wherever possible.
8. To deputise in the absence of the Technical Manager.
9. Work closely with multiple touring companies, directors and designers to ensure their artistic vision can be safely delivered, and within timescale and budget.
10. Operating shows in accordance with staff rotas.
11. To act as Duty Technician, as required, taking responsibility for the security of the building, its occupants and associated equipment.
12. Being familiar and complying with current Health & Safety regulations relevant to the industry and keeping abreast of changes to such regulations.
13. Implementing and overseeing Health & Safety in all backstage and onstage areas, including the scenic workshop, adhering to Health & Safety regulations and the in-house Health & Safety policy.
14. Responsible for creating and monitoring suitable risk assessments and method statements for all department related activities, and producing and maintaining LOLER, PUWER & COSHH and any other Health & Safety records relevant to the department as required.
15. To be a member of the Health & Safety committee and attend Health & Safety meetings as required.
16. To liaise with the Head of Production regarding production or building Health & Safety issues that may affect performing or incoming companies.
17. Set and lead standards for in house safe working loads and work with designers and directors to be sure incoming sets can be safely mounted.
18. Translate complex design plans, ground plans and hanging plots to the stage, using expertise at design stage to negotiate, influence and inform the creative team to produce workable schemes of design.
19. Creating, building set elements and props as necessary.
20. Manage the workshop builds for produced shows in conjunction with the Head of Production, ensuring deadlines and scenic budgets are met. Book and schedule freelance scenic carpenters and artists for produced builds. Ensure time management whilst adhering to the set budget.
21. Ensure that assigned budgets are managed efficiently and to assist the Head of Production and Technical Manager in financial planning and budgeting objectives.
22. Costing and sourcing hardware and materials for productions and rehearsals as required.
23. Ordering equipment and consumables as necessary in accordance with budgets and financial procedures.
24. To identify additional income generation opportunities from the stage resource.
25. To keep up to date with environmental best practice in the theatre industry, such as the Green Book and Julie’s Bicycle monitoring tools.
26. To monitor the use of materials in our sets, keeping track of types of materials and levels of re-use and recycling.
27. To champion and develop the use of more environmental policies in the production department.
28. Actively understand and promote the values and mission of the Learning Theatre.
29. Actively support Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre model, including engaging with the University of Derby’s Theatre-related higher education provision.
30. Lead and facilitate learning opportunities and support the theatre’s wider role as a learning environment.

A complete list of Principal accountabilities can be found on the attached job description