Callout- RSC Associate Schools Director Mentor

OPEN CALLOUT: Director Mentor. RSC Associate Schools ProgrammeNorthern Stage is delighted to continue our partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Sacred Heart High School for this year’s Associate Schools Programme.The project aims to transform young people’s experiences of Shakespeare and live theatre, and to build communities of practice where Shakespeare, theatre-making, and theatre-going, are valued and celebrated.Northern Stage works with a Lead Associate School (Sacred Heart High School) to support a cluster of 7local and primary schools work towards the creation of a performance of a Shakespeare play at an annual Playmaking Festival. For Northern Stage, this is a really exciting moment in the year, when our largest theatre space is packed full of young people and their families, many of whom are coming to the theatre for the first time.We are looking for a Director Mentor to work with Northern Stage’s core team, our schools cohort, and the RSC, to support teachers and students throughout this journey. You will cultivate a joyous and inspiring rehearsal experience, empower teachers as directors and educators of Shakespeare, and work with the Northern Stage production team to create a high quality theatre experience for audiences of the Playmaking Festival.Main ResponsibilitiesTo support and empower teachers as the director(s) of the performance, attending and supporting rehearsals in schools between April and June 2024.To share directing tools and techniques to facilitate the transition from classroom to rehearsal to stage.To cultivate a safe and enjoyable rehearsal experience for young people, preparing them for performance day both in terms of confidence and stagecraft.To ensure the performance(s) meet the appropriate requirements and is of the highest quality possible, including cohesion and consistency between each school’s contribution.To work closely with Northern Stage staff on technical requirements of the performance, and to deliver technical rehearsal days that are enjoyable and smooth for young people and teachers.To develop a sound knowledge of the original text and the edited script of the chosen Shakespeare play, and to make further edits and amends to script as required by the teachers and/or theatre partner, in consultation with RSC Education team.To advocate rehearsal-room approaches to classroom work and safe ensemble rehearsal practice, which holds young people’s creativity at the centre.To maintain an open and flexible approach to working with young people from different schools, cultures, backgrounds and confidence levels.To be aware of Northern Stage’s Safeguarding Children Policy and to be aware of the Designated Safeguarding Lead in each school.Contribute towards an evaluation process.Attend and participate in RSC CPD days with teachers from the cluster schools.Who are we looking for?The Director Mentor will:Be an experienced theatre director based in the North-East of England.*, with at least one professional directing credit.*Have the skills and knowledge to make compelling theatre in large professional auditoriums.Have a robust understanding of the challenges of working in schools and with teachers, with the ability to cultivate an empowering and positive experience for teachers and young people.Have experience working with young peopleBe highly organised, confident, flexible, and calm in a pressurised environment.*Based in any of the listed local authority’s: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton and Sunderland.*For this role we consider a professional directing credit to be a role where you were paid as a director and collaborated with a professional creative and production team. We’ll consider people with experience directing either professional actors, or non-professional actors in a participatory setting.DATESSC development days: 19 th
Jan and 1 st
March 2024Rehearsal Support in schools: April-June 2024Technical Rehearsals: TBCThere will also be preparation days and planning meetings on dates between January and July to be agreed between Northern Stage, the Lead Associate School, and the Director Mentor once a contract has been agreed.FEES21 days at £175 per day, total fee = £3675How to applyTo apply please send a CV, and covering letter, outlining your suitability for the role, to ##### by 12th November, 5pm. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. Alternatively, you can apply by sending a short video or audio file, telling us about you and your experience.If you need any support to help you apply, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will do our best to meet your needs.Receipt of your application will be confirmed by email.Interviews will take place on 21st November.
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