Supporting the next generation of Theatre Professionals
With the creation of our new Assistant Production Manager role by the Mackintosh Foundation, Head of Production at the Lyric, Adrian Mullan, delves into the role and what is to be expected for potential candidates.
As the largest employer of theatre practitioners in Northern Ireland, it is vital that we look to developing the next generation of theatre professionals. This is especially important here, as there is currently no professional technical theatre training available in Northern Ireland. In the past year we have offered two new theatre production training positions: A Construction Apprentice in our Scenic Construction Department, and a Costume Assistant in our Costume Department. We are now excited to be launching our third.
The Lyric Theatre is one of thirteen regional theatres across the UK participating in the first year of the Regional Theatre Technical Apprenticeship Programme. This programme has been made possible with the generous support of the Mackintosh Foundation and aims to address the shortage of skilled theatre production workers and help cultivate the next generation of theatre production professionals.
As part of this programme, we are excited to launch a new role at the Lyric Theatre - Assistant Production Manager. This role will operate within our Production Management team, gaining hands on experience of working in a busy production department in a producing theatre. They will work on our in-house programme, working closely with our Production Manager and all members of the production team. They will also have the opportunity to lead on the production management of our Creative Learning programme.
As well as being a full-time salaried position, this role includes structured training in Production Management, offered remotely through Chichester College. The training programme includes modules on Organisational Knowledge, Stages of Production, Scheduling and Reporting, Professional Development and Communication, Health and Safety and Professional Standards, Financial Governance and Insurance, Technical Design, Scenic Construction, Personnel Management, and Touring. There will also be some in-person training days, and industry and networking events where all the participants on the programme can link up with other industry professionals across the UK.
The ideal candidate for this role is someone with either professional theatre experience, although not necessarily in Production Management, or someone who has completed a degree in a technical theatre subject. They must be self-motivated, flexible, and capable of working effectively under pressure. They should demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They must also be able to multitask and meet tight deadlines, and have a passion for theatre.
The post is a 24-month fixed term contract, after which the postholder will have gained exceptional experience, training, and industry knowledge and will be well positioned to further their career in theatre production management.