Deadline:
JERWOOD ASSISTANT DESIGNER PROGRAMME
The Young Vic is committed to providing opportunities for artists to develop their craft and to expand their knowledge and practice. Learning from experienced artists by assisting is a vital chance to develop skills and understanding.
With the support of Jerwood Arts we have provided assistant director opportunities over 10 years and we are now expanding this to provide Jerwood Assistant Designer roles on two productions in our forthcoming seasons.
We would like these two assistantships to be a chance for someone at an early stage of their artistic development to gain an insight into the design and production process and develop their craft.
At present we are looking for an assistant to work on Hamlet by William Shakespeare directed by Greg Hersov, designed by Anna Fleischle
THE PROGRAMME
The program provides each assistant designer:
- An assistantship on a Young Vic production
- A one-week placement observing day to day running of the theatre, attending planning and management meetings and spending time in departments such as marketing, production and development
- One-week placement with the production team in a department of your choice
- The opportunity to devise and lead two peer-led projects for the Genesis Network.
- A chance to work with the Taking Part department on work for schools and colleges inspired by the show they have assisted on
- A small pot of money to see shows
Each assistant will receive a fee to cover the assistantship on a production, placement and work with Taking Part.
ASSISTANTSHIP ON A YOUNG VIC PRODUCTION
At present we are looking for an assistant to work on Hamlet by William Shakespeare directed by Greg Hersov, designed by Anna Fleischle
Dates
White card deadline 2nd June 2021
Final design 22nd June 2021
Rehearsals from: 9th August 2021
Technical Rehearsals: week commencing 20th September 2021
First Preview: week commencing 20th September 2021
Press Performances: week commencing 4th October 2021
Final Performance: 13th November 2021
You will have the opportunity to take part a range of activity that will include:
- Observe rehearsals
- Visit set builders
- Support costume fittings
- Attend tech rehearsals, preview and press night
- Spend time in the designers’ studio
- Time with the designer to talk through their ideas behind the design concept
As much as possible we will tailor the assistantship to the interests of the individual. The experience will be focused on the production process once the rehearsals start.
We recognise that the path into theatre design may be varied so as well as those recent
graduates from design courses, we actively encourage those whose ambitions and progression may have been limited by a lack of access to educational opportunities. We hope these roles could be an alternative route into theatre design and you don’t need to have studied at a drama or arts college to apply for this opportunity.
FEES
There is a fee of £3,000 to cover the period from start of rehearsals to the press night. It is possible for the role to be undertaken on a part time basis to fit in with other commitments. However, during the and tech through to the press night it is anticipated that the assistant would work on a full time basis.
There may be the need to undertake research and/or attend meetings prior to the rehearsal period and these would be paid on a daily basis.
For each week-long placement there will be a payment of £450 per week (dates will be post press night and will be mutually agreed with Young Vic and assistant designer)
There is a fee of £200 to devise two peer-led projects for the Genesis Network (timings to be mutually agreed).
We are looking for an assistant designer who:
- Has designed at least one professional* production
- Is interested in taking part in workshops for schools and colleges (no previous experience is necessary)
- Has not assisted at a theatre equivalent to the scale and reputation of the Young Vic
- Has not studied to MA level or above in a theatre related subject
- Be resident in the UK at point of application
- Be available for a majority of the dates
* We would define professional, as: the team who created and realised the production have or hope to have theatre as their main career focus and source of income.
You do not have to be a member of the Young Vic’s Genesis Network but we would encourage you to join so you can continue to find out about events, workshops and opportunities. You can sign up HERE
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to apply please send the following:
- a CV or biography that gives us a bit of information about your experience to date (no more than one A4 page).
- Visual examples of your work. They can be drawings, sketches, photos of model boxes, production shots. You can provide this by sending us a power point, a link to your website, a folder of images via via we transfer. You should provide between 10 – 20 images in total
- Equal opportunities monitoring form ( attached below) *
We are not asking for a written submission as part of the application process.
* Filling in the form will help us to be as representative as possible, in the makeup of our creative teams. Our aim is to embrace diversity, ambition and excellence. To achieve this, it is useful for us to know a certain amount about who you are.
Please address and send the above information to Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director at Opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org
Please confirm that you are free for a majority of the dates outlined above. If you know you have any prior commitments during the period outlined above, please let us know and we will try to accommodate these as much as we can.
If you are Deaf, disabled, experiencing mental health issues or are neuro-divergent please let us know the adjustments we need to make the application and interview process fully inclusive.
We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We are particularly interested to hear from Black and Global Majority designers, and those who self-identify as disabled and working class. All candidates who self-identify as disabled who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview.
The Young Vic is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
CLOSING DATE
Deadline for applications is 12pm 8 July 2021
NEXT STEPS
We will get back in touch with everyone who applies. If your availability changes please contact Tia Begum tiabegum@youngvic.org so we can withdraw your expression of interest.
Depending on the volume of applications, there will be two or three stages in the selection process.
Ideally we will meet with everyone who has expressed an interest and fulfils the criteria identified above regarding level of experience etc. Given time restraints, this might not be possible.
We will provide full selection process information after the closing date.