Job Title: Theatre School Manager
Reports to: Artistic Director
Direct reports: A pool of 10 – 15 Freelance Instructors
Pay: Salary to be confirmed by start of April, minimum salary will be equivalent to £9027 per annum (pro rata from £22,568)
Hours: 14 hours per week (0.4fte). Flexible working and home working is possible, however attendance at the weekly team meeting and regular crossover hours with the Artistic Director and freelance instructors is required.
Other information: This is a permanent role, subject to a 6 month probationary period.
The Bristol Improv Theatre (BIT) is looking for a highly organised, collaborative and ambitious Theatre School Manager to join our friendly and vibrant team. We’re looking for someone values driven who is great at scheduling and evaluation, able to keep track of multiple workflows, and motivated to ensure a high standard of teaching delivery and an excellent experience for all of our students as we embark on an ambitious programme to expand the Theatre School.
About Bristol Improv Theatre
The Bristol Improv Theatre is the UK’s first full-time dedicated improv theatre. We create, teach and perform spontaneous theatre that is welcoming, creatively ambitious and unapologetically entertaining. We host renowned improv and comedy acts from all over the UK and overseas, as well as being a hub for talented local troupes.
Our Theatre School is unique in its offering of welcoming and well held space for exploring improv at all levels, and is often the first experience of theatre training or performing for participants. We currently have 10 regular 6-7 courses in rotation, along with stand-alone drop in sessions, and intensives led by visiting instructors that vary from a few hours to week-long programmes.
Responsibilities:
- Scheduling and coordinating our year-round offer of training for students at all levels of ability and experience
- Working with the Operations Manager to ensure that all classes, courses, and intensives are appropriately supported by venue staff
- Working with the Artistic Director on the expansion of Theatre School including commissioning and evaluating new courses
- Ensuring all relevant information and materials for the listing and promotion of classes are passed onto the Box Office Manager and Marketing Manager in line with our expectations on lead in times to maximise sales
- Managing the Theatre School’s pool of freelance Instructors, including
- Recruitment and training of new instructors to ensure capacity
- Auditing and providing feedback to trained Instructors
- Running professional development sessions for all Instructors
- Tackling any concerns raised by students or Instructors in relation to Instructors
- Maintaining and updating Bristol Improv Theatre School course syllabuses and related resources
- Gathering and regularly reviewing student feedback on all elements of Theatre School activities as well as collating feedback for the Theatre’s annual report
- Developing relationships with specialist improv practitioners and local arts practitioners to compliment and diversify our Theatre School offer
- Working with the Marketing Manager to identify and access new audiences for improv courses and training
- Working with the Artistic Director to improve the accessibility of courses in line with recent training on supporting Disabled students and student feedback
- Actively promoting the values of inclusivity and accessibility in all areas of the Theatre School, including teaching practice, course content and student communications
- Work with the Applied Improv (corporate workshops) Lead on areas of cross over between the Theatre School and Applied Improv
- Work with the Artistic Director on community building programmes that build on Theatre School activities and use the expertise of freelance Instructors, such as the Improv Jam nights and Unscripted Players amateur show projects.
Person Specification
| Essential | Desirable |
|
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills. • Experience of supporting adult education in the arts • Experience of managing teachers, instructors or facilitators • Experience of working with freelancers • Experience of scheduling a mixed programme of classes or events, and managing scheduling conflicts • Proven interpersonal, teamwork and decision-making skills. • Ability to work under your own steam and manage time efficiently. • A good working knowledge of theatre and ideally improv. • An ability to deal with multiple projects and work under pressure, to tight deadlines. • An ability to think strategically and plan ahead • A supportive, flexible, reliable, committed, collaborative and compassionate team member. • A willingness to participate and engage with Bristol Improv Theatre’s events and community. • A commitment to accessibility and inclusion in both the Theatre School and across the whole organisation. |
• Previous theatre or arts leadership experience • Detailed knowledge of improvisation as an art form. • An understanding of the local and national theatre and improv landscape. • Knowledge of Bristol’s Arts and Culture scene and its audience • Experience of budget management and financial controls • Experience of teaching theatre or improv • Experience of teaching adults |
Diversity
We, at Bristol Improv Theatre, know that diversity in a workforce is a strength to any organisation. We want to hear from people of different backgrounds and life experience, and are excited to hear the breadth of experiences that our applicants would be able to bring to a marketing role. We especially encourage applications from people from the Global Majority and LGBTQ+ community.
If there’s anything which is preventing you from applying or you wish to discuss prior to your application, please contact us at hello@improvtheatre.co.uk and a suitable member of our team will be in touch.
Employee Perks:
- Free tickets to shows as part of our Staff Standby Comps scheme.
- Free use of the venue’s spaces when it is not booked by another party.
- Occasional discounts / free spaces on improv classes and workshops.
- Contributing towards an independent, community-focused theatre!
How to Apply
- By Writing – please send a CV and short cover letter (max. 2 pages) stating your suitability and why you want to apply for this role.
- By Audio – please send a CV and voice note up to 4 minutes in length stating your suitability and why you want to apply for this role.
- By Video – please send a CV and video up to 4 minutes in length stating your suitability and why you want to apply for this role.
Please address the following three questions in your cover letter, voice note or video:
- Why do you think you are suitable for this role? Please provide an overview of your relevant experience for the role.
- Why do you want to work for Bristol Improv Theatre? Please tell us what appeals to you about Bristol Improv Theatre itself. Use this as an opportunity to research and reflect on our values, audiences, events and theatre school. Your answer should show that you have an understanding of our values and desire to help achieve our mission, vision and values.
- What interests you most about this position? Your answer should evidence that you’ve read and understood the responsibilities of the role. You can use this as an opportunity to talk about any responsibilities that you’re particularly interested in – whether this is because you’ve specialist skills in this area, or because you’re keen to develop in this area.
Send to: hello@improvtheatre.net
Application deadline:
Monday 7th April 2025, 10am.
Interviews W/C 14th April with start date as soon as possible.
