The Royal Court is the writers’ theatre. It is the leading force in World theatre for vigorously cultivating writers – undiscovered, new and established. Through the writers we are at the forefront of creating restless, alert, provocative theatre about now. We seek stories from everywhere and create theatre for everyone and we see our audience as one of our chief collaborators.
Applications are invited for the post of:PRESS ASSISTANT
Responsible to: HEAD OF PRESS AND PR
The Royal Court is the home of the English Stage Company Limited (ESC) and is the UK’s leading theatre dedicated to new writing.
Up to 16 plays a year are staged between two theatre spaces (the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs) at the Royal Court’s home on Sloane Square. Over 100,000 people visit the Royal Court every year and over 100,000 more see our work elsewhere, including transfers to the West End and New York, National and International touring, online projects and London residencies in Tottenham and Pimlico.
A significant amount of play development activity takes place year-round. This work aims to find and nurture the most talented new writers and develop the highest quality plays, for which the Royal Court is internationally renowned. There is an ongoing programme of writers’ attachments, readings, workshops and playwriting groups.
The Royal Court Theatre also has two commercial subsidiaries, Royal Court Theatre Productions Ltd (RCTP), which facilitates the transfer of Royal Court productions to the West End and ESC Catering Limited set up to run the catering operation at the theatre.
The Royal Court is the home of the English Stage Company Limited (ESC) and is the UK’s leading theatre dedicated to new writing.
MAIN PURPOSE:
Supporting the Head of Press in managing press and publicity for the Royal Court Theatre, maintaining and increasing the profile of the Royal Court Theatre and its work in the media on a national and international scale.
The Head of Press and PR and Press Assistant are part of a wider Communications team which also includes Marketing and Sales.
Main duties:
- Supporting the Head of Press in delivering successful press campaigns for productions and events at the Royal Court Theatre
- Leading on smaller press campaigns for specific events as required
- Liaising with directors, actors and key staff on press related issues
- Collating daily press cuttings by looking through all national press and using google alerts to track online coverage.
- Keeping digital copies and ensuring offline and online press filing is up-to-date and professionally presented
- Distributing the cuttings through photocopies, scans and links to key staff
- Creating Press Packs at the end of a run and distributing to the company
- Compiling quotes sheets from reviews and updating the reviews section of the website
- Research for press campaigns, including usingGorkana database
- Working with the Press Officer to build and maintain relationships with student and local press.
- Responding to all image requests
- Assist at press nights, photo calls, photo shoots, press briefings and other events
- To support the Press Officer on press nights and manage press night invitations/rsvps
- Providing administrative support to the Head of Press and PR
- Supporting the Marketing and Sales team on research on specific projects and contributing to the work of the wider Communications team as required.
GENERAL
- Play an active part in development, promotion and implementation of company policies: access, sustainability, health and safety and equality and diversity.
- Attend departmental, staff, company and other meetings on a regular basis.
This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required by the Press Assistantand the post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the senior nature of the post as agreed with the Executive Management Team.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Previous experience working within an arts environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to deal confidently with a wide range of people including VIPs and journalists
- An keen interest in press and PR, particularly in relation to arts and / or theatre
- Ability to work confidently in a fast paced environment.
- An interest in theatre and new writing in particular
- Excellent administrative, logistical and organisational skills
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Positive attitude and a flexible / responsive approach to working patterns
- Ability to work unsupervised when required
- Good computer / digital skills
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Title of post:Press Assistant
Hours: Standard 40 hours. Due to the nature of this role, some evening and week end work will be required.
Contract:2 years fixed term
Salary: £21,000 per annum
Holiday entitlement:20 days per year, plus 8 days for statutory holidays.
Pension:The Royal Court operates a workplace pension scheme. Details will be available at point of contract.
Other Benefits:
- Complimentary tickets for preview performances, subject to availability and the Royal Court’s staff ticket policy.
- Interest free travel season ticket loan
- Cycle to work scheme
- 20% discount on all food and drink purchases in the theatre’s Bar and Kitchen, subject to discount policy.
- 10% discount on all purchases in the theatre’s Bookshop, subject to discount policy.
Application Procedures:
Please note that only applications submitted on the Royal Court’s standard Application Form can be considered, CVs are not accepted. Application Forms can be downloaded from:
Once the Application and Equal Opportunities Forms are completed please return, by the closing date below, to:
Email:
By post: Recruitment, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London SW1 8AS
Closing date for applications: 10am Friday 21 July 2017
Interviews to be held: Friday 28 July and Monday 31 July 2017
The Royal Court is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and encourages applications from minority ethnic and disabled groups, as they are under-represented amongst are staff.
The English Stage Company (no. 231242) is a publicly funded registered charity.
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