Creative Enabler “Buddy” – Job Description

  • Responsible to: General Manager
  • Responsible for: Dishoom! Artist
  • Other key relationships: Director, Choreographer, Stage Management

Rifco and Watford Palace Theatre with Oldham Coliseum are presenting

a Production of the new play Dishoom! By Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti.

The production opens and rehearses at Watford Palace Theatre and then embarks on a five week tour to Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Oldham Coliseum, Warwick Arts Centre and Derby Theatre.

One of the members of the company, Bilal is a wheelchair user. We are seeking a Buddy for Bilal to join us in the final stages of rehearsal and assist through the performance period as set out in the specification below.

Scope

  • To provide access support and pastoral care to Bilal Khan
  • To ensure Bilal’s wellbeing and safety
  • TofamiliariseBilal with each new touring city and venue
  • To assist Bilal creatively through the production ie backstage during performances.

Main responsibilities include:

Supporting the Artist in rehearsals and on tour

  • Driving Bilal to each tour venue from home and familiarising him with the location of his accommodation, the theatre and local amenities.
  • Accompanying Bilal to local shops to set up his accommodation with food and ancillary items and ensuring the accommodationis clean and ready to go
  • Familiarising Bilal with each theatre eg dressing rooms, toilets, green rooms, the stage, fire exits.
  • With stage management and wardrobe ensuring that before each performance Bilal’s props and costume are accessible and set correctly
  • Assisting with Bilal’s quick changes and personal props if necessary during the performance
  • Being responsible for Bilal’s travel to and from the theatre each day to arrivein good time for each call, and then to his home on Saturday evenings

Diet and food

  • Ensuring Bilal is eating appropriately and keeping hydrated
  • Support Bilal in keeping active

Pastoral Support

  • Being aware and working within the parameters of the ‘Work with Me’ documents
  • Providing support around emotional wellbeing and care
  • Work closely with the Company Manager to ensure a holistic approach to his pastoral care
  • Ensuring downtime and rest each week to manage fatigue during the performance weeks
  • Finding activities and researching the local area if necessary
  • Ensuring a positive and healthy environment
  • Arranging travel for activities outside of performances ie cinema trips, gym visits, meals out if required.

Production and Creative

  • Being aware of all call times and passing these on, providing reminders as often as required
  • Supporting Bilal creatively with line learning and other show related activity ie warm ups, entrance and exit plots.

Other

  • Being the designated person responsible for Bilal’s healthy and safety in the event of emergency evacuation during the hours he is called for the Production
  • Updating the General Manager regularly at least twice a week
  • Updating the General Manager immediately in the case of any incidents or emergencies
  • You will not be required to provide any personal care – e.g. bathroom support
  • You will be required to drive a car with Bilal as a passenger to and from each venue
  • You must adhere to all Rifco policies, specifically those regarding Safeguarding
  • In addition, to undertake any other duty or responsibility that may reasonably be allocated by the Artistic Director, Executive Director or General Manager.
  • Given the nature of the role it is anticipated that all staff work in a flexible manner compatible with their jobs.
  • Please note that the job description for this position may be reviewed and amended to incorporate the future needs of Rifco and the other Co-Producers

Schedule

The schedule is variable depending on the activity, there will be regular evening and Saturday work. The outline dates are below:

w/c Monday 27 AugustRehearsals at Watford Palace Theatre (week four)

w/c Monday 03 SeptemberRehearsals and Technical Rehearsals at Watford

Palace Theatre

w/c Monday 10 SeptemberDress Rehearsals and First Performance (Wednesday

12 September)

w/c Monday 17 SeptemberPerformances at Watford Palace Theatre

w/c Monday 24 SeptemberPerformances at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

w/c Monday 01 OctoberPerformances at Oldham Coliseum

w/c Monday 08 OctoberPerformances at Oldham Coliseum

w/c Monday 15 OctoberPerformances at Warwick Arts Centre

w/c Monday 22 OctoberPerformances at Derby Theatre

Terms and Conditions

This is a freelance fixed term position from Tuesday 28th August until Sunday 28 October inclusive.

Fee

£600 per week

Travel for rehearsals, Watford and Hornchurch: Subject to the location of candidate but will be reimbursed based on standard return rail class travel from London.

Travel on tour: A rental car will be provided as per the job description, candidates must have a full clean driving licence

Accommodation will be provided on tour in liaison with the candidate

Whilst on tour £100 out of pocket expenses per week

Hours of Work

This is a full time contract across six days a week including evenings and Saturdays. A tentative schedule can be provided for interested candidates, but this is subject to change and the role will focus around Bilal’s requirements as necessary so the working hours are variable.

Place of Work

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ and on tour as detailed in the schedule above.

Other

Candidates should be in receipt of an up to date DBS check

Application Process

If you would like a confidential informal discussion about the position before applying, please contact Holly Gladwell on in the first instance.

Applications should be made by submitting:

  • A cover letter explaining in no more than two sides of A4, what attracts you to this position and evidence of your ability to meet the criteria outlined in the job description.
  • A CV
  • Names and contacts for two employment / professional referees
  • A statement that you have the right to work in the UK
  • A completed Equal Opportunities monitoring form

Applications should be made and addressed to Holly Gladwell, General Manager, and sent via email to by 12 noon onWednesday 01 August 2018.

Interviews will be held in the w/c06 August 2018.

Rifco is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Rifco welcomes applications from BAME candidates, particularly those from the British Asian community.

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