NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
At Nottingham Playhouse we make bold and thrilling theatre that is world class, made in Nottingham and as diverse as the community we serve.
Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The Company was established in 1948 and moved into its current premises in Wellington Circus in 1963. Nottingham Playhouse comprises a main auditorium seating up to 750 and the Neville Studio, a flexible space, seating up to 100, the Ustinov Room, a flexible meeting space and CAST bar & restaurant. The building has grade II* listed building status and is home to Anish Kapoor’s SkyMirror.
Nottingham Playhouse is one of the ‘big 12’ UK subsidised producing repertory theatres. Its main activities include:
· the making and staging of theatre productions for presentation in Nottingham
· touring theatre productions, main stage and ‘theatre-in-education’, both nationally and internationally
· presenting visiting productions
· a wide range of participation activities with all sectors of the community such as, youth theatres, Playhouse Ensemble, Club Encore, workshops
· an award-winning café bar and restaurant, CAST
· conferencing, corporate use and room hires
Nottingham Playhouse is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and receives grant income from Nottingham City Council.
Main House
The main theatre is a 750 seat proscenium arch theatre on two levels, stalls and circle.
Neville Studio
We have developed the Nottingham Playhouse rehearsal room into a well-equipped on-site studio space and 100-seat performance space – the Neville Studio.
CAST Bar and Restaurant
Operated by Nottingham Playhouse Trading Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottingham Playhouse Trust Ltd, providing a day time operation as well as food and drink for audiences.
Nottingham Playhouse Workshop
Is a separate site co-leased with Rocket Scenery where Nottingham Playhouse builds its scenery.
11 East Circus Street
Is a building currently leased by Nottingham Playhouse and housing the marketing, development and participation departments as well as several tenants.
Recent Capital Works
Nottingham Playhouse has recently invested £1.7m in an environmental upgrade (predominantly funded by Arts Council England) which has dramatically cut energy use and costs. This has involved double/secondary glazing, roof insulation and PV panels, auditorium insulation, fly tower insulation, new theatre lights, a new Building Management System and new toilet facilities including two new accessible toilets.
Head of Operations
This is a new post within the senior management team and is part of the amended management structure to deliver the newly articulated vision of Nottingham Playhouse. The successful applicant will continue to develop the facilities of the Playhouse within the organisation as a whole.
The post-holder will be expected to oversee the management of the resources and also to play a strategic role in their use.
Nottingham Playhouse is a building with many uses – public performances, drama workshops for 2 year olds, conferencing, a creative hub for our Associate Artists, a very wide ranging and growing participation programme, two bars and a restaurant/café, dressing rooms, a main house and studio theatre, production facilities (e.g. wardrobe, workshops and paint shop) and office spaces.
Nottingham Playhouse has a commitment to access that encompasses physical, intellectual and financial accessibility. Our audiences and users have a wide range of expectations and needs and the Head of Operations will work closely with the front line team to ensure that those needs are exceeded.
In addition, the post holder will develop a successful programme of ancillary, corporate and conference use working to an annual financial target.
The successful operation of the bars and restaurant/café is an essential element of this job which line manages the Bars and Restaurant Manager and the Head Chef.
The post holder will be a confident communicator and experienced manager – able to implement improvements to the Operational side of Nottingham Playhouse in a way that is consultative, positive and effective.
Dependent upon experience there is the possibility for some programming to form part of the role – for example music or comedy programming – but this is not an essential criteria for the role.
April 2016