Trestle Theatre Company
Participation & Company Coordinator Application Information Pack
Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive St Albans
Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in Trestle and this role. Our current Company Co-ordinator Annie Smith will be leaving us in April to take up the post of Lead Officer Arts Operations at Hemel’s Old Town Hall. Annie’s role at Trestle has provided support across all areas of the Company and we are taking this opportunity to focus the position on our participatory work, hence the title change to Participation & Company Coordinator. We are looking for someone who wants to be a crucial part of a small team of hardworking and friendly people. There are five full time and a number of part time and freelance staff and practitioners, who make up the Trestle team. Although each person has a specialism and area of responsibility, we work together to develop projects and evolve the Company. We are currently in the process of creating a three year plan from April 2015 to March 2018 and our new Participation & Company Coordinator will become part of the planning team. The ideal candidate would have some experience of working in arts education; however, their attitude to Trestle and aptitude to our working environment are of paramount importance. Everyone in the Company supports the workings of Trestle Arts Base and contributes to the running of the office. Trestle’s workshop programme of mask and physical theatre workshops, training and residencies continues throughout the year and each year a new strand is introduced to the workshop offer. In the coming year we will be developing and launching a new educational project inspired by the true story of Yarico, a Native American Indian who was sold into slavery. The new Participation & Company Coordinator will work closely with the Artistic Director to develop, market and administrate this new programme of workshops for formal and informal educational settings. Process Please fill in an application form and email it to emily@trestle.org.uk, copying in clare@trestle.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 7th April. We will shortlist during the week of 7th April and invite candidates to an interview on Tuesday 14th April at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans. The ideal starting date would be 18th May (or before); however, we are prepared to be flexible. We welcome applications from all people regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, religious or political beliefs, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, social or marital status or personal circumstances. Please call Emily Gray, Trestle’s Artistic Director, on 01727 850950 if you would like to discuss the role. We look forward to hearing from you,
Emily Gray, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Trestle Theatre Company
Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator Information March 2015
Information: Trestle is a mask and physical theatre company, with a highly regarded arts education programme. As a charity, our mission is to engage children, young people and adults in creative activity, which aims to enhance the cultural quality of their experiences. Trestle has been making innovative and inspirational physical theatre and participation projects since 1981. All of our work is influenced by full and half mask; however, over the past decade, collaborations with artists from India, Spain, Eastern Europe and Africa, along with our partners in the UK, have inspired the evolution of the work we create. Trestle is one of the leading providers of school workshops, teacher training and participation programmes in the country. We run mask, half mask, physical theatre and bespoke workshops, projects and residencies nationally and internationally. Trestle Arts Base in St Albans is home to Trestle Theatre Company; from here we support the development and performance of new, high quality, professional productions. There are weekly classes, community events and meetings, as well as spaces for performance research and development. Our Equal opportunities and diversity statement reads: Trestle Arts Base is fully accessible. Trestle Theatre Company strives to be an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from people from all sectors of the community.
Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator Information March 2015
Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator: Coordinator: Job Description
Trestle NEW Half Masks
Reporting to
Artistic Director
Purpose of post
To co-ordinate and administrate Trestle’s participatory work, and to support the administration of Trestle Theatre Company and Trestle Arts Base
Duties: Participation • • • • • •
To take enquiries for mask and physical theatre workshops, training and residencies and discuss possible content and delivery To book workshop leaders for mask and physical theatre work, in consultation with the Artistic Director where necessary To negotiate and issue contracts To raise sales invoices on Sage for all participation work and chase for payment when overdue To arrange travel and accommodation for workshop leaders To ensure feedback is gathered from workshops leaders and those receiving Trestle’s work Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator Information March 2015
• •
To be the leading staff member for Trestle on matters of Child Protection, with responsibility for DBS checks and risk assessments To administrate and co-ordinate Trestle’s youth theatre, Marvellous Masks
Marketing and Communications • • • • • •
To assist in the delivery of the marketing strategy for Company activities, including Participation and Performance To maintain and update the Company mailing lists for participation and education contacts To update the stakeholders lists regularly To update the website and Facebook as required with new information on events, etc. To engage in social networking, primarily twitter To proof read copy as required
Touring • • • • • •
To support with administration in the lead up to tours To support with travel and accommodation arrangements To invoice venues for the shows To chase payments from venues, including royalties payments To ensure the venues mailing list and filing is kept up to date To assist the Marketing Manager in coordinating end of tour reports and statistics
Trestle Theatre Office • • • • • • • • • • • •
To approve and authorise invoices/payments for workshop leaders To maintain computer back up tape daily To ensure invoices received by the Company are stamped and passed to budget holders for payment To discuss customers’ requirements and upsell Trestle products To open the post and distribute and to take the post to the post office To order stationery and other consumables To process ticket sales using Databox software when necessary To support hires within the building where necessary To support Front of House when needed To provide general assistance to the Artistic Director as and when required To provide general assistance to other members of staff To take minutes at Company’s meetings and circulate them
Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator Information March 2015
Other • • • • •
To contribute actively to the general running of the office with the rest of the staff To be a designated First Aider To comply with the Company’s Equal Opportunities, Diversity, Health & Safety, Child Protection and other policies To pursue an active and continuing programme of training To undertake any other duties as reasonably required
Person specification ESSENTIAL • • • • • • • • •
Excellent administrative, organisational and interpersonal skills Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal The ability to communicate with clarity throughout all aspects of the Company’s work Experience within the formal and informal education sectors Excellent IT and computer skills Ability to work as part of a team and in consultation with others Motivation to work well alone Familiarity with methods of collecting and presenting information Enthusiastic and flexible approach plus ability to problem solve
DESIRABLE • • • • • • •
Trained First Aider Willingness to take up training as required Degree level or equivalent experience in arts/education Experience of the theatre industry and cultural sector Familiarity with Word, Excel, Sage and Databox box office software (Databox training to be given) Knowledge of school curriculum Understanding of finance and budgets
Terms and Conditions: A permanent contract following a review after three months’ successful probationary period. Salary range £20k-£22k pa, depending on experience.
Trestle Participation & Company Coordinator Information March 2015