Download About Oxford Playhouse - Magdalen College School

Application Pack Resident Director
Contents
About Magdalen College School and Oxford Playhouse
Terms & Applications
Job Description
Application Form
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
About Magdalen College School and Oxford Playhouse
Magdalen College School, Oxford and Oxford Playhouse established this one year residency opportunity in
2011. Now in its sixth year, we are looking for a talented, ambitious theatre maker to gain experience of
professional theatre and apply their learning through a variety of school productions and outreach
programmes. The post holder will be employed by the school, with extensive opportunities for developing
professional skills and experience, through training, mentoring, shadowing and delivery at Oxford Playhouse.
“This year has given me the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals, to deepen my
understanding of working for both a producing and receiving house, to practise my craft and to work with
young people who have so much to contribute to the creative process. I have felt immensely supported by
both organisations as well as having great creative freedom when developing my own work with different
groups of people. It has been a year of discovery and action; I have had time to reflect on artistry and I will
leave with a far stronger sense of my artistic vision than I arrived with.”
Ellen Havard - Resident Director 2011.
“I am currently halfway through my time in Oxford. The volume and range of experiences on offer at each
organisation is extraordinary. I have been able to shadow and learn from others, as well as developing my
own projects at both the school and the theatre. I have benefited from and greatly enjoyed the opportunity
to work alongside an emerging producer who is also employed on the scheme; together, we have developed
work, exchanged ideas and explored Oxford’s coffee scene! It’s a rare thing for a young director to undertake
a full year of paid, enormously diverse and rewarding employment - and that’s exactly what the position at
MCS & OP offers.”
Rosy Banham – Resident Director 2012
“It has been a really varied and enjoyable year so far, with plenty of opportunity to develop a broad range of
skills and interests and to learn from other practitioners. Both organisations are really friendly and have been
immensely supportive and generous in helping us bring our various projects to fruition, whilst also allowing
us creative freedom in doing so. The opportunity to work on a broad range of productions (from Shakespeare
to Gogol, musicals to new writing) has helped me develop my skills across different genres and styles. It’s
great to have the chance to work in tandem with an emerging producer – to share ideas and learn from each
other’s practice. The young people you’ll work with at MCS are very engaged and enthusiastic.”
Alice Malin – Resident Director 2013
“I am currently two thirds of the way through my residency with MCS/Oxford Playhouse and have so far
worked on a huge range of productions including staging three school shows, assistant directing two
productions for Oxford Playhouse and putting together a program of outreach workshops with OP and local
community groups. We are now in the planning stages for the Edinburgh Fringe and for September's
professional show. Working consistently on such a large number of exciting projects in such a short space of
time has allowed me to develop my understanding of how I work and how I direct; and I feel that I have
grown exponentially both professionally and personally. At MCS I have worked with young people right across
the school and have been repeatedly amazed and delighted by their achievements, while, at Oxford
Playhouse, I have forged new connections and found new friends and collaborators. The year has been a
fantastic opportunity to work closely with a producer and, on some projects, with a professional designer,
MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
and we are excited about continuing to work together beyond the end of our year in Oxford. It has been an
absolute joy to choose titles and develop visions for my shows with the support of the school and to have
the budgets readily available to make those visions a reality - a rarity for a freelance director! I have been
able to take risks, try new approaches and to thoroughly test myself to the limits. It's been an extremely busy
and stimulating year, with a wealth of opportunity; and I expect to finish it exhausted, happy and sad to
leave!”
Polly Tisdall – Resident Director 2014
“As an aspiring director with a particular interest in creating theatre with young people, I could not have
asked for a more fitting position than this one. Since starting my residency, I’ve become part of a vibrant
theatre community and a supportive school community, both of which are equally dedicated to fostering the
development of young creatives. This residency has provided me with an opportunity which is rare for
aspiring directors: to be a full-time theatre maker for a year. This is an unparalleled chance to think seriously
about the theatre I want to make and to take creative risks. The scheme has provided me with the resources
to put on ambitious productions with the school; I’ve been pushed to think big and to be bold. From creating
a promenade theatre production in a historic church to adapting Epic poetry for the stage, I can already
detect major development in my own work. This has only been furthered by assisting professional directors
at the Oxford Playhouse. Working alongside a full time resident producer and technician has been an
incredible highlight of the scheme for me. Having supported each other through an incredibly fast paced
year, I feel as though we have forged strong links as collaborators (and as friends!).”
Lucy McCann – Resident Director 2015
This has been a fantastic opportunity to develop my craft. It’s a really busy and challenging year that offers
a great range of opportunity to an energetic emerging director. The role requires one to be flexible,
resourceful and ambitious, to be able to multitask and self-motivate. Outreach is an important element of
the job, and through this I have had excellent opportunities to refine my skills of facilitation and group
management and to gain experience in communicating with young people about performance and theatre.
There’s the double challenge of working within a venue’s structure and driving through your own projects,
but initiative and ambition are supported and encouraged by both the theatre and the drama department
in the school. I have benefited from three excellent assists so far, working with experienced professionals
who have provided mentorship and the space for me to reflect on their technique and process. Working
alongside the Resident Producer has been a real highlight too, and together we have been able to pursue
some of my passion for new writing, both in the commissioning of new work and in writing my own play to
take to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. All in all it’s been a thoroughly invigorating period of
development for me. I highly recommend the position to directors looking for the next step up in their
career.
Francesca Murray-Fuentes – Resident Director 2016
Magdalen College School, founded in 1480 by William of Waynflete, is one of the country’s leading
independent day schools. Situated in an enviable location at the heart of Oxford beside the river Cherwell
the school has an excellent reputation for academic, sporting and artistic success. MCS educates boys from
7-18 and girls as well as boys in the Sixth Form. Further details can be found on the website:
www.mcsoxford.org
The school has a long tradition of interest in drama, extending back at least to the 17th century. In recent
times, it has been particularly keen to explore and consolidate this tradition. Recent former pupils include
directors John Caird and Sam Mendes.
In expanding all aspects of its extra-curricular tradition over the past six years, the school has increasingly
involved professional experts. Following the success of two productions directed by Tom Attenborough (one
of Chapman’s The Gentleman Usher and the other of a musical commissioned about the life of former pupil,
Ivor Novello), and a production at Blenheim Palace of Sheridan’s The Critic directed by Adrian Noble and
Joanne Pearce Noble, the school finalised with Oxford Playhouse the current ground-breaking agreement.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
MCS’s inaugural performance at Oxford Playhouse took place in July 2012. This was an adaptation of Aeneid:
The Journey by Joanne Pearce Noble, who continues her close collaboration with Drama at MCS. This
production met with great critical acclaim, and was followed by the world premiere of an adaptation of
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies in 2013, of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King in 2014, of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in
Wonderland in 2015, and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows in 2016.
Drama thrives at the school. One production per year transfers to the Edinburgh Fringe. The success of the
2011 Edinburgh production, Pinter’s Celebration, was sufficient to persuade the playwright’s widow, Lady
Antonia Fraser, to speak about her former husband at the school in 2012. Other regular productions include
a main school play (most recently A Doll’s House and Time and the Conways), an outdoor Shakespeare
(recently Julius Caesar, A Midsummer’ Night’s Dream) an annual Greek play (recently Ajax and Prometheus
Bound) and a school musical (recently 1917 – a new piece written for the school – and Cabaret).
There is a diversity of other productions, for pupils of all age groups, including plenty of opportunities for
pupils to take a lead with directing, producing or managing technical aspects of productions. Recent additions
to the annual drama programme have included a site-specific production in Oxford’s university church based
on the trials of the Oxford Martyrs and a ‘strolling players’ tour of Tuscany. Two productions a year take place
in the Burton Taylor studio at the Playhouse, one of which transfers to Edinburgh. The school has recently
entered a relationship with the Pegasus Theatre, which will provide a further professional space for our
productions. Since September 2011, a Drama Academy has taken place on Saturday mornings, and outside
teachers deliver LAMDA lessons to about 60 pupils.
The school is committed to fostering creative and cultural opportunities within the wider community, and
hosts an annual Arts Festival in June-July each year which forms a particular focus for its partnership work.
In 2016, Festival projects involved over 2800 children from 45 Oxfordshire schools, as well as a range of
community arts groups. Recent community engagement projects with a theatrical focus have included
workshops for primary school children in connection with the 2016 production of The Wind in the Willows, a
production of Catherine Johnson’s play A Letter to Lacey by vulnerable young people living in Oxfordshire as
part of the National Theatre Connections scheme, storytelling workshops with Crisis Skylight and Restore,
and collaborations with The Oxford Academy in 2014 and 2015 to create devised pieces of theatre under the
direction of Oxford Playhouse Associate Artist Ben Park. In 2015, the Festival hosted Direct Roots: A Theatremakers’ Symposium as a forum for young professionals making their way in the world of theatre.
The Magdalen College School theatre is the School Hall (Big School) which has recently been improved by
generous grants from the Parents’ Association. There is a diversity of other auditoria available in the school,
in the city, and in the University.
The Resident Director post has been full time; the Resident Producer post was originally part time. Since
September 2012, both have been full time appointments.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Oxford Playhouse: A Playhouse for Everyone is a flagship presenting and producing theatre in the South
East. Audience attendance for the high quality, wide ranging programme is above the national average. The
theatre is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, and has a good relationship with its
stakeholders, including The University of Oxford and Oxford City Council.
Oxford Playhouse and its Burton Taylor Studio present and produce a wide range of live performance and
participatory activities. The Playhouse has an outstanding record of success as a receiving house for
productions with a breadth of appeal to audiences, artists and touring companies alike. It offers a broad
programme of the highest quality work which includes the best of British and international drama, family
shows, contemporary dance and music, student and amateur shows, comedy, lectures and poetry.
The Burton Taylor Studio is managed by Oxford Playhouse for the University of Oxford. This flexible 50 seat
venue is used for student productions during the three eight week University terms. For the other six months
each year, Oxford Playhouse presents a strong programme of small scale touring shows including work for
families, new writing, experimental performance and work by local artists.
Oxford Playhouse works across the city and county to reach new audiences, and is committed to providing
accessible performances, and initiatives such as free and subsidised ticket provision, workshops and tours,
activities for families and groups, work placements, volunteering and learning opportunities. As well as
supporting the diverse range of visiting companies at the Playhouse and Studio, there are learning
opportunities for Playhouse productions and co-productions, and a broad range of schools and holiday
workshops. The Playhouse runs two young companies spanning ages from 12 to 25 and a weekly workshop
designed for young writers.
The theatre also supports a number of other theatre-makers and companies. Associate Artists receive longterm support, space and opportunities from the Playhouse, and include visual artist Michael Gabriel, physical
theatre company Idle Motion amongst others. The theatre works in partnership with Magdalen College
School, supporting the training and development of an emerging Director, Producer and Outreach Assistant
each year. The Playhouse is a founder member of Dance Touring Partnership and house and works hard to
support touring on the middle and small scale across the country.
The Playhouse's artist development scheme EVOLVE was launched in 2013, and provides a yearlong package
of support for artists including funding, space, mentoring and support. The 2016/17 EVOLVE artists are Justice
in Motion, Smoking Apples and Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth. In Autumn 2015 a lifelong Writers’
Development Programme, Playhouse Playmaker, was launched which includes programmes for primary
school pupils, young writers and professional playwrights, led by award-winning writer and director John
Retallack.
The Playhouse employs over 50 full-time equivalent staff and has over 100 volunteers.
The Oxford Playhouse Trust is a company limited by guarantee No: 2397373 and a registered charity No:
900039. www.oxfordplayhouse.com
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Applying for Resident Director:
Terms: Although the post will reflect the school’s academic year of 1st September 2016 through to 31st
August 2017 it will, as part of the contracted period, in addition include handover periods with the current
incumbents, consisting of about 10 days throughout July and August 2016, and about 20 days at the end of
the contract in September 2017, to be remunerated accordingly.
Salary: £20,000 pa (full time)
Probationary Period: Six months
Holiday: 30 days paid holiday each year, plus normal UK public holidays, reflects the occasional anti-social
hours necessarily required in drama production and performances. Holidays may only be taken during the
school's published holiday dates and by prior consent of his/her line manager.
Applications:
The application form is an important part of the selection process. To ensure fairness to all applicants, any
decision to shortlist you for interview will be based solely on the information you supply on your application
form. Ensure you read the job description and person specification before you start to complete the form.
It is important you give as much information as relevant regarding why you wish to apply and what makes
you a suitable applicant.
You can download a version of the application form from www.oxfordplayhouse.com or contact Laura Smith
on [email protected] or 01865 305318. Please complete the application form in black
ink/type. If you have any difficulty completing this form please do let us know and we will arrange an
alternative means of application with you.
Applications in the form of CVs will not be considered: please do not attach CV, references or educational
certificates to your application form.
If you need to attach a continuation sheet, please mark your name clearly at the top of the sheet. Please limit
continuation sheets to one side of A4.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community – diversity is crucial to our success.
The Oxford Playhouse and Magdalen College School are committed to the safeguarding of children and young
people, and the successful candidate will be required to undergo statutory safeguarding checks before the
commencement of his/her employment. Due to the nature of this post:
1) Self-Disclosure: all applicants will be required to complete a self-disclosure statement.
2) Full DBS enhanced disclosure will be required in the event of an individual being offered the position:
the candidate will be required to produce necessary documentation for the processing of a DBS
check, details of which will be provided if we invite you to interview.
Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected] or sent in an envelope
marked in the top left corner “MCS Resident Director” together with the monitoring form, to Recruitment,
Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW.
Applications should arrive no later than 5pm 18th April 2017.
Only short listed candidates will be notified of interview which will be held on the 27th April 2017 only. If
you do not hear from us, (usually within 7 working days of the closing date), unfortunately, on this occasion
you have been unsuccessful.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Job Title:
Resident Director
Based at:
Magdalen College School
Reports to:
The Master
Magdalen College School, Oxford and Oxford Playhouse have created this opportunity to enable a talented,
ambitious theatre maker to gain experience of professional theatre and apply their learning through a variety
of school productions and outreach programmes. The post holder will undertake a wide variety of duties
across both organisations, with opportunities for training, shadowing and assistant directing at Oxford
Playhouse. The role will be supported by a resident producer, and the producing team at Oxford Playhouse.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
The resident director will work closely with Director of Drama and Associate Director to maintain and develop
the artistic and professional standards of Magdalen College School drama productions during the school year.
This will include undertaking regular Saturday morning sessions for Magdalen College School Theatre
Academy, devising and delivering a broad range of skills development workshops for the students.
The resident director will be expected to direct at least three of the school’s productions over the year,
working with a range of age groups. This will include reading scripts and choosing the title and aims for each
production in agreement with the resident producer and Director of Drama. The resident director is expected
to generate the overall vision and concept, hold auditions and cast, take rehearsals and lead the technical
rehearsals. The students’ skills and abilities should be developed through this process in a creative and
supportive manner. The resident director will lead the lower school drama club, for years 7-8, which performs
at least one play during the course of the year. The resident director will, with the resident producer, take a
small school production to the Edinburgh Fringe during August.
The Resident Director will also work as assistant director on the school’s Main Stage production at the Oxford
Playhouse during Arts Festival. There will be other opportunities for the resident director to work with pupils
at all stages of the school, during the course of the year.
The resident director will work as Assistant Director to Steve Marmion on Oxford Playhouse’s pantomime
Jack and the Beanstalk, with specific responsibility for preparing the young company (20 local young
performers between the ages of 11 and 15) prior to the run, maintaining performance levels throughout and
offering creative and pastoral support as appropriate. The role will support the Director in full company
rehearsals both through creative input and administrative tasks, ensuring good communication between the
creative team and staff. During the full run of pantomime the resident director will be expected to run line
runs, understudy rehearsals and visit the show on a weekly basis and give notes to the company. Young
company rehearsals start in October and full company rehearsals start on 6th November. Jack and the
Beanstalk opens on Friday 24 November 2017 and runs until Sunday 7 January 2018.
There are further opportunities to support other professional productions through Oxford Playhouse and to
support their participation programme, and annual discussions take place about the possibilities subject to
scheduling constraints.
Oxford Playhouse provides advice and mentoring for the resident director and producer, including hands-on
support with funding applications, budget-writing, contracts, career development and industry
introductions.
During the residency the director and producer are supported through the development of a professional
Studio show. The work will be selected by the residents in consultation with Oxford Playhouse, who will also
offer marketing, technical and producing support if required.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
For the duration of the residency the director will be expected to work within the policies and procedures of
both organisation and ensure safe, legal, and supportive working practices are maintained and undertake
any other duties reasonably requested or required to fulfil the objectives of the role.
Skills and Experience
 Proven previous directing experience.
 Serious interest in and understanding of the current theatre landscape.
 Previous experience of working with young people in participatory arts.
 Excellent communication skills
 Ability to keep calm under pressure
 Organised and efficient, able to prioritise and take initiative
Personal Attributes
 Passionate and inquisitive about theatre making and directing
 A genuine desire to further develop your directing skills
 Proactive, hard-working individual
 Naturally collaborative, with enthusiasm and an ambition to succeed
 A team player who is sensitive to colleagues’ pressures and instinctively supportive
 Ability to work long and unsociable hours
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Application Form
(Private and Confidential)
Title of Post applied for: Resident Director 2016/17
Personal Details
Name:
Email:
Address:
Phone Day:
Mobile:
Postcode:
All Applicants must read and sign the following declaration. It will be considered a formal document.
MCS Appointments Procedures conform to the provisions of this Act as well as to Guidelines recommended
by the Disclosure & Barring Service. Further details of these procedures are available on the school website
and applicants should note that a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to obtaining a position at the school.
In order to secure the safest possible environment for children in the school’s care all employees are required
to receive Enhanced Disclosure and random checks may be made with previous employers in order to verify
the details provided on this form. If you know of any reason why you should not be successful in securing
such a disclosure, you should declare it in the box below.
Supplementary Details Box
Declaration
I declare that
 All details provided by me as any part of this application are true and correct
 I have not been disqualified from working with children, nor am I disqualified by association by
means of living in the same household where another person who is so disqualified lives or is
employed.
 I am not on DFES List 99 or the Protection of Children Act List
 I know of no reason why I should not be eligible for this post and able to carry out my duties if
appointed.
Signed and submitted:
(Electronic signature acceptable)
Date:
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Theatre Work:
1. Please detail examples of projects you have most recently worked on that you consider most relevant.
Ensure in your detail you specify: the title, role, professional/amateur and where performed.
In addition: if you wish to submit DVDs or reviews of your directing work we are happy to accept them.
Please ensure they are clearly marked with your details and we will return them to you.
2. Choose one piece of theatre you have seen that has inspired you and write up 300 words about it.
3. If you could direct anything, what would it be and why? Describe your vision for the production. (Max
500 words)
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
4. Why are you interested in this opportunity? (Max 200 words)
5. Education & Training
Please list education undertaken, qualifications obtained and training received. Please also include
membership of any professional organisations.
6. References:
Please give the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two people who may be contacted in respect of
your application. One should be your current employer. Where you are not currently working with children
but have done so in the past, one referee must be from the employer by whom you were most recently
employed in work with children. We do not accept references from relatives or referees writing solely in the
capacity of friends.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Director Application Pack 2016
Equal Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring Form
Oxford Playhouse is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in employment and to taking action to
avoid discrimination within the organisation. All applicants for employment are considered only on the
information given in application regarding their ability to undertake the job for which they are applying.
This information is used for monitoring purposes only, and is removed from the application prior to the
short-listing process.
Please highlight or indicate the appropriate box:
Age range
 Under 16
 45-54
Gender
 Male
 17-24
 55-64
 25-34
 65+
 35-44
 Pakistani
 Chinese
 White & Asian
 White & Black African
 Female
Ethnic Origin
Asian or Asian British
 Indian
 Bangladeshi
 Other: Please write in:
Black or Black British
 Black Caribbean  Black African
 Other: Please write in:
Mixed
 White & Black Caribbean
 Other: Please write in:
Other Ethnic Group
 Other: Please write in:
White
 British
 Irish
 Other: Please write in:
 European
Do you consider yourself to be a disabled person?
 Yes
 No
Please note: If you have answered yes to this question, and you require any adjustments to be made in order
for you participate fully in our recruitment process, please ensure you have indicated these in your main
application or on an additional sheet/email for the attention of Laura Smith, so we can accommodate your
needs should you be shortlisted.
Please tell us how you found out about this post:
Thank you for your co-operation in completing this form
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