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Application Pack Resident Producer
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.
"The past year has been a fantastic combination of professional development, creative experiment and
cementing skills I had picked up previously. MCS provides an exciting and safe environment with which to
experiment and explore creative practice, develop and practice skills in marketing, budgeting, production
and general management, rights negotiation and rehearsal scheduling. This combined with the support and
opportunity to learn and work on professional productions with the Oxford Playhouse has allowed me to
develop skills and set me up for an exciting future in producing."
Sam James – Resident Producer 2011
"My residency at MCS and OP has been a brilliant way to spend a year as a young producer. Both
environments are incredibly nurturing and have provided me with a huge number of professional
opportunities. The position is a great way to continue developing your identity as a producer while increasing
your confidence and a flexible working style. From producing a Greek play within four weeks of arriving, to a
full professional production in the Spring, to taking a show to Edinburgh in August (just three of eight projects
I will be a part of) the year has been full-on and genuinely exhilarating."
Polly Ingham – Resident Producer 2012
“My time at MCS and Oxford Playhouse has been fast paced, challenging, and hugely rewarding both
personally and professionally. The support from each institution has been invaluable, allowing me to develop
my skills in areas as varied as funding applications, building a creative team, and managing multiple projects'
budgets and deadlines. There have been plenty of opportunities to build connections in the industry-- not
least with the Resident Director, with whom it has been a productive and enjoyable few months of work
together, producing both professional and youth work. I would urge any emerging producer with a passion
for a varied programme of work, a willingness to take on challenges, and a love of working with young people,
to apply.”
Ashleigh Wheeler – Resident Producer 2013
“My work at MCS and Oxford Playhouse has given me a broad range of experiences and, as such, has been
an invaluable opportunity to challenge myself as a producer. In particular the year has been an excellent way
to develop my ability to balance several different projects and work with a variety of people, from young
actors to seasoned professionals. Given the range of opportunities available during the year, it has been a
really useful way to find out what sort of work interests me as a producer, and what sort of productions I
would like to create in the future. Working for a year with a director has also been a really interesting and
rewarding experience, especially as I came to the job as a freelancer, and has created a strong professional
connection that we aim to take forward in the future.”
Hannah Groombridge – Resident Producer 2014
MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Producer Application Pack 2016
“It is so rare to find an opportunity quite as rich as the residency that MCS and the OP have to offer. Between
the two, you learn (incredibly quickly!) about the world of theatre from a completely new perspective. It
really helps one to recognise your own identity as a practitioner- what you hope to bring to a piece of theatre,
and want you want those involved to come away with, be they audience members, actors, crew or venue. It
is a challenging year, but if you have the stamina and the drive, I could not suggest a better way to spend it!”
Isaac Khan – Resident Producer 2015
In the past seven months as Resident Producer at MCS and the Oxford Playhouse I have learnt more about
myself as a producer than I have in my entire career to this point. This residency challenges who you are, the
work you make and builds your confidence with every successful production. It has been a joy to be paired
with a resident director who shared the same passions namely female new writing and being able to bring
this to life in our programme of work. It has presented me with the opportunities to work on bigger budgets,
to hire the creative teams I want and to be as ambitious as I can be. Between staging a brand new musical
and managing the transfer of a children’s show to the Playhouse, I have loved every minute.
Ciara McCafferty – Resident Producer 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. Magdalen College School
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.
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
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Producer Application Pack 2016
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.
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, Theatre Technician 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.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Producer Application Pack 2016
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 Producer Application Pack 2016
Applying for Resident Producer:
Terms: Although the post will reflect the school’s academic year of 1st September 2017 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 2017, 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 pro rata 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]/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.
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 Producer” 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 28th 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 Producer Application Pack 2016
Job Title:
Resident Producer
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 productions and outreach programmes. The post holder will undertake a wide variety of duties across
both organisations, with opportunities for mentoring, training and shadowing from Oxford Playhouse. The
role will be working with the Resident Director and the Producing team at Oxford Playhouse.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
The resident producer 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.
The resident producer will produce the School’s main drama productions, working alongside the Director of
Drama and resident director to plan and develop productions, research titles and investigate rights
ownership on prospective productions. The producer will be required to co-ordinate the delivery of the
director’s overall vision and concept for each production, managing and motivating the students, drafting
and working within budgets, timetabling rehearsals, and running production meetings, ensuring effective
communication is maintained across the School. The producer is required to maximise attendance at School
performances, through marketing and sales initiatives.
The producer will, with the resident director, take a school production to the Edinburgh Fringe during August,
organising the venue, accommodation and logistics of the trip.
The resident producer will assist on one Oxford Playhouse production during the year; which may be a
Playhouse Plays Out production or a family show produced through the studio. 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.
During the residency the director and producer are supported through the development of a professional
Studio show, programmed in the Burton Taylor Studio at the end of the residency in September. The work
will be selected by the residents in consultation with Oxford Playhouse, who will also offer marketing,
technical and producing support if required.
Oxford Playhouse provides advice and mentoring for the resident director and producer, including hands-on
support with funding applications, budget-writing, contracts, tour booking marketing & PR, negotiation of
deals TMA/Equity contracts, venue contracts, career development and industry introductions.
Oxford Playhouse and Magdalen College School regularly apply to take part in NT Connections: a nationwide
celebration of new writing and young theatre talent. In this scenario the resident director and producer
establish a young company of children from across the county and work with these young people to present
the chosen title as part of the NT showcase.
For the duration of the residency the producer 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.
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Producer Application Pack 2016
For the duration of the residency the producer 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 producing experience.
 Understanding of the current theatre landscape.
 Previous experience of working with young people.
 Excellent communication skills
 Ability to keep calm under pressure
 Organised and efficient, able to prioritise and take initiative
Personal Attributes
 Passionate and inquisitive about producing theatre
 A genuine desire to further develop your producing skills
 Proactive, hard-working individual
 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 Producer Application Pack 2016
Application Form
(Private and Confidential)
Title of Post applied for: Resident Producer 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 Producer 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.
2. Choose one piece of theatre you have seen that has inspired you and write up 300 words about it.
3. If you could work as a producer for anything, what would be, and why? Describe how you would make
it a success. (Max 500 words)
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MCS & Oxford Playhouse Resident Producer 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 Producer 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 against 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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