About Concrete Youth
Concrete Youth, an award-winning charity dedicated to increasing cultural provision for people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities, is seeking a skilled and passionate Set & Costume Designer for the research & development phase of our current major project, Blueprint.
Concrete Youth is committed to inclusive, sensory theatre and education. Since our formation in 2019, we have engaged thousands of audience members across multiple continents, creating inclusive and accessible experiences that champion creativity. Our touring department delivers multi-sensory theatre productions, and in 2024 we launched Sensory Cinders, the first West End production created specifically for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Our education programmes provide inclusive, high-quality services to schools, organisations, and communities. We are a four-day working week and Living Wage employer, and a PiPA Charter Partner.
Blueprint is an ambitious, research-led project that reimagines how sensory theatre is made for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Developed by Concrete Youth in collaboration with co-researchers and their support networks, Blueprint aims to build an audience-led model of sensory theatre that adapts to diverse needs and preferences. The project combines creative innovation with academic practice and places the audience at the heart of decision-making. Blueprint is supported by public funding from Arts Council England and Hull City Council.
About the Role
Concrete Youth is looking for an exceptional Set & Costume Designer to support the development of the production’s visual design. The successful candidate will be responsible for the set and costume design of the production, including making and/or sourcing costumes and working with the set making team.
Responsibilities
- Design the sets and costumes for the production in full.
- Make and/or source costumes for the production, or source a costume maker to undertake the role.
- Ensure all sets are highly tourable and sustainable for long performance periods.
- Work with the creative team to realise the vision for the production.
- Provide full designs and briefs to the set making team and collaborate with them throughout.
- Work with the set making team to design and oversee the purchase and/or making of sets.
- Fully brief the stage management team on the setup and striking of sets in a safe and efficient way.
- Fully brief the stage management team on the maintenance of costumes on tour.
- Participate in design and production meetings as required during production periods.
- Attend technical and dress rehearsals and address issues concerning set and costume design.
- Design a set that can be scaled to different venue spaces.
- Where required, conduct site visits to locations.
Ideal candidate
- Professional experience designing sets and costumes for theatre.
- Experience designing sets and costumes for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
- Ability to work creatively and effectively to a brief.
- Significant experience working to design budgets.
- Open and honest communication, a positive attitude, and self-motivation with initiative.
Fee
In your expression of interest, please outline your pay expectations for design. Our budget for the fee currently sits around £4,000–£5,000. Set making will be undertaken by an external company. The set will be designed for small to mid-scale venues and costumes will be required for a cast of four.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about making a difference through sensory theatre and meet the qualifications, we would love to hear from you. We are accepting expressions of interest for this role. Please add your CV and expression of interest in the application form by midday on Friday 17 October. If you would prefer to submit your expression of interest via a more accessible method, please email jobs@concreteyouth.co.uk. Do not send your expression of interest to this email address unless this is the case.
APPLY FOR THIS POSITION: We welcome enquiries and would be happy to answer questions.
