The Core at Corby Cube Director Recruitment PackWelcome the Core at Corby Cube is looking for its next Director. This is an opportunity to lead an ambitious, much-loved theatre at the heart of one of England's most distinctive and rapidly evolving towns. Since opening in 2010, we have welcomed almost half a million audience members and engaged nearly 200,000 participants. We present an eclectic programme of touring work, support artists and local performance, create opportunities for children and young people, and work alongside partners across Corby and North Northamptonshire to make culture accessible, relevant and exciting. We are proud of our role in supporting the development of the Cultural Masterplan for North Northamptonshire and the successful first round application for Corby to become the next Town of Culture. We are looking for a leader who believes in the power of theatre and creativity to change lives, and who understands that a contemporary civic theatre can be much more than a building and a stage.
At The Core, our ambition is not only to present brilliant work, but to create opportunities for people to participate, develop, create and lead, with children and young people at the heart of our work and a clear focus on the difference that creativity can make to people's lives. Just as importantly, we are looking for someone who values people and understands that a thriving organisation is built on a strong, supportive and ambitious culture. You will be an inspiring and thoughtful leader who brings out the best in others, creates the conditions for people to flourish, and builds a sense of shared purpose across our team and wider community. We want someone who can combine creative ambition with exceptional people leadership: nurturing talent, celebrating contribution and creating an environment in which our people feel valued, empowered and able to do their best work.
The Core is a place where brilliant performance meets community, where artists meet audiences, and where creativity meets the everyday life of a town. We want to deepen that connection, creating meaningful opportunities for children and young people, supporting participation and creative development, and working with partners to improve outcomes for individuals and communities through culture.
Our next Director will help us deepen our connection with Corby, grow our impact with children and young people, champion community creativity, strengthen our partnerships and build the financial resilience that will allow The Core to thrive for the next 15 years and beyond.
About The Core
The Core at Corby Cube opened in 2010 and has become an important part of the cultural and civic life of Corby. We are a multi‑artform venue with a clear belief that great culture should be welcoming, accessible and close to home. Our 445‑seat Theatre presents a diverse programme of touring and local amateur work throughout the year, while our 95‑seat Lab prioritises community shows, work for children and young people and alongside The Base, our workshop space, is home to creative projects, participation and learning. In 2022, we took over an empty shop unit in Corby town centre to create a further music space for our work with children and young people. But The Core is about much more than what happens inside our performance spaces. We work with artists, young people, schools, community groups and partner organisations to create opportunities to participate, make, perform and develop.
We support the professional development of artists and have delivered ambitious outdoor work and installations including via the Grow festival programme. Our relationship with the town is unusually close. The Core shares its building with Corby's council chamber, library, one‑stop shop, registrar and Citizens Advice. Civic and community life comes through our doors every day which makes us more than a theatre. We are part of the fabric of Corby - a place where culture, community and civic life meet.
We are an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and enjoy an important role in the sector, regionally and nationally. We are founder consortium members of the Corby Cultural Partnership Programme and enjoy key relationships with local and national organisations including Made with Many, The British Film Institute, Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Ballet and Opera.
“We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful venue in our area for the creative arts. On a personal note, the opportunity to collaborate with others, and present our work has been a joy” Martin Baldock
What We Care About
At The Core, we believe creativity can inspire, connect and change lives. Our work is driven by a simple ambition: to put culture at the heart of a thriving community and create meaningful opportunities for people to take part, develop and belong.
Arts and culture for everyone
We want our programme to reflect the richness and diversity of the people we serve - from comedy, music and spoken word to theatre, dance, and work for children and young people.
Children and young people
We believe every young person should have the opportunity to discover their creativity, develop their skills and imagine a future in which the arts are part of their lives. Through our wide youth and schools programmes, we have developed a growing network of creative activity, partnerships and progression opportunities.
Community‑led creativity
We listen to our communities and work with them to create meaningful opportunities to participate, perform and shape cultural activity. We work with groups and partners to address wider issues including health and wellbeing, poverty and social isolation, using creativity as a tool for connection and opportunity.
Opportunity and progression
We want people to be able to move from first encounters with creativity into participation, skills development, leadership, artistic development and careers, while investing in the development, progression and wellbeing of our staff, so that our people have the opportunities and support to thrive too.
Generosity and sustainability
We believe in being generous with our spaces, our ideas and our partnerships - while recognising that ambition must be matched by financial resilience and responsible stewardship.
Connection, belonging and civic pride
We bring people together. We want The Core to be a place that reflects Corby back to itself, strengthens civic pride and helps the town tell its story. “It makes me feel like I have a family” Dramatherapy participant (M Power)
Our Remarkable Spaces
Theatre: The 445‑seat auditorium is the beating heart of our live programme, welcoming touring productions and audiences throughout the year.
Lab: The 95‑seat studio provides an intimate space for work, particularly for children and young people, and offers artists and audiences a different kind of theatre experience.
Base: A flexible workshop and creative space for participation, learning, making and experimentation.
Project M: Our free youth music space in the heart of Corby gives 12–17‑year‑olds somewhere to make beats, write lyrics, jam, experiment and spend time with other young people who share their interests. Since opening in 2022, Project M has engaged more than 500 young people and demonstrated the power of a welcoming, accessible creative space to reach those who can be most at risk of disengagement.
About Corby
Corby is a town shaped by movement, ambition and reinvention. Its distinctive character has been forged through industry, migration and the determination of generations of people who have made the town their home. For much of the twentieth century, the steelworks were at the heart of Corby's identity and economy. They brought people together from across Britain and beyond, creating a diverse community with strong traditions of solidarity, creativity and exchange. Scottish, Irish, English, Eastern European and African communities have all contributed to the character of the town, and that diversity continues to shape Corby's cultural life today. The closure of the steelworks in 1980 brought profound economic and social change. Yet Corby's story has never simply been one of industrial decline. It is a story of a town repeatedly imagining and creating its own future. That spirit of resilience and reinvention remains one of Corby's defining qualities — a place of people who have adapted, taken risks, built communities and continued to look forward. Today, Corby has a vibrant and increasingly diverse cultural ecology. The Core sits alongside organisations, artists, festivals, community groups and creative practitioners who contribute to a rich programme of activity across the town. From the Highland Gathering and Mardi Gras to Pride, GROW Festival and the work of organisations such as Made With Many and Corby Community Arts, culture provides opportunities for people to come together, participate, express themselves and celebrate the many identities that make up Corby. This is a town with a strong appetite for creativity and a distinctive cultural identity of its own. Its young and diverse population, growing communities and continuing development create significant opportunities for the arts to play a role in shaping Corby's future — strengthening connections, creating opportunities for children and young people, supporting local creativity and ensuring that everyone can see themselves reflected in the cultural life of the town.
An Extraordinary Team & Audiences
The Core is part of a wider family of organisations within the Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust group. Corby Cube Theatre Trust is an independent charity with its own Board, direction, and priorities, while benefiting from shared services and expertise through Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust (NAMT). NAMT provides Chief Executive, Finance, People & Culture, ICT, Marketing, Sales and Company Secretary services. The Director will lead the Corby-based team, working closely with colleagues across NAMT and with the wider group, including Royal & Derngate in Northampton.
The team
- Technical & Facilities Manager
- Commercial & Customer Experience Manager
- Education & Outreach Manager
- Youth Development Co‑ordinator
- Marketing & Development Manager
- Administrative and Programming Assistant
The role also sits within the group's Strategic Management Team, alongside senior colleagues from NAMT and Royal & Derngate.
Our audiences
Since opening in 2010, we have welcomed almost half a million audience members and engaged nearly 200,000 participants. We are fortunate to have loyal audiences who value and embrace the breadth of what The Core offers – from major touring productions and nationally recognised artists to the work of local performers, community groups and companies. That breadth is central to our identity and to the role we play in Corby's cultural life.
Over the next five years, growing and diversifying our audiences will be both a cultural ambition and a vital part of our long‑term sustainability. We want to reach more people, deepen relationships with existing audiences and ensure that The Core feels relevant, welcoming and accessible to the whole town.
The Opportunity
This is a fantastic moment to join The Core at Corby Cube. We continue 2026/27 with an ambitious vision: to deepen our role as a cultural hub at the heart of Corby, strengthen our position as a cultural leader across North Northamptonshire, and build the financial resilience needed for long‑term sustainability. The next few years will be about ambition, connection and resilience. We want to:
- Deepen our relationships with local communities and support a thriving ecology of community performance and development
- Strengthen opportunities for artists and young creatives
- Grow audiences and earned income
- Develop new fundraising and partnership opportunities
- Put children and young people even more firmly at the heart of our work
- Strengthen our regional leadership and cultural partnerships
- Build towards a new five‑year strategy and future National Portfolio investment
- Ensure that The Core remains financially resilient without compromising artistic quality, accessibility or our charitable purpose
- Build on our strong team culture, fostering greater connection, belonging and wellbeing across the organisation
- Develop our governance structure to further both the community and young people's voices in our decision making
- Develop Project M, exploring its potential as a five‑year, partnership‑led creative youth hub for Corby
- Create 'wow' moments for all our Corby's communities, whether that is on stage or off
The Director will be central to all of this. They will be a visible and credible figurehead for The Core: an advocate for the organisation, a champion for Corby, a partner to artists and communities, and an inspiring leader for our team. This is a role that combines artistic judgement, strategic leadership, commercial understanding, community engagement and fundraising. We are looking for someone who can hold all of those things together.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the organisation - Work with the Chief Executive, Board and colleagues across NAMT to shape and deliver The Core's strategic direction and Business Plan.
- Provide visible, values‑led leadership to The Core team, creating a culture in which people can do their best work and feel connected to a shared purpose.
- Shape an ambitious programme - Lead the development of a diverse, imaginative and accessible programme that balances artistic ambition, audience development, financial performance and community relevance.
- Build strong relationships with producers, promoters, artists, agencies and cultural organisations across the UK.
- Champion locally created work and work closely with amateur and community organisations to develop a balanced programme.
- Put participation at the heart of the Core - Work with the Education & Outreach Manager and Youth Development Co‑ordinator to develop and deliver an ambitious participatory arts strategy for families, children, young people, schools and communities under‑represented in the arts.
- Support the development of Project M and wider pathways into creative participation, skills and careers.
- Develop partnerships with national and local organisations to extend opportunities for young people and artists.
- Be an energetic and visible advocate for The Core and for the role of culture in Corby.
- Develop strong relationships with funders, local authorities, businesses, philanthropists, artists, community organisations and strategic partners.
- Represent The Core at relevant events, networks, conferences and forums.
- Act as a confident spokesperson, working positively with local and national media.
- Take responsibility for the financial performance of The Core's activities alongside relevant colleagues.
- Set and monitor budgets, income targets and expenditure.
- Develop earned income, fundraising, sponsorship and other income streams.
- Work with the Chief Executive and Marketing & Development colleagues to articulate a compelling case for support and demonstrate the impact of investment.
- Create an open, ambitious and positive culture.
- Recruit, develop, support and motivate colleagues to achieve excellent results.
- Ensure clear communication, effective performance management and strong collaboration between CCTT and NAMT colleagues.
- Champion an exceptional welcome for audiences, artists, donors, partners and communities.
About You
We are looking for an experienced cultural leader who combines ambition with generosity, artistic curiosity with commercial understanding, and strategic thinking with genuine connection to people and place. You will bring significant senior management experience and a track record of leading and motivating teams.
- You will have substantial knowledge of theatre and the wider cultural landscape, with experience of programming live performance and developing audiences.
- You will be confident building relationships with funders, partners, communities and stakeholders, and have experience of successful fundraising, particularly through trusts and foundations.
- You will understand how to balance artistic, social and commercial priorities and be comfortable making decisions in a financially responsible environment.
- You will be an excellent communicator and negotiator, able to build trust with people at every level, from young people and community groups to artists, funders, trustees and civic leaders.
- You will be committed to accessibility, equality of opportunity and inclusion, and excited by the potential of culture to contribute to the social and economic life of a place.
- Experience of venue management, producing, artist development, participatory arts, working with young people or community performance would be valuable.
- You do not need to have followed a conventional career path. We are interested in what you have achieved, how you lead, what you believe and what you could bring to The Core.
Desirable experience and knowledge might also include
- Experience of working with income‑generating or customer‑facing aspects of a cultural venue, including commercial activity, hospitality or retail.
- Experience of developing and implementing organisational strategies, policies or plans.
- Experience of working across regional and national cultural networks, with established relationships across the sector.
- Knowledge of Corby and the wider regional context, including the opportunities and challenges facing the town and its communities.
Terms of Appointment
Job title: Director, Corby Cube Theatre Trust
Reports to: Chief Executive, Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust
Responsible for: Technical & Facilities Manager; Education & Outreach Manager; Youth Development Co‑ordinator; Marketing & Development Manager; Commercial & Customer Experience Manager; Administrative and Programming Assistant
Location: Corby, Northamptonshire
Salary: £50k-£53k depending on experience
Start Date: To be negotiated around existing commitments
Holiday: 31 Days increasing with length of service
Pension: Employer 3%, Employee 5%
Notice period: 3 months
Company Benefits include:
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Complimentary tickets
- Free eye tests
- Weekend and evening work required for the proper performance of duties.
The appointment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to fair recruitment and equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people from Global Majority backgrounds, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and D/deaf and disabled people. We welcome requests for flexible working and job share, including arrangements around caring responsibilities. Through its relationship with Royal & Derngate, The Core recognises PIPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts), working towards a more family‑friendly working environment.
We use the Disability Confident scheme and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please say so in your covering letter. You do not need to give details of your disability.
Personal Data
For information about how we use your personal data during recruitment, please contact P&C@namtrust.co.uk. The successful candidate will be expected to comply with the organisation's policies and procedures, including those relating to equality, health and safety, data protection and safeguarding.
Application deadline: Mon 16 November 26 at 23.59
Interview date: Tue 1 December 26
Image credits
Cover Image: Artist Development - Lula by Mustard Seeds Dance
Page 2 Image: Sparks
Page 3 Image: N‑Dance
Page 4 Image: RSC Playmaking Festival
Page 5 Image: Common Ground
Page 6 Image: Main Auditorium
Page 7 Image: Splore Festival
Page 8 Image: Common Ground
Page 9 Image: Project M Showcase
Page 10 Image: Grow Festival
Page 11 Image: Artist Development - Lula by Mustard Seeds Dance
Page 12 Image: The History Of Soul
Page 13 Image: Beauty and the Beast
Page 14 Image: Grow Festival
Page 15 Image: Corby Cube
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