Music Associate

Do you have expert knowledge and practical experience of delivering music in theatre? Are you artist-centred and collaborative? Do you have experience working on productions across different scales and forms? We are seeking a Music Associate, a new role, to play a key part in upholding the highest musical standards across all RSC stages in Stratford. This role provides artistic support, drives our ambitions for Creative Brilliance, and ensures excellence across all productions. The role will help to shape the future of music at the RSC through inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable creative practice.

Across every season, we deliver music through live, recorded, and electronic approaches. We collaborate with a diverse community of composers, musicians, and creatives, maintaining a strong commitment to live music and continually exploring bold new artistic possibilities.

The Music Associate works closely with the wider Producing team and sits within the Producing department. Reporting to the Executive Producer (Stratford) key areas of responsibility include:

• Liaising with directors and the RSC co-Artistic Directors on the appointment of key music personnel including Composers, Music Supervisors and Orchestrators/Arrangers.
• Working closely with the RSC Music Manager advising on the necessary structure of music personnel to deliver the creative ambition of RSC productions.
• Working to support the specialism of music in theatre, both musicals and plays, looking at skills, instrumentation and technical resource needed.
• Offering advice and practical support on the planning of technical music set-ups, advising on necessary equipment, programming and music preparation.
• Supporting creative teams working on productions across approaches to music including electronic, live and recorded scores.
• Maintaining expertise and knowledge with best industry practice to inform RSC operational and artistic success.

To be suitable for this role, it is essential that you have the following knowledge and experience:

• Expert technical knowledge of music in theatre.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the proven ability to work with diverse groups of artists across forms and scale.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with creative teams including Directors, Composers, Musical Supervisors and the Producing team.
• Leadership and people management skills, with experience of guiding and advising freelance practitioners.
• Comprehensive knowledge of music programming and associated digital hardware and software alongside a working knowledge of music typesetting platforms.
• Artist-centred and collaborative, with a passion for supporting artists to achieve their best work.

This is a part-time, permanent position based in Stratford upon Avon. You will be working 24 hours per week, worked flexibly on an annualised hours basis to support a production-focused approach. This includes adapting hours to support rehearsals, technical rehearsals, production weeks, and performance periods if needed. Evening and weekend work will be required, particularly if supporting tech and show runs. The role will also involve occasional travel to, and working in, London as part of production or organisational needs.

Application Process: All applications should be made online using the RSC website. If you need any assistance when applying, please email. Applications close at midnight on Friday 17 April. First-round interviews will take place during the week commencing 27 April, with second-round interviews scheduled for the week commencing 4 May.

About the RSC: The RSC strives for excellence, and values creativity, inclusivity, sustainability, collaboration, and accountability. We can offer great benefits and aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment which is happy, healthy and safe. We place great importance upon developing a diverse, highly motivated and energised workforce to help achieve our priorities. We put our values at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all individuals. We believe that safeguarding children and adults is everyone's responsibility, and everybody working at the RSC has a duty to place safeguarding at the heart of their work. We welcome candidates who will support and advocate the RSC's environmental objectives continuing to improve our sustainability work and actions both on and off stage.