Assistant Directors' Pool

Assistant Directors' Pool

Freelance No working from home possible
Royal Court Theatre

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join the Royal Court Theatre as an Assistant Director, focusing on new writing and innovative projects.
  • Company: The Royal Court Theatre, a leading venue for new plays and creative talent.
  • Benefits: Access to paid roles, mentoring, workshops, and a £1,000 bursary for career development.
  • Other info: Unique application options including voice notes or presentations to showcase your creativity.
  • Why this job: Kickstart your directing career with hands-on experience and networking opportunities in a vibrant theatre environment.
  • Qualifications: Minimum two directing credits and experience with new writing and performance runs.

The Royal Court Theatre has an exciting opportunity for six people to join the Royal Court as part of the Assistant Directors' Pool.

The Assistant Directors’ Pool will create an annual cohort of six directors at early career stages with a specific interest in new writing.

Over a one-year attachment, the opportunity will introduce them to the Royal Court and provide access to paid roles and free opportunities across the year, alongside a one-off bursary to support engagement with us.

The successful candidate will have

  • A minimum of two credits as director, associate or assistant director in a professional context.
  • Experience of working on a show with a run of over one week, including noting a show during the course of a performance run.
  • Experience of working with writers and/or in new writing, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities around presenting and developing new plays.

What you get

  • First access to paid freelance assistant directing opportunities on shows at the Royal Court across the year.

Please note, while we will make every effort, we cannot guarantee you a paid assistant position.

  • Invitations to press nights and Directors' Nights across the year.
  • Credited on our website as part of the Royal Court Assistant Director Pool and access to advice and mentoring from our Resident Director and artistic team across the year.
  • Early access to opportunities throughout the year, including directors’ workshops, Q&As, and observing open technical rehearsals.

A one-off bursary of £1,000 to support your engagement with us – to be put towards anything else you might need developing your career.

As part of the Directors\' Programme, you can apply for both the Assistant Director Pool and Trainee Director roles via the same application form .

You will be asked whether you would like to apply for one of or both of the the roles at the start of the form.

To note, your personal statement can also be sent through in the form of a voice note, or Power Point presentation (no more than five slides).

Should there be a more accessible form for your application to be received, please contact the recruitment inbox.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact the recruitment inbox at recruitment@royalcourttheatre. com ahead of the closing date.

We know that AI can be a useful tool when you're putting together an application, whether that's drafting a CV or polishing your answers.

You're welcome to use it when applying for a Royal Court Theatre role, but please make sure your application still represents you - your ideas, your experiences and your voice.

We're looking for authenticity, imagination and integrity and we want to hear what makes you unique.

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Assistant Directors' Pool employer: Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is an exceptional employer for aspiring directors, offering a unique opportunity to join the Assistant Directors' Pool. With a strong focus on new writing, employees benefit from access to paid roles, mentoring from experienced professionals, and a supportive work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Located in the heart of London, the theatre provides a vibrant environment where early-career directors can thrive and develop their skills through workshops, networking events, and a generous bursary to aid their professional growth.

Royal Court Theatre

Contact Details:

Royal Court Theatre Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Directors' Pool

Directing
Collaboration with Writers
Understanding of New Writing
Professional Theatre Experience
Show Notation
Performance Run Management
Creative Problem-Solving