Head of Casting

Department/Team: Producing

Responsible to: Artistic Director

Contract: Permanent

Location: Mix of home working and from The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB

Hours: Part Time - 26 hours per week, based on a 40‑hour FTE. Additional hours may be necessary to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Salary: c. £65,000 p.a.

Direct reports: Casting Assistant

Role Summary

The Head of Casting is a key player in The Old Vic’s artistic team, working with the Artistic Director and visiting Directors to cast productions, actively cultivate talent, and champion emerging artists.

Your Team

The role sits within the Producing team and line manages the Casting Assistant.

Areas of Responsibility

• Casting
• Casting The Old Vic productions to a standard of excellence, including any transfers.
• Support the Casting Assistant with casting of understudies and children.
• Oversee the Casting Assistant with casting of studio projects and workshops.
• Initiating strategic casting discussions with agents, actors and sector advocacy organisations.
• Alongside the artistic team helping to shape strategy and identity for The Old Vic’s work.
• Produce casting breakdowns and distribute as required to cast roles.
• Review CVs, head shots and show reels and produce a shortlist of relevant performers for consideration for each role, including understudies.
• Upon the Artistic Director's or individual show director's confirmation of preferred performers for these roles, approach them or their agents to determine their availability for auditions/readings.
• Alongside the Artistic Director, Producer and General Manager liaise and consult with any Casting Director appointed in the US to cast American actors on Old Vic productions either transferred to the US or originating in the US.
• Building relationships with directors engaged by The Old Vic, working with them to discuss projects, creating character breakdowns, providing role actor lists, undertaking availability checks, arrange and conduct auditions, meetings and discussions regarding casting.
• Maintaining an excellent knowledge of and building relationships with actors, agents and directors across London, the UK and internationally.
• Regularly attending theatre productions and keeping up professional networking and relationships, identifying trends and industry developments.
• Identify emerging and potential talent through attending drama school showcases, talent agency relationships, and industry events (budget provided).
• Keep the casting and identity of The Old Vic’s work relevant to the world and developments we operate within.

• Programming
• Key involvement in programming, including proposing projects suitable for leading actors, advising on actor availability when planning the year, reading scripts and advising on potential opportunities and challenges for proposed projects.
• Liaising with Producing on the budget implications of casting decisions.
• Actively cultivating leading talent over the long term, working closely with actors and their agents to bring artists closer to The Old Vic and developing strong relationships.
• Attend workshops, readings and presentations and contribute to the development of projects in the early stages.

• Management and Leadership
• Managing and providing mentoring to the Casting Assistant.
• Representing the voice of actors and casting considerations on a strategic level in The Old Vic’s strategic and operational planning.
• Representing The Old Vic at industry forums and events as necessary.
• Collect, monitor and report on casting statistics as required and work with the Inclusion and Access Lead to monitor diversity and representation objectives.
• Maintaining knowledge of union negotiations, rates and work with Producing and People to meet our obligations and best practice in these areas.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and the Theatre's management may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.

Person Specification

• Essential
• A minimum of five years’ proven experience leading casting in a range of mid-to-large scale theatres.
• Strong current relationships with leading directors.
• Excellent relationships with actors’ agents in the UK and the US.
• Good knowledge of the dramatic canon.
• Proactive and confident, with the ability to cultivate new relationships with established and emerging talent.
• Diplomatic, discreet and professional.
• Knowledge and experience of union agreements, including British and American Equity.
• Enthusiasm for the work of The Old Vic.
• Good commercial instincts and awareness of which actors will attract audiences.
• Desirable
• Experience of working with musical theatre artists.
• Good contract negotiation skills.
• Experience of working in the commercial theatre.
• Management skills.
• Experience of working at a senior level within a comparable organisation.
• Member of Casting Directors Guild.

Benefits

• Hybrid working for eligible teams and a company culture that promotes good work/life balance.
• Enhanced annual leave, starting at 25 days per year, increasing by one day per year up to 30 days (plus bank holidays).
• Opportunity to switch statutory bank holidays to mark a religious event or festival.
• Complimentary tickets for you and a guest to Old Vic preview productions.
• Discretionary invite to Press Night performances and parties.
• Free therapy from our therapy partner.
• Self Space Mental health support via our in‑house Mental Health Champions.
• Salary sacrifice scheme with The People’s Pension and enhanced employer pension contributions.
• Festive day – one discretionary additional paid day off around the festive period for a collective pause.
• Time to volunteer – one day per year to support a charity or project of your choosing.
• Commitment to learning, education and development.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Access to interest free travel schemes including Cycle 2 Work and Season Ticket loans after your probation period.
• Family friendly policies and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental pay.
• All staff social events.
• Staff discount in Backstage café/bar and The Old Vic bars as well as discounts in local bars and restaurants.
• Opportunities to get involved with staff clubs and working groups such as the Inclusion Working Group.
• Buddy schemes including New Starter and Parental buddies to support your induction and return to work after parental leave.
• Death in Service benefit.

Equal Opportunities

We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of the global majority, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled candidates. We may take positive action, in cases where candidates are equally qualified, to increase the employment of under‑represented groups at The Old Vic. In the event that we ask you to attend the theatre for a conversation and you are struggling financially, we may be able to reimburse you for any reasonable travel costs. We partner with a range of inclusive organisations, to find out more please read our FAQs.