July 4, 2012

WELLINGTON’S SUMMER SHAKESPEARE 2013  

Summer Shakespeare Trust invites applications for the position of  

Production Manager  

Job Description 
Salary:  Contract fee of $4000 (gross)
Starting date:  To be negotiated
Rehearsal dates:  Beginning of November 2012 – February 2013
Season dates:  15^th February – 2^nd March 2013 (Wellington) 

Background

Summer Shakespeare in Wellington is a tradition that extends back for three decades – 2013 marks the 30^th anniversary.  The first Summer Shakespeare was in 1983, when Adrian Kiernander’s memorable A Midsummer Night’s Dream took over the University quadrangle.  Since then, the annual Summer Shakespeare has become known for its energetic, large-cast productions and festive approach to the plays.  They have been performed a variety of locations to large and appreciative audiences, from theatres to rugby fields, Civic Square to the Dell in the Wellington Botanical Gardens.  Over the years, the Summer Shakespeare Trust has retained a commitment to celebrating Shakespeare in live performance, and to providing young people with the opportunity to experience Shakespeare, be it as audience, crew, or cast members.

The 2013 production is Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Alison Walls.

Qualities

The Production Manager should have:

• Experience in managing theatre productions, preferably large-scale or outdoor productions
• Leadership skills to direct a large team
• Knowledge of production issues such as health and safety, fire safety, and risk assessment
• Patience, humour and a good nature
• Drivers licence

Access to a vehicle is an advantage. 

Tasks

• Setting the budget with the Trust Administrator and Director (as required)
• Seeking and securing appropriate volunteer production crew, including stage management, sound and lighting designers/operators, and pack in/out crew.
• Organising and running production meetings.
• Applying for and manage all licensing and local authority consents
• Overseeing the design process to ensure that it can be physically achieved within budget.  Suggesting practical solutions to creative problems.
• Ensuring that the lighting and sound designs are practical and will work (in collaboration with the Design Mentor if there is one).
• Liaising between the director, set designer, sound designer and lighting designer – particularly if creative differences arise.
• Hiring/borrowing/negotiating onsite venue requirements – power, audience seating and cover (as appropriate), cover for backstage areas, backstage requirements such as wardrobe racks/mirrors/tables, onsite signage, front-of-house area, tools, equipment.  Organising security of venue, including producing and maintaining cast/crew roster, and negotiating and securing professional security services.
• Assessing risks associated with each venue and producing a health and safety/risk assessment report.  Ensuring that all cast and crew are aware of risks and follow regulations.
• Organising administration of site/venue, including liaison with local residents.
• Creating a production schedule and ensuring everything is running to time during the pack-in/out.
• Creating the ‘production bible’ – this is the production schedule plus all contact details, all delivery and removal details, security roster and any other relevant production information as necessary.
• Liaising with the venues about pack-in/out, access issues and signage issues.
• Working with the Trust Administrator to ensure that all departments are keeping to budget.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 5PM FRIDAY 13^TH JULY 2012

Late applications will not be considered.

Send applications or for further information, please contact:

Sally Thorburn (Producer/Administrator, Summer Shakespeare Trust)
admin@summershakespeare.co.nz   
027 432 8935

Summer Shakespeare Trust
P.O. Box 9925
Marion Square
Wellington