Artistic Policy and Programming
- Support the Artistic Director & Co-CEO in commissioning and nurturing news plays and ideas
- Liaise with new writing agencies (UK-based and internationally) to communicate the Bush’s interests and to identify writers and scripts for the Bush – in accordance with the artistic strategy
- Ensure that the Bush has a slate of high quality plays available for production by underrepresented writers, featuring a mixture of commissioned work and pre-existing scripts for UK premieres
- Manage submissions from new writing agencies and co-producers ensuring a response is received and making relevant recommendations during programming and Artistic Planning meetings
Advocacy and Networking
- Develop and maintain excellent external industry networks
- Foster new partnerships with creative organisations including writing agencies and broadcasting companies
- Regularly attend new plays, workshops, readings and showings, and be an ambassador for the Bush, its approach and its work
- Support the Bush team’s understanding of the commissions, productions and writers we are working with and how to engage productively with our work
Script Development and Productions
- With the Associate Dramaturge jointly lead on the dramaturgical development of commissioned work and other work in development, acting as dramaturg for Bush Theatre produced and co-produced shows and supporting visiting shows as required
- With the Producers and Associates, provide dramaturgical and pastoral support for writers and directors on attachment with the Bush Theatre
- With the Associate Dramaturge maintain responsibility for the coordination and delivery of Research and Development processes for work on the slate
Talent Development
- Working in collaboration with the Artistic team to develop and implement a strategy to ensure the Bush is engaging the finest new writing talent from the broadest possible backgrounds
- Working in collaboration with the Artistic team to create and manage other talent development schemes
- Ensure the pipeline to production for writers engaged in talent development.
- Uphold the theatre's values of collaboration; ensuring routes through from community and talent development programmes to Bush Theatre stages
- With the Associate Dramaturge produce research and development workshops and sharings, including casting, appointing creative teams, and providing dramaturgical support
Bush Writers’ Group
- With the Associate Dramaturge recruit and manage the Bush Writers’ Group – an annual cohort of six writers on attachment at the Bush
- Organise meetings and be the main point of contact for the Bush Writer’s Group, and all events associated with the schemes
Unsolicited Scripts programme
- With the Associate Dramaturge manage and oversee the processing of all solicited/agency and unsolicited scripts received, including offering feedback to playwrights and responding to enquiries from writers and agents as appropriate
Writer’s Room
- Oversee scheduling of the Bush Writers’ Room – our dedicated writing space in the building for writers on attachment - ensuring it is maximised as a resource to support Bush writers.
- Mentor writers on attachment, in residency and during production and development
Management
- Lead the Literary team including the Associate Dramaturge and freelance readers; being the first point of contact, distributing scripts and ensuring each response is logged and writer responded to
- Take responsibility for the recruitment, induction, development, supervision and line management of Literary team staff
- Work closely with the Lead Producer in contracting Bush commissioned writers to bring agreements through to execution, liaising with agents as appropriate
- As required negotiate and agree terms and conditions for all Research and Development contracts
- Analysis demographic data of commissions and other engagements, following up with strategy to diversify if necessary
Administration
- Manage and monitor the Literary budget and Literary invoices
- With the Associate Dramaturge, administrate the casting, contracting and organising of all Research and Development on Bush Theatre commissions and Bush Writers’ Group scripts
- Report on activity and the pipeline as required by the Executive team including ACE annual survey data and Action plan updates for Board papers
- Identify and administer applications for literary awards
- As required carry out research on writers, theatres and new writing trends
- Support the Development Team in identifying opportunities for funding writing programmes, and supporting them in reporting requirements
- Liaise with Marketing to ensure information and copy for Literary pages is kept up to date on the Bush Theatre Website
- Scheduling and booking travel, accommodation and theatre tickets as required
General
- Keep up to date with developments in new writing
- Attend read-throughs, sharings, preview, press and supporters’ nights and other Bush Theatre events as required
- Attend regular Company meetings and programming meetings.
- Actively develop and implement green policies and practices for the department
- Adhere to, and actively contribute to, Bush Theatre policies, including Equalities (diversity, access, and equal opportunities), Environmental and Health & Safety
- Maximise income and minimise expenditure wherever possible, without jeopardising the quality of the work or the reputation of the Bush Theatre.
- Act always in the best interest of the Bush Theatre
- Any other duties as reasonably required
Person Specification
Essential Skills and Experience:
- Significant experience as a dramaturg of new plays and / or productions
- Strong financial skills including drafting and managing budgets
- Strong administrative skills including department systems
- Experience of dealing with agents and negotiating contracts.
- Knowledge of the UK theatre landscape
- Experience of identifying and developing emerging new writing talent
- The ability to work collaboratively and form effective partnerships internally and externally
- Excellent organisation and planning skills with proven ability to work flexibly under pressure, to prioritise and to meet deadlines
- Proven excellent communication skills, written and verbal including the ability to be persuasive and sensitive
Essential Attributes:
- An affinity for the mission, vision and work of the Bush Theatre and a passion to play a key role in shaping and achieving the theatre’s success
- A positive attitude with a high level of self-motivation and ability to work on your own initiative
- A genuine and demonstrable commitment to maintaining the broadening of cultural diversity and access across all areas of the Bush Theatre
- A demonstrable commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming work environment
- Flexibility in relation to duties and working hours which will require evenings and weekends.
Desirable:
- Experience of using Microsoft Office suite or Google suite
- Direct experience of the UK Theatre / WGGB Agreements
- Productive and wide ranging contacts in the theatre sector