Production assistant

Closing date for applications: 4th August 2025

Salary: £29,240 per annum

Department/Team: Production

Responsible to: Producer / general manager

Contract: Permanent, full-time - 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Location: Mix of home working and from The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB (min 3 office days)

The Old Vic offers the ability to work these flexibly under the guidelines in our Hybrid Working policy. Additional hours may be necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Bring your organisational skills and passion for the arts to The Old Vic and join the dynamic production team behind some of the most extraordinary shows on stage.

The purpose of this post is to provide exceptional administration support to the production team, particularly supporting the producer and general manager, along with the associate general managers on the administration of productions.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to be a part of a dedicated and hard-working team, delivering a range of productions in one of the world’s most vibrant and illustrious theatres. We are looking for someone who couples brilliant organisational skills with a love of theatre and will be an adaptable and personable team player.

The successful candidate may come from a similar role and have experience working in the theatre industry, and possess both an enthusiasm for theatre and good administration skills. They will be a adept communicator, flexible and adaptable and be comfortable working in a non-conventional yet exciting environment. They will also have excellent attention to detail and time management skills, be numerate and confident with all Microsoft packages (Word and Excel in particular, and preferably Outlook), be able to deal with confidential information and be comfortable adapting to changing priorities.


Responsibilities

Administration

• Arranging appointments, and meetings internally and externally for the team, including responding to invitations and booking meeting space as needed
• Servicing meetings or make arrangements for meetings to be serviced as required, including taking & circulating notes where relevant
• Ensure the producer and general manager are appropriately briefed for all meetings & events, including preparation of any relevant material in advance
• Organising travel, produce itineraries, book tickets, and arrange accommodation and per diems for the producer and general manager as required
• Maintaining and managing the team’s filing and archiving system
• Liaising with The Old Vic’s theatre operations office on any IT and telephone requirements or issues
• Ensuring all new starter paperwork for all production staff is completed and returned to HR, including right to work checks
• Being familiar with and keeping abreast of changes to relevant union agreements including, Equity, (British and American), Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications & Theatre Union (BECTU) and Musicians Union (MU), the Society of London Theatres (SOLT) and UK Theatre (UKT), making sure that the production team and the HR director are kept up to date with all and any changes and new rates, policies and regulations
• Being familiar with and keeping abreast of pensions policy and changes

Finance and payroll

• Supporting the associate general managers, general manager, production manager, company stage manager and HR team on the efficient and accurate administration of the payroll for technical staff, cast and stage management
• Coding and match monthly credit card receipts and statements and submit them to finance

Budgets and accounts

• Overseeing and maintaining the production running budget each week
• Ensuring that freelance staff invoices are processed smoothly and efficiently, keeping the associate general managers, general manager and agents regularly informed of any delays or issues
• Monitoring and arranging sign off of weekly petty cash returns from the company stage manager

Contracts

• Preparing contracts and new joiner paperwork for all actors, stage management and production staff as required
• Managing storage and filing of all written agreements in a secure, accurate and logical fashion and ensure only the relevant staff have access to such agreements as needed

Press and marketing

• Under the direction of the associate general managers manage the delivery of the press night process, on guests lists, invitations, seating plan and delivery of the evening – in conjunction with the box office, events, marketing and press team
• Provide all relevant show information, including managing cast and creatives biography sign off to the marketing and press teams as required
• Setting up and run the house seat book for all productions in consultation with the box office
• Assist the associate general managers with press & marketing requests for content and access to the cast and creative team
• Attend weekly marketing meetings

Production

• Keeping the cast and creative team contact list up to date
• Preparing and distributing show contact sheets and photo sheets
• Organising travel, produce itineraries, book tickets, and arrange accommodation and per diems for artists as required
• Tidying the stage management office after each production ends and ensure it is welcoming and presentable for the following production
• Archiving show bibles returned after each production ends
• Assisting with the pastoral care of creatives, actors, production staff, freelancers and The Old Vic Theatre Company staff including managing the green room, ensuring that it is always stocked, safe, clean and presentable
• Under the guidance of the associate general managers, booking audition and rehearsal spaces (internal or external) as needed
• Attending rehearsals, production meetings, technical rehearsals, previews and performances as required
• Sending welcome packs and scripts to cast and creative team members as required
• Arranging Press Night gifts for company members
• In conjunction with associate general managers, coordinate the guest list, ticketing and smooth running of the Press Night for each production
• Supporting the production and stage management team in any other way as may reasonably be required
• Supporting the associate producer on supporting programme activity as needed

General

• Contributing proactively to production team activities
• Deputising for the associate general managers as required
• Carrying out any other duties as reasonably requested by the general manager and producer
• Providing cover for the other production assistants in the team as needed
• Complying with The Old Vic’s Equal Opportunities, Sustainability, Child Protection and Safeguarding, Health & Safety and all Staff Handbook policies at all times

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


Knowledge, skills and experience

• Some experience working in a similar role in a performing arts organisation
• A demonstrable interest and experience of working in theatre
• Takes a proactive, flexible approach to work
• Meticulous eye for detail; good proof-reader; immaculate presentation of work
• Confident, positive and approachable when dealing with a wide range of staff and artists at all levels
• A confident decision-maker
• A lateral thinking problem solver
• Able to focus, whilst working in a busy office, and handle multiple tasks
• Good prioritisation and organisational skills
• Strong team ethic along with the ability to work independently
• Experience editing contracts and other documents swiftly and accurately

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.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.