Resident assistant director

Closing date for applications: 5th January 2026

Salary: £30,000 per year

Looking to advance your directing career? This year-long role at the Donmar offers hands-on experience across rehearsals, casting, programming, and artistic leadership.

The resident assistant director (RAD) is an opportunity for an outstanding theatre director in the early stages of their career to be embedded at the Donmar for a year. The RAD will develop extensive skills, craft, and knowledge around directing; from casting, in rehearsals, through to the running of shows, working with directors and actors of the highest calibre. The RAD will also experience and contribute to the workings of one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, and cultivate their skills as an artistic leader of the future. The RAD scheme has been integral to the Donmar through its thirty-year history. Former resident assistant directors have gone on to become leading directors and artistic leaders.

Across the year, the RAD will spend the majority of their time assisting on productions. They will assist on a minimum of 4 shows. Primary duties include: supporting the running of rehearsals, technical rehearsals and previews, and noting the show once it is running. They will balance their time with duties in the office as an integral part of the theatre staff. The RAD will sit in the artistic team. They will be involved in literary duties, casting duties, and will contribute to programming meetings. In addition, there is the opportunity to learn from a range of departments e.g. marketing, development, producing.

We are looking for a passionate, ambitious, highly self-motivated and driven individual who thrives in a busy and fast-paced environment and who is interested in gaining a foundation in artistic leadership and the running of a building. This is not an entry level position. The role is intended as a bridge from assistant roles to associate/staff directing roles and making your own work as a director. The aim of the role is to give a rounded experience of the different component parts of a busy producing theatre and to give an introduction to the skills and considerations of artistic leadership.

This role will suit someone…

• Looking to build themselves for a strong understanding of the theatre industry and the key role that assistant directors/directors play at the Donmar and within the sector at large
• Eager to experience of day-to-day running of a rehearsal room in a producing theatre
• Who is confident in communicating with a variety of people including creative leads, freelance technical & stage management teams, performers, administrative staff and supporters & donors
• Excited to take part in cross-departmental mentorship and company-wide investment in your professional development
• Wants access to a thriving and active Donmar trainee alumni community

Responsibilities

Working as an assistant director on productions, which includes:

• Supporting the director during rehearsals and with preliminary preparation
• Supporting stage management with tasks and scheduling
• Supporting the cast as necessary during both rehearsals and through the run
• Noting the production at least twice a week and feeding back to the director
• A bridge between the office and the rehearsal room, feeding back to the artistic team
• Managing production seat allocation during tech and previews
• Attending post-show discussions, development events, other events as required
• Work with understudies when required

Working with the artistic team which includes:

• Reading scripts and feeding back in artistic meetings
• Attending shows and reporting back
• Some administration of scripts / correspondence
• Contributing to programming conversations
• Uphold values around EDI alongside all other Donmar Staff

Working with the casting department which includes:

• Supporting the casting director with actor lists
• Undertaking research for the casting director
• Attending shows or showcases
• Attending auditions, general meetings, readings

Working with development and participation departments which includes:

• Facilitating workshops, talks and other events with young people
• Delivering Q&A sessions with young people, community groups and sponsors
• Other duties to assist the Donmar office as may reasonably be required

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


Knowledge, skills & experience

Assessed at Application - essential

• Experience of directing your own work; at least one fully realised professional production*
• Experience of being an assistant director on at least three professional theatre productions*
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to a career as a theatre director, standing at the point of gaining larger-scale assisting credits, associate director roles, and making your own work at professional venues
• Articulation of what your creative skillset brings to the rehearsal room and how you apply it to support the rehearsal process
• An understanding of the work and ethos of the Donmar Warehouse

*NB - (For the purposes of this application we are defining a professional production as being a full-length piece performed by paid actors for a run of 2 weeks or more)

Reviewed at application and assessed at interview - essential

• A strong interest in how a producing theatre is run and the role of artistic leadership
• Be able to illustrate where your working practice and/or the stories you tell show a commitment to inclusion and diversity
• Excellent communication and administration skills
• Ability to prioritise, work well under pressure and adapt to new situations
• A proactive and positive attitude
• Ability to work independently and under your own initiative
• Embrace both rehearsal-room and office-based activities and balance tasks for both settings

Desirable

• Has worked as an assistant director on productions at medium / large scales
• Experience of script reading
• Experience of running workshops / working with young people
• Experience of working with understudies

Additional information

This is an intensive full-time training role so it will not be possible to be released to work on major freelance projects outside of the contract. However, it is possible to use leave days for smaller projects e.g. readings, workshops. We recognise that candidates may have other commitments and encourage you to discuss anything that might impact your availability at interview.

Benefits:

• Enhanced holiday scheme with 25 days a year plus 8 Bank Holidays.
• Annual Birthday leave.
• Benefits (post-probation and dependant on length of service)
• 6% employer pension contribution as part of the Donmar’s stakeholder pension scheme.
• Season ticket loan (travel)
• Subsidised local gym membership
• £25 towards annual eye tests
• Employee welfare programme
• Cycle to work bike loan scheme
• Discount at Donmar bar on food and drinks
• Complimentary tickets to attend Donmar performances
• All staff training and professional development programme

To apply, you will need to submit an up to date CV and complete the online form including Credits & Productions, Supporting Statement Questions and Equal Opportunity Monitoring data via our Careers Page.

We believe that representation matters; diversity of identity, of perspective and of lived experience enriches our work and our lives. We recognise that the Donmar and the wider theatre industry is not representative of contemporary society in terms of workforce, artists and audience. We particularly encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented both at the Donmar and more widely in the industry, and specifically from D/deaf or disabled, or neurodivergent applicants and applicants who experience barriers and inequity due to ethnicity, gender reassignment and/or socio-economic background.

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