Resident director - New Work

Closing date for applications: 22 September 2025 at 12 noon

Salary: £32,250 (pro rata)

Contract type: 6-month fixed-term contract

Hours: 35 hours per week, although additional hours may be necessary in order to fulfil the post’s requirements

Ready to grow your directing career at a leading cultural institution? Gain insight into how theatre is brought to life and support the creative development of new work through script preparation, casting and workshops.

The National Theatre (NT) makes theatre that entertains and inspires using its creativity, expertise and unique reach. We share unforgettable stories with millions of audience members across the UK and around the world – on our own stages, on tour, in schools, on cinema screens and streaming at home. Our key objectives as we look to the next five years are towards economic, environmental and social sustainability, upholding a culture that aims to take care of our people and the wider world.

This role is part of the NT's development opportunities for early to mid-career directors. The role is embedded within the New Work department and casts all workshops and play readings, dealing directly with actors, creatives, agents, and liaising closely with NT’s casting department. The position suits directors who would benefit from understanding how other creatives develop their projects. This is an administrative role where the resident director supports the activity of the New Work department, printing scripts, creating contact sheets and making general preparations for incoming work.


Responsibilities

The provision of casting and administrative assistance for the workshops, readings and other programmed activity, which includes:

• Casting all performers for workshops and readings; liaising with visiting artists, agents and NT staff, working closely with the casting department
• Administratively assisting the deputy head of studio in preparing for workshops and readings as required, to include the creation of contact lists, copying scripts, and calling actors
• Attending team meetings and planning meetings and supporting the day-to-day running of the department as required
• Attending show meetings, seeing work and feeding back to the New Work department with show reports
• Occasionally working as an assistant director on workshops as and when necessary
• Occasionally directing workshop readings with writers on attachment as and when necessary
• Support the National Theatre’s communications objectives by sharing information with your manager and colleagues as appropriate, whilst respecting confidentiality, so that you and your colleagues have all the information you need to perform your duties effectively
• Always comply with and champion the National Theatre’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies
• Contribute to the National Theatre’s ambition to create an inclusive environment for colleagues and visitors

The successful candidate will have the following:

• Demonstrable experience casting artists from all different backgrounds, and a commitment to keeping performers from historically underrepresented backgrounds visible and valued in the casting process
• A good working knowledge of actors from different disciplines and with different abilities, including those with established theatre careers who may be working in leading roles around the country
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to work calmly under pressure. Knowledge of how to prioritise, multitask and to deliver work accurately and with attention to detail while respecting confidentiality and acting with discretion
• A commitment to being a theatre director, with experience of having directed professional productions in studio and fringe venues over a number of years accruing a demonstrable body of work (by professional, we mean having had a 2-3 week public run with a paid creative team and company)
• Experience of working professionally as an assistant and/or associate director around the country

If that sounds like you, this may be the role for you!

At the National Theatre, we support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. In line with our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, we recognise that we need to address underrepresentation in our organisation. We actively welcome applications from individuals who are part of global majority, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

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