Job vacancy - Development Manager

Following a period of unprecedented success, we are looking to make a major appointment in what promises to be one of the most exciting times in the Theatre’s history. The role will involve working closely with the Theatre’s new Artistic Director, David Thacker, and the Executive Director, John Blackmore, to expand the current fundraising programme and devise and spearhead a new development strategy. The role requires significant experience in all areas of arts fundraising. It will initially be offered as a year-long contract.

For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 12 noon on Tues 4 May 2010
Interviews will be held at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton on Tues 11 or Weds 12 May 2010

Job vacancy - Press and Communications Manager

We are seeking an experienced Press and Communications Manager to help expand the profile of the Theatre on a regional and national basis.

The role requires an individual with a comprehensive knowledge of press and media relations and a thorough understanding of theatre and the arts. The candidate will have outstanding copywriting skills and an up to date understanding of developments in online media. The position will be on a fixed-term contract until 14 January 2011.

For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications: Mon 12 April 2010
Interviews will be held at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, w/c 19 April 2010

Job Vacancy - Cleaner

Cleaner required for the Octagon Theatre

Hours: 7.00 – 9.30 am Mon to Sat and 2 or 3 afternoons per week 3.30 – 5.00 pm on a rota system, minimum of 15 hours per week

Pay: £5.80/£4.83 per hour. Telephone 01204 529407 for an application form and further details or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 5 pm on 30/03/10
Interviews to be held on 01/04/10

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Job Vacancy - Activ8 Admin Assistant

Activ8 Administrative Assistant (Part-Time 15 hours per week)
Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

We are looking to recuit an experienced admin assistant to provide support for our community, education and outreach department. You will be highly organised, able to work on your own initiative and have experience of word processing and Microsoft Office. For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 22/03/10 at 12 noon
Interviews will be held on 01/04/10

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
This position is subject to a successful CRB Enhanced Disclosure check.

Job Vacancy - Head of Production

This award winning, unique, producing Theatre is seeking a creative, knowledgeable and experienced Production Manager to lead its production team in a new phase of the Theatre’s development. Working closely with our Artistic Director, David Thacker, the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of production planning, creation and implementation of a season of at least eight plays together with a range of complementary events.

An in-depth experience of producing theatre is essential along with commitment, drive and outstanding leadership and management skills. For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 22/03/10
Interviews will be held on 29 or 30/03/10

Bar Assistant Required

The William Hare Bar at the Octagon Theatre requires a committed, reliable, Bar Assistant to serve customers in a quick, efficient and pleasant manner. The Bar is open from 6.00 pm –11.00 pm Monday to Saturday each week and from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm on matinee performance days. Hours for this post are approximately 12 - 15 per week over 3 days.

Every four weeks during the production season the bar is closed from Monday to Wednesday, this is called Tech week. The bar is also closed during the summer maintenance period usually between July and August, when there is no work, and on some evening dates during December when hours will be reduced accordingly.

For further details and an application form please ask at The Spotlight Café, telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/

Vacancies...

We are looking for a few people to add to the lovely team here at the Octagon. Do either of the following sound like you?

Part Time Relief House Manager
To work two to three evenings per week as required may also include one daytime shift on Wed or Sat. You will lead the front of house team in ensuring audiences, participants and all building users receive the highest levels of customer care. Closing date for applications 12 noon on 23/10/09 and interviews will be held on 27/10/09.

Part Time Stage Door Receptionist
To work 12 hours per week on Tues 2.00 pm – 7.00 pm and Thurs 12 noon – 7.00 pm, £4.83 per hour/£5.80 age 22+. You will need to be organised with a pleasant telephone manner and have experience of general administrative duties and IT, busy position but must be able to work alone. Closing date for applications 12 noon on 23/10/09 and interviews will be held on 26/10/09.

For an application form and further details of either position please telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk.

Octagon appoints a new artistic director....

Exciting news indeed. We are delighted to announce the appointment of David Thacker as the new Artistic Director; a director of national and international renown.

David Thacker will work alongside Executive Director John Blackmore, as Artistic Director of the Octagon, succeeding Mark Babych, who will be leaving the Theatre in July 2009 after ten years.

Over to David for a few words:

“The Octagon offers the perfect challenge for me at this point in my career. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with John Blackmore and the Octagon’s dedicated staff to help build on the remarkable success they have had. With Mark Babych they have laid the foundations for the Octagon to become a theatre of local, regional and national significance. I look forward to becoming part of the family of outstanding producing theatre in the North West.”

John Blackmore had this to say:

“It is a measure of how far the Octagon has travelled over the last eight years in terms of ambition, status and profile that we have attracted someone of David’s calibre and reputation. His impressive theatre record includes: running the Young Vic to great acclaim; directing for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre; and establishing professional relationships with artists of national and international standing including working closely with the late Arthur Miller. We believe this appointment marks a watershed in the Octagon’s progress to becoming a major player in British Theatre.”

Here's a bit more information about the man himself:

“Not I alone but theatre itself owes very much to David Thacker” Arthur Miller on David Thacker leaving the Young Vic.

David has directed over 100 theatre productions including plays by Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams and Tom Stoppard.

Notable productions include; The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (RSC and national tour and West End), Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (RSC and international tour), The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (RSC), Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (RSC), The Last Yankee by Arthur Miller (The Young Vic and West End), Broken Glass by Arthur Miller (National Theatre and national tour and West End) - Evening Standard Award for Play of the Year, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (National Theatre, BBC) A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller (Bristol Old Vic, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and West End) An Enemy of the People (The Arthur Miller version) (The Young Vic and West End) – nominated for an Olivier Award as Director of the Year' Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen (The Young Vic and West End), Some Kind of Hero by Les Smith (The Young Vic) A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O’Neil (The Young Vic and West End) – nominated for the Kenneth Tynan Award for Outstanding Achievement' Comedians by Trevor Griffiths (The Young Vic) Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, Fred Ebb and John Kander (The Duke’s Playhouse, Lancaster)

Theatres: He has worked at eight producing theatres including the Royal Shakespeare Company (Director-in Residence), The Young Vic (Director), The Duke’s Playhouse, Lancaster (Theatre Director), and The National Theatre. Seven of his productions have transferred to the West End.

Awards: Olivier Awards for Best Director (Pericles) and Best Revival (Pericles) and London Fringe Awards for Best Director (Ghosts) and Best Production (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).

Television: David is also prolific television director having directed more than 30 TV productions such as The Vice, Silent Witness, Foyle’s War and Waking the Dead as well as films such as Measure for Measure, A Doll’s House, Broken Glass, The Mayor of Casterbridge and Faith.

Actors: David has directed many outstanding actors, including: Samantha Bond, David Bradley, Piers Brosnan Hugh Bonneville, Connie Booth, Josette Bushell-Mingo, David Calder, Cheryl Campbell, Warren Clarke, Timothy Dalton, Penny Downie, Trevor Eve, Pam Ferris, Joe Fiennes, Tara Fitzgerald, Jason Flemyng, James Fox, Iain Glen, Richard Harris, Bernard Hill, Douglas Hodge, Ian Hogg, Ewan Hooper, Geraldine James, Michael Kitchen, Estelle Kohler, Margot Leicester, Anton Lesser, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Patrick Malahide, Helen Mirren, Warren Mitchell, Virginia McKenna, John Nettles, Clive Owen, Michael Pennington, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Tennant, John Thaw and Zoe Wannamaker.
DirectorsDavid has worked alongside directors such as Michael Attenborough, Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Peter Hall, Katie Mitchel, Sam Mendes, Adrian Noble, Philidda Lloyd and Max Stafford-Clark.

Writers: David has worked with writers including David Edgar, Ted Hughes, Arthur Miller, David Lodge, Ted Whitehead and Trevor Griffiths.

Phew I am exhausted just reading it and those are just the highlights!

I am sad to say the rumours are true and Mark Babych, our Artistic Director, will be leaving in the summer next year.

Mark joined the theatre as resident director in 1999; the first production that he directed was Perfect Pitch, which was nominated for Best Production MEN Awards in 2000. He has since then been nominated for and won several Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards, including And Did Those Feet (Best Production MEN 2007); Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Best Production MEN 2006); Blue / Orange (Nominated for Best Production MEN 2006); Four Nights in Knaresborough (Nominated for Best Production MEN 2004), and Anna Karenina (Nominated for Best Production MEN 2000).

Mark says:

“After 10 years with the company, I will be stepping down as artistic director at the end of June 2009.This has been a very rewarding time for me but I now feel that the time is right for me to move on, and for the Octagon to take another exciting step in its remarkable journey.

I feel very proud and privileged to have been the artistic director here. It has taught me so much and I am glad to have been able to contribute to the success of the theatre over this time.”

John Blackmore, our Executive Director says

“Mark has been with the Theatre for 10 years and has directed a wide range of high quality, distinguished and award-winning productions. We bid him a fond farewell. We are now embarking on a search for a new artistic director with talent, passion and flair to take us forward from September 2009 to new heights and achievements.”

If you fancy submitting an application here are the details. For an informal discussion and to arrange a possible visit please telephone John Blackmore, Executive Director, on 01204 556509.

For full details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Bright Sparks Wanted

Our award winning, unique Theatre, currently celebrating its fortieth year of producing regional theatre, is seeking a Deputy Electrician to become part of a department of three reporting to the Chief Electrician.

Applicants should be enthusiastic, committed and have experience in a similar working environment. For further details and an application form telephone 01204 529407 or email info@octagonbolton.co.uk

Closing date for applications 18/06/08
Interviews will be held w/c 23/06/08
Starting date 18/08/08

The Octagon Theatre positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. www.octagonbolton.co.uk