Recruitment pack Lead Producer (full-time)

Improbable is recruiting a Lead Producer to join the company from Spring 2020. This pack tells you more about the role and how to apply. You are welcome to contact us at any time if you have questions or would like an informal conversation about the job.

CONTENTS OF THIS PACK:

• About Improbable • About the role of Lead Producer • Terms & conditions • Person specification • How to apply • Contact us

ABOUT IMPROBABLE

Led by Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, Improbable is a theatre company that defies categorisation. We create work on every scale from remarkable productions in the great opera houses to tiny improvisation gigs in the tiniest venues; we are at the forefront of arts activism through Open Space, and create ground-breaking participation work; we help to hold the history of improvisation, and to shape and secure its future through the iii.

At the heart of our work is the practice and philosophy of improvisation, and all our work draws on improvisatory processes such as Open Space and Worldwork. This is true even for the large-scale opera and music theatre pieces that form the bulk of Improbable’s upcoming programme. We are a company that follows our intuition.

We think that society needs a cultural shift that puts creativity at the heart of everyday life. In an era of division and uncertainty we create space for dreaming. In the world we imagine, the arts are not confined to the spiritual or emotional; they are central to development and decision making in social, organisational, legislative, economic and political spheres.

There are four strands to our work:

1. Productions, from studio shows to outdoor spectacles, new operas to classic texts, touring the UK and internationally – all celebrating the vitality of theatre and communicating the power of improvisation. In the last couple of years, we’ve worked on the small scale (e.g. BambinO, an opera for babies), medium scale (e.g. Lost Without Words, an improvised piece with actors in their 70s and 80s) and large scale (e.g. Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at the ENO in London and Metropolitan Opera New York), across theatre and opera, at home and abroad.

2. Workshops, using improvisation to effect social change by engaging with communities and individuals, and to research new ideas and models of collaboration.

3. Dialogue, including Open Space events such as Devoted and Disgruntled and Worldwork events such as Cooking Chaos - gatherings that bring people together in deep democracy to work on urgent issues within the sector and beyond it.

4. The International Institute of Improvisation (the iii), a hub that connects Improbable’s work with global improvisational practice. It currently takes the form of an annual three-week summer Academy.

Improbable was founded in 1996 as a partnership between Julian Crouch, Phelim McDermott, Lee Simpson and Nick Sweeting. The company became a charity in 2014, and is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England 2018-22. We have a team of nine:

Olivia Coxhead – Producer (part-time) Anna Crisp – Development Officer (part-time) Sarah Grange – Research & Open Space Associate (part-time) Matilda Leyser – Associate Director (part-time) Phelim McDermott – Artistic Director and joint CEO

Ben Qasim Monks – Executive Director Lee Simpson – Artistic Director, Director of Improvisation and joint CEO Nick Sweeting – Senior Producer (part-time; leaving post in Spring 2020) Jeremy Wong – Operations & Finance Officer

Our trustees are:

Clair Chamberlain (interim chair) – Founder & Managing Director, The Corner Shop Phil Clarke – Managing Director, Various Artists Ltd Stephen Daldry CBE – Director and Producer Dr David G Knott – Director, McKinsey & Company Pauline Mayers – writer, theatre-maker and choreographer Simon Minty – disability and diversity consultant Elspeth Murray – artist and facilitator Chris Sandhu – Director in Banking & Capital Markets, Deloitte Griselda Yorke – Lead Producer, Royal Shakespeare Company

From 2012 until 2019 Improbable was chaired by Ruth Mackenzie CBE. Ruth left Improbable earlier this year to take up the role of Chair of Arts Council England in London.

You can find out more about our work at www.improbable.co.uk and www.devotedanddisgruntled.com.

PURPOSE OF THE LEAD PRODUCER ROLE

Improbable’s co-founder and our current Senior Producer Nick Sweeting has decided to leave the company in Spring 2020, after 24 years.

The current role of Senior Producer is part-time. The role of Lead Producer will be a new, full-time and central one within the company, leading on all Improbable’s performance projects after Nick’s departure. The Lead Producer will work with the Artistic Directors and Executive Director to shape Improbable’s work, asking what is and what is not Improbable; be alive to opportunities to create and present Improbable’s work; and create a strategy for how the extraordinary breadth of our work fits together.

In the next 18 months, Phelim’s projects include international touring of Tao of Glass, which he created with Philip Glass and is co-directed by Kirsty Housley; revivals of Cosi Fan Tutti and Satyagraha with ENO in London; plus numerous projects in development or yet to be announced. Lee will continue work as Director of Improvisation, involving workshop and research activities alongside the development of a new production. Lee and Phelim will work together on the inaugural iii Summer Academy in June 2020. The Lead Producer will be responsible for the shaping and delivery of Improbable’s productions; initiating and managing relationships with artists, collaborators, partners, commissioners, co-producers and venues; supporting the work of the Director of Improvisation; and supporting the delivery of Improbable’s participation, Open Space and iii events. An important aspect of the role will be working with our commissioning partners and co-producers (who are often organisations much bigger than Improbable), ensuring that the shows we make with them have a strong connection back to the Improbable company.

The Lead Producer is line-managed by the Executive Director, and line manages the Producer as well as freelance project / production personnel as required.

The Lead Producer’s main responsibilities are as follows. This is an indicative list only, and as this is a new role we expect the exact shape of the job might develop once the Lead Producer has begun in post.

COMPANY DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGY

• Work with the Artistic Directors, Executive Director and Board to formulate and articulate Improbable’s purpose and strategy

• Work with the Artistic Directors, Executive Director and Board to create credible and robust plan for creating Improbable productions

• Identify and nurture opportunities to present Improbable work • Develop and maintain relationships with an international network of venues, commissioners

and producers • Represent Improbable on individual projects and within the wider industry • Support the Executive Director, Artistic Directors, Development Officer and Board in

developing and executing a fundraising strategy • Support the wider ethos and atmosphere of Improbable through company Open Spaces,

mentoring, and related activities • Line-manage the Producer

PRODUCING

• Produce the work of the Artistic Directors and Director of Improvisation • Support the Artistic Directors to recruit teams for their projects • Provide an overview of the producing possibilities for Improbable across all strands of the

company’s work, with related partnership and funding opportunities • Manage relationships with co-producers, commissioners and venues • Project manage the Skills Ensembles for Improbable’s opera productions, working with

ENO and other producing partners • With the Producer, manage the Improbable production calendar and keep an overview of

production delivery through regular contact with all staff • With the Producer, build excellent production and technical teams for Improbable’s

projects and ensure the effective delivery of set builds, fit up and technical periods • Represent Improbable as a producing company in the rehearsal room and facilitate a good

relationship between the Improbable team and project teams • Look after post-production project health and be mindful of future opportunities for

Improbable work • Supported by the Producer and Office & Finance Administrator, book rehearsal rooms,

travel and accommodation for Improbable projects and organise practical arrangements for rehearsals

• Supported by the Producer and Finance & Operations Administrator, file visa applications for personnel working internationally

• Supported by the Executive Director, look after the wellbeing of project teams • Supported by the Executive Director, ensure that Improbable productions are created in an

environmentally responsible way

FINANCIAL AND LEGAL

• Create and manage production budgets, ensuring that income targets from box office revenue and co-producers are met and expenditure is not exceeded, and reporting to the Executive Director

• Work with the Office and Finance Administrator on the running of budgets and receipt of income / payment of invoices

• With the Producer, draw up and negotiate contracts, licenses and other agreements for Improbable’s work

• Ensure the viability, legality and sustainability of project contracts, licences and agreements, supported by the Executive Director

FUNDRAISING

• Support the Development Officer and Executive Director in fundraising activities for Improbable productions, including by contributing to Trust & Foundation applications, supporting cultivation / fundraising events, and supporting the development of Open Space for Hire and Improbable for Business

COMMUNICATIONS

• Lead the Improbable team in delivering marketing, PR and audience development plans for Improbable productions, supported by the Producer, Operations & Finance Administrator, and external PR companies

• Supported by the Operations & Finance Administrator, contribute to the creation of social media and digital content for Improbable’s work

• Liaise with partner venues and organisations to design, deliver and evaluate joint marketing and audience development campaigns

• Work with trustee Clair Chamberlain (Corner Shop PR) to develop an overarching communications strategy for Improbable’s work

GENERAL

• Represent Improbable to at meetings, conferences, press nights and similar • Advocate for Improbable’s working style • Develop and maintain partnerships with organisations and individuals able to support

Improbable’s work in the UK and abroad • Keep up to date with best practice in access and inclusion and help to ensure that

Improbable’s projects are reflective of and accessible to the society we work in • Attend weekly Company meetings, Company OS days, and Board, management and

check-in meetings as required by the Artistic or Executive Directors • Actively seek opportunities for crossover between Improbable productions and the iii,

Devoted & Disgruntled and other strands of the company’s work • Any other duties as reasonably requested by the Executive Director or Artistic Directors

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Reports to: Executive Director

Line manages: Producer; plus project teams as required

Salary: £37,000 – £40,000/year depending on experience. The role is offered on an employed basis until March 2022 (the end of Improbable’s current NPO funding period), with the potential to be extended subject to continued funding. Improbable actively supports training and other CPD initiatives.

Hours: This is a full-time post, 40 hours/week. Normal office hours are 10am to 6pm with one hour for lunch. We are open to requests for flexible working. There is likely to be a requirement to work evenings and weekends, for which Improbable operates a Time Off in Lieu system.

Holiday: 25 days/year plus statutory bank holidays and Christmas holiday closures.

Pension: Improbable offers a workplace pension through The People’s Pension.

Place of work: The Lead Producer will be based at Improbable’s office which is currently at PopHub Leicester Square, 41 Whitcomb Street, London. The role will require travelling and staying away from London as necessary.

Probationary Period: Three months.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are looking for someone who cares about and identifies with Improbable’s ethos, and can support the company to make Improbable work happen.

Essential:

o Core affinity with Improbable’s work and spirit o Interest in improvisation and devised work o Relevant experience of producing theatre, opera or performance work on a range of scales o Experience of working with creative teams and facilitating artistic processes o Experience of seeking, securing and working with co-producers, commissioning partners and

touring venues on the mid and large scales o Familiarity with current trends and issues in the UK / international performing arts industry o Experience of contract negotiation o Experience of working in partnership o Experience of working with international co-commissioners, festivals and presenters o Strong financial skills including drafting and managing budgets o Excellent organisational and planning skills o Ability to prioritise flexibly and manage time efficiently o Ability to remain calm under pressure and problem-solve o Thoroughness and attention to detail o Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an impulse to communicate and keep

everyone connected o Energy, commitment and enthusiasm o Ability to work on one’s own initiative and to work independently o Desire to work with artists from a diverse range of backgrounds and an understanding of the

barriers to employment for people who are currently underrepresented in the arts

Desirable Interests and Experience:

o Familiarity with Improbable’s work o Interest in the social, cultural and financial context within with Improbable operates o Existing networks / contacts within UK / international theatre and performance o Experience of working with corporate partners o Interest and willingness to participate in innovative styles of organisational meetings and

processes, e.g, Open Space o Experience of line management o Experience of working with opera houses

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please email or post us the following:

1. A letter outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification. This should be no more than two sides of A4.

2. Your CV, which should include details of relevant producing experience and of your most recent / current job.

3. A completed, anonymous copy of the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form. This should be sent separately to your application.

Improbable will make reasonable adjustments to the process if you have a form of disability or long-term health condition, or if you need something different or additional for an interview. Please get in touch with us for a conversation about this. Similarly, if you'd rather apply in a different way, for example by sending an audio or video application, feel free to do so. Please make sure that it's good enough quality for us to listen/see and that it's no longer than 10 minutes.

Applications should be sent by email to office@improbable.co.uk or by post to Improbable, PopHub Leicester Square, 41 Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7DT, marked “PRODUCER APPLICATION.”

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 21st February 2020. Please note that we will not accept applications made via agencies.

First round interviews will be held in the week of 2nd March 2020, with second round interviews thereafter. We would like the Lead Producer to begin in post as soon as possible after April 2020 – however we have some flexibility for the right person.

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, experiences and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. All applications will be assessed on merit. Any candidate who self-identifies as D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, as a person of colour, and/or as genderqueer, and who meets the person specification, is guaranteed an interview, as these areas are under-represented in our current workforce. If this applies to you, please briefly indicate this in your application or in your accompanying email.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director Ben Monks on ben@improbable.co.uk or 020 7240 4556.