Theatre Assistant

Overview

Employees are hired through Youth Job Connection and therefore must be between the ages of 15 and 29. Roles include Front of House Assistant, Design Assistant, Production Assistant and Volunteers for the Classic Theatre Festival 2023 summer season. All positions are training positions with supervision by the Associate Producer or Stage Manager and mentorship. Pay is 15.75 per hour. Work periods vary by role and location.

Front of House Assistant — Arts Court Theatre

Work Period: June 26 to Aug. 20 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average) or July 3 to Aug. 27 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average)

Rate of Pay: $15.75 per hour

Location: Arts Court Theatre

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Hand out house programs, check tickets and greet audience members before each performance; direct audience members to their reserved seats; handle issues during the performance; ensure safe entry and exit of audience members into the theatre space; accommodate needs of audience members with special needs (e.g., wheelchairs, assistance devices).
• Staff a concessions area at intermission to provide snacks and beverages to theatre guests, while staffing a used book sale area and ensuring the integrity of the stage in between acts.
• Check theatre seats to ensure numbered tags are in place for each row so that audience members can find their reserved seat; scan the theatre space for safety hazards and ensure that glow tape is working on all handrails, steps, and row markers.

Supervision and Training: Supervision by the Associate Producer on a daily basis from the beginning to the end of each shift. In addition to training in front of house services and customer relations, they will receive training in accessibility guidelines (AODA), sexual harassment rights and responsibilities, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Front of House Assistant will benefit from instant evaluations that praise work well done and help correct any errors or misperceptions that may exist about a specific task. Part of the training process will emphasize how they can approach supervisors in a safe space to handle any concerns that arise. Members of the Front of House team will gather at the end of each shift to report in, discuss challenges that arose that day, and discuss potential solutions to any problems that have arisen.

Mentoring: Each Front of House Assistant will be personally mentored by the Associate Producer. That mentoring begins from the first day of training, when roles, responsibilities, and expectations are clearly laid out. They will learn how to work in a group with respect for and trust in one another. The Associate Producer will assist in developing strong communication skills for dealing with members of the public, improvisation skills that assist them in deftly handling unexpected issues that arise in the context of live performance, and problem solving skills to address any issues that arise in the workplace (e.g., how to handle customers who arrive at the theatre in a bad mood), dealing with issues related to health and safety, coming up with creative solutions under tight deadlines).

Requirements: This is a training position. However, experience in customer relations is an asset. Superior interpersonal communication skills are a must, as well as being on time for work shift.

Age Note: Employees are hired through Youth Job Connection and therefore must be between the ages of 15 and 29.

Design Assistant — Nepean Arts Centre / Arts Court Theatre

Work Period: June 12 to August 6 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average) or July 3 to August 27 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average)

Rate of Pay: $15.75 per hour

Location: Nepean Arts Centre (June 12 to 28) and Arts Court Theatre (June 28 to Aug 6)

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• The Design Assistant will provide support to the Set and Lighting designers as part of the Classic Theatre Festival’s 2023 summer season at Arts Court Theatre. This will include supporting the design process and implementation of the final designs for each show, as well as ongoing technical design support during the run of each play.

During pre-production and training, the Design Assistant will be supervised and mentored on a daily basis by the Designer they are assigned to who, in addition to providing training in theatre design, will also ensure they receive training in accessibility guidelines (AODA), sexual harassment rights and responsibilities, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and other workplace safety practices. As summer staff, they will also receive training from an Algonquin youth leader on issues related to Truth and Reconciliation, anti-racism, and other forms of discrimination that have traditionally affected equity-seeking communities.

The Designers will work closely with the Design Assistant to respond to unexpected issues that arise in the context of theatre design, while also providing training and guidance in problem solving to address any issues that arise in the workplace. The multi-faceted nature of the Design Assistant position will provide a wide set of skills training that are useful for those pursuing both academic and technical studies. Skills learned will include learning to anticipate and prevent problems, collaborative work in a fast-paced environment, research of historic cultural trends, translating paper drawings into physical placement of set pieces and furniture, employing green-energy lighting systems, and modifying design elements during transition from rehearsal hall to the stage.

Requirements: This is a training position. However, experience and/or interest in visual arts, theatre design and technical theatre production are assets.

Age Note: Employees are hired through Youth Job Connection and therefore must be between the ages of 15 and 29.

Production Assistant — Two Positions

Work Period: June 12 to Aug 6, 2023 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average) or July 3 to Aug 27, 2023 (8 weeks at 35 hours per week on average)

Rate of Pay: $15.75 per hour

Location: Position 1 University of Ottawa Studio (June 12 to July 2) & Arts Court Theatre (July 3 to Aug 6); Position 2 University of Ottawa Studio (July 3 to 30) & Arts Court Theatre (July 31 to Aug 27)

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide production support to one of the mainstage productions, including rehearsal support (assisting the Stage Manager, documenting the rehearsal process, props management, maintaining a prompt book, learning to tape up the rehearsal space to reflect placement of set pieces, prompting performers, and assisting with costume alterations) and backstage duties during performances (assisting the actors backstage with prop and set changes, liaising with the Front of House Manager, acting as a liaison for the Stage Manager, setting up props and set dressing, troubleshooting).

Supervision and Mentoring: The Production Assistant will be supervised by the Stage Manager. They will receive training in theatre production and rehearsal management, accessibility guidelines (AODA), sexual harassment rights and responsibilities, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. During actual performance dates for the mainstage production, supervision continues with the Stage Manager addressing incidents as they arise. The Production Assistant will be mentored by the Stage Manager from day one of rehearsal, with roles, responsibilities, and expectations clearly laid out. The Stage Manager will provide guidance in problem solving and health and safety in live performance.

Requirements: This is a training position. However, technical theatre skills and experience are an asset. The candidate must be able to work well in a team, be on time for all calls, have good organizational skills and attention to detail.

Volunteer Note: Volunteers must commit to one shift per week during the summer season from July 7 to August 27, 2023.

Volunteer — Front of House / General Support

Work Shifts: Wed to Sun 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm; Wed, Thu and Sat 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Location: Arts Court Theatre

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Assist with customer relations during mainstage performances; distribute house programs, check tickets, greet audience members, direct seating, handle issues during performances, and ensure safe entry and exit.
• Provide concessions at intermission, staff the used book sale area and support stage readiness between acts; verify seat tags and monitor safety hazards in the theatre space.

Supervision and Mentoring: Supervision by the Associate Producer and training in front of house services, accessibility guidelines and health and safety.

Requirements: This is a training or volunteer position; good communication and reliability are required.

Land Acknowledgement

Truth and Reconciliation is more than words. As a means of acknowledging the land where we live and work, we recognize the wisdom of indigenous communities. For Lynn Gehl's land acknowledgement statement, see HERE.

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