IN CONFIDENCE – LITERARY MANAGEROffice Use Only

LITERARY MANAGER

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This Application Pack contains 2 sections.

SECTION 1Job description, terms and conditions, person specification and application guidelines (To be retained)

SECTION 2Application form and equal opportunities form (To be submitted).

The closing date for applications is Friday 20thMay 2016 at 5pm. Late applications will not be considered.

IN CONFIDENCE – LITERARY MANAGEROffice Use Only

SECTION 1

Background

The Lyric Theatre is Northern Ireland’s only full-time producing theatre.

Established in 1951, the Theatre was born when Mary and Pearse O’Malley transformed the back rooms of their house in Derryvolgie Avenue into a drama space. In the 1960s the scale of work expanded considerably and the Lyric Players became a non-profit making organisation with the aim of building a new theatre. In 1968, a new Lyric Theatre opened on Ridgeway Street on the banks of the River Lagan.

Over the next 50 years the Lyric established itself as Northern Ireland’s leading producing theatre, premiering the works of playwrights such as Stewart Parker, Martin Lynch, Marie Jones and Christina Reid. Their works were often performed by some of Northern Ireland’s finest performers, including Adrian Dunbar, Dan Gordon, Conleth Hill, Ciaran Hinds, Stella McCusker, Frances Tomelty and the Theatre’s patron, Liam Neeson.

In 1998 the Board of the Theatre took the decision to redevelop the then dilapidated building which struggled to provide adequate facilities for the more modern productions. After many years of lobbying, substantial grants were approved by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council and a major fundraising campaign was launched.

The new £18.1m state-of-the-art theatre opened its door on 1st May 2011 to critical acclaim, both for the architecture of the theatre itself and for the quality of the productions on the stage. Within its first three years of opening it collected 16 awards for the theatre and its work.

The new theatre includes the 390 seat Northern Bank Stage, the 124 seat flexible Naughton Studio and a modern rehearsal room; all enhanced with attractive hospitality spaces. Behind the scenes there are state-of-the-art dressing rooms, stage technical facilities and spacious office accommodation.

Each year we produce between 8/9 full-scale productions including new writing. We also receive visiting work from touring companies, most of which plays in the Naughton Studio. In 2015/16 we staged 484 performances of 74 different productions across 2 stages. Our latest season includes 4 world premieres of 2 new plays and 2 new adaptations/translations.

In 2015 the theatre won 4 Irish Theatre Awards, was voted NI’s most welcoming theatre, staged co-productions with the Abbey Theatre, Soho Theatre and the Dublin Theatre Festival and toured to London, Glasgow, Dublin and Letterkenny.

For more information on the Lyric Theatre visit

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Literary Manager is a new role. They will operate at the core of the artistic activity of the Lyric Theatre and will act as the principal interface between the Lyric and writers. S/he will aim to identify, evaluate and consider appropriate dramatic material both to the Lyric and the wider drama sector in Northern Ireland allowing the construction and implementation of a programme of the highest possible quality and the broadest possible range. They will act as a Dramaturg for the wider drama sector.

This role will include circulating scripts and copies of plays within the building; processing and assessing recommended and unsolicited submissions; identifying and supporting emerging writing talent by offering play readings and workshops; commissioning and developing new plays and adaptations from more experienced writers; commissioning new translations of classic plays from the world repertoire and continuously scrutinising the playwriting canon to rediscover the great and neglected plays which need to be revived.

S/he will be required to maintain active contact with other theatres companies, literary agents, producers and theatre professionals from across the British Isles.

The Literary Manager remit will have a far reaching effect over the whole island. They will offer to and conduct workshops with various communities and individuals regardless of locality. They will set up mentoring programs for younger writers with more experienced participants and conduct rehearsals of work-in-progress plays. Though based in the Lyric it is envisioned that the Literary Manager will have a board outreach to various different theatres and companies. As such the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate an innate ability to work constructively with a wide range of individuals.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to have a far reaching and lasting impact on the literary landscape of Northern Ireland.

1.TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1JOB TITLE

The title of this post is Literary Manager.

1.2LOCATION

The post is based at the Lyric Theatre, Ridgeway Street, Belfast.

1.3PAY SCALE

The post will attract a salary of up to £28,000per annum for an exceptional candidate.

1.4CONTRACT

The appointment is full-time for 37.5 hours per week.

1.5PROBATIONARY PERIOD

The appointment will commence with a probation period of 6 months which may be terminated at a month’s notice by either side during the period. During this time the organisation reserve the right to dismiss the employee for unsatisfactory performance without recourse to the disciplinary procedure.

1.6ANNUAL LEAVE

5.6 weeks’ holiday

1.7WORKING HOURS

The standard working week will be an average of 37.5 hours over 5 days (Monday to Friday)with occasional weekend and evening work.

1.8DISCLOSURE

  1. If you are successful after shortlisting, depending on whether you will be working with children and/or vulnerable adults, you will be required to undergo an ACCESS NI check.
  2. If you are required to undergo an Access NI check, a copy of their Code of Practice will be made available to you.
  3. You will also be required to disclose any unspent criminal convictions as defined by The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups NI Order 2007 & The Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978. The Lyric theatre has a policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders which can also be made available to you.
  4. Disclosure of a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining the position within the Lyric theatre. You will, however, be asked to disclose if there is any reason why you cannot work in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults.

1.9CLOSING DATE

The closing date for receipt of completed applications isFriday 20th May2016 at 5pm. The completed Application Form and Recruitment Monitoring form should be returned in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL and must be addressed to:

The Monitoring Officer

Lyric Theatre

55 Ridgeway Street

BELFAST

BT9 5FB

Failure to complete and return the Application Form in accordance with the Guidance Notes contained on the reverse of the first page of the Application Form will result in your application being disqualified. Canvassing will disqualify. Late applications will not be considered.

Copies of this job application pack are available to download from

and also on request from the Administration Assistant, Lyric Theatre, 55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast BT9 5FB and by email from

1.9SHORTLISTING

Only those applicants who appear, from the information provided, to be the most suitable in terms of the selection criteria may be called for interview. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate clearly on their application form, how they satisfy the published selection criteria. It is essential that applicants provide evidence of how they meet the selection criteria, giving examples and specifying exact dates as appropriate. It is not sufficient to simply list the various posts that you have held. The selection panel cannot make assumptions as to your skills, knowledge and experience from the title of previous posts held.

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

2.GUIDANCE NOTES

Please read carefully

Completing the Form

  1. You must complete all sections of the Application Form. Only pages 3 onwards of the Application Form will be made available to the selection panel.
  2. Please complete the form clearly and legibly, preferably in CAPITAL LETTERS or typescript.
  3. The personnel requirements for this post are set out in this Form. You must address all the requirements listed and demonstrate clearly how you meet each one.
  4. Do not exceed the space provided. We will not consider any attachments, CVs or other supplementary material.

Returning the Form

  1. The Application Form must be signed and dated
  2. The Application Form must be returned addressed to ‘The Monitoring Officer’
  3. Your completed Application Form must arrive by the stated closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.
  4. Information in support of your application will not be accepted after the closing date for receipt of applications.
  5. If you wish to submit your application via email, please return to

General

  1. Canvassing will disqualify.
  2. A candidate found to have given false information or wilfully to have suppressed any material fact will be liable to either disqualification or, if appointed, dismissal.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring

  1. To demonstrate the Lyric Theatre’s commitment to equality of opportunity in employment we must monitor the community background of our employees and job applicants as required by the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. Please complete and return the Monitoring Form attached. The Form will be detached on receipt and will not be seen by the short-listing panel.

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3.JOB DESCRIPTION

3.1REPORTING TO

The Executive Producer

3.2Main Duties and Responsibilities

•Developing and implementing a policy of new writing, contemporary classics, and translations for the Lyric Theatre

•Providing bespoke dramaturgical feedback to writers from Northern Ireland

•To build a network of readers and talent spotters/scouts throughout Northern Ireland

•To source studio and workshop space for writers/smaller theatre companies from Northern Ireland

•To network with theatres in UK and Ireland with the objective of promoting NI/Irish new writing and writers

•To share resources with other theatres within Northern Ireland in helping them foster and develop a new writing policy

•To help create a mini-festival highlighting the vast range and experience of creating plays and new writing

•Formulating a commissioning policy and recommending to the Executive Producer writers to be commissioned

•To help identify corresponding talents i.e. match a director to a writer.

•Managing and tracking rights and options of contemporary classics by Irish and international writers

•Establishing and fostering relationships with writers

•Tracking new writers, directors and theatre artists

•Assessing and managing commissioned plays as they develop.

•Working on establishing workshops for aspirational writers through the Lyric’s Creative Learning department.

•Supporting the Lyric’s Executive Producer in programming

•Initiating support structures for writers and theatre artists

•Creating and managing the Literary Department of the Lyric Theatre including establishing an archive related specifically to the Lyric Theatre’s history but also the new writing history across Northern Ireland

•Championing, supporting and promoting the cause of new writing within Northern Ireland.

•Managing and responding to unsolicited scripts (including readers panel)

•Acting as literary support to play directors before and during production as appropriate

•Formulating a publishing policy for the Lyric Theatre

•Representing the Lyric Theatre at conferences and seminars nationally and internationally

•Acting as spokesperson for the literary work at the Lyric Theatre

•Providing copy ideas and/or material for the programmes

•Supporting the Executive Producer and the Chief Operating Officer in formulating policy statements and public announcements

•Managing the literary budget to be agreed in advance with the Executive Producer and the Chief Operating Officer.

•Report to the Senior Management Team on a regular basis, when requested.

•Any other duties that are deemed reasonable and appropriate.

IN CONFIDENCE – LITERARY MANAGEROffice Use Only

4.PERSON SPECIFICATION

4.1ESSENTIAL

  • An understanding and practical experience of dramaturgy and script development

  • Excellent communication skills and a demonstrable ability to work effectively within a diverse team

  • Excellent knowledge of Irish, U.K. and international theatre, particularly of new work

  • A track record in working with playwrights and managing artistic relationships

  • Ability to broker deals and to execute contracts with agents

4.2DESIRABLE

  • Experience of working in a busy producing environment
  • A good knowledge of current practice in international theatre

SECTION 2

Personal Details

Surname Forename(s)

Title

Home Address:

Post Code

Home Tel No Mobile No.

Bus. Tel. No. Email

Assistance

Please provide us with information about any assistance or additional provision you require us to make to facilitate your attendance at interview.

Declaration

I hereby certify that all the information given by me in connection with this application is correct to the best of my knowledge, that all the questions relating to me have been accurately and fully answered and that I possess all the qualifications which I claim to hold.

Signed

Date

Details of secondary/grammar schools or technical college attended

Name of School/College / Address of School/College / Dates Attended
to
to
to

References

Please give the names and addresses of two people who are able to provide references relating to your work experience and suitability for this post. One referee should be a previous employer and, if possible, your present or most recent employer.

No member or officer of the Lyric Theatre or person nominated to sit on or attend the selection panel for this post can be accepted as a referee from external applicants. In order to provide an employment reference for internal applicants however one such reference can be accepted provided that the person has not been nominated to serve on or attend the selection panel.

It is the Lyric Theatre’s policy to take up references prior to interview.

Reference 1

Name

Address

Post Code

Tel. No. E-mail

Position

Reference 2

Name

Address

Post Code

Tel. No. E-mail

Position

Educational Qualifications

Documentary evidence of Essential Qualifications asked for will be required if you are called for interview.

Third Level Qualification including any Post Graduate Qualification. Please state class or level.

Name and Address of University/College or Awarding Body / Dates Attended / Qualification Gained

Professional Qualifications or Membership

Name of Professional or Technical Association / Date / Status

Employment History

Detail all your employment/self-employment (and periods of unemployment) starting with the most recent. If you cannot give actual dates, please at least indicate relevant month. If necessary, continue on a separate page.

From/To / Employer’s Name and Address / Job Title and Main Duties

The requirements for the post are listed at the top of this and the following pages. You should demonstrate clearly how and to what extent you meet each requirement. Please do not write over the page or include any supplementary material.

Essential

  • An understanding and practical experience of dramaturgy and script development

  • Excellent communication skills and a demonstrable ability to work effectively within a diverse team

Essential

  • Excellent knowledge of Irish, U.K. and international theatre, particularly of new work

  • A track record in working with playwrights and managing artistic relationships

  • Ability to broker deals and to execute contracts with agents

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a busy producing environment
  • A good knowledge of current practice in international theatre

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM FULLY

The Lyric Theatre strives to ensure equality of employment opportunity. We aim to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all job applicants and to meet the requirements of equal opportunities legislation and we do not discriminate on grounds of religious belief, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic origin or disability. We practise equality of opportunity in employment and select the best person for the job. The information on this form is used for monitoring purposes only and it will not be used in the selection process.

Please tick the appropriate box

SEX

MaleFemale

MARITAL STATUS

SingleMarriedOther

DATE OF BIRTH

NATIONALITY

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION/

COMMUNITY BACKGROUND

The Lyric Theatre is required by the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (as amended) to monitor the perceived religious affiliation or community background of both its employees and applicants for employment. Whether or not you are from Northern Ireland, you should answer the question below by indicating which community or religious background you might be perceived to come from. Even if you no longer practise any religion, the Fair Employment Act 1989 still obliges the Lyric to classify your perceived religious affiliation/community background, in order to monitor the effectiveness of our policy of equality of opportunity, not simply in recruitment terms, but as part of an ongoing exercise for all employees. Therefore, although your response below may not reflect any current personal religious belief which you hold, please bear the above points in mind when you complete the form.

Please indicate your perceived religious affiliation/community background by ticking one of the boxes below:

PROTESTANT

ROMAN CATHOLIC

OTHER (inc none)

6.If you are currently residing in Northern Ireland, please state your full postcode:

7. The Lyric wishes to encourage suitably qualified people with disabilities to apply for jobs – all information will be treated in confidence.

The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disabled person as someone with a disability or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.