The job description is also available in other formats as listed below.
The Role:
We are looking for a neurodivergent Puppeteer/Performer, to work with us on the R&D of our brand new show, Kinder. The show is inspired by the real-life historical events of the Czech Kindertransport, where Czech-Jewish children were evacuated, by train, to the UK, before the outbreak of the Second World War, to houses in seaside towns up and down Britain. Many of these children then went on to grow up in the UK, battling with their identities and a sense of displacement.
This will be our first show created specifically for a teenage audience and we will be working with bunraku-style puppetry, shadow puppetry and OHP shadow puppetry. To make this work accessible for young people, the show will be performed inside and outside of a free-standing, self-sufficient structure, which will be able to go into theatre spaces but also non-traditional spaces such as libraries, community centres and schools.
We have already undertaken some remote, preliminary R&D, during the first lockdown, so please visit our Kinder page, on the Smoking Apples website, for more information: http://smokingapplestheatre.com/show/kinder-rd/
The R&D will take place across 3 weeks in January and February, as follows:
2021
January
18th – 22nd – EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge
25th – 30th – Little Angel Theatre, London
February
23rd – 26th – Didcot/Oxford – Venue TBC
The successful applicant must be available for all dates listed above. We also envisage that the person appointed for this stage of R&D will continue to work with us on the show throughout further development stages and touring across 2021/2022.
FEE: £1,482.00 for 15 days of rehearsals
Travel and Accommodation outside of London will be provided.
Who else is involved?
Our partners on this project are as follows:
- Little Angel Theatre, London
- EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge
This project has been funded by Arts Council England.
Covid Safety:
The safety of our cast and creatives is a priority and with all rehearsals, we will ensure that we adhere to a strict Covid-safe practice, adhering to the government guidelines as a minimum.
About Smoking Apples:
Smoking Apples are an award winning puppetry and visual theatre company that work with complex subject matter. Our work includes indoor touring shows, outdoor and large scale work and outreach/educational projects, previous indoor work has included CELL, a story about one man’s final adventure when he finds out he has Motor Neurone Disease, In Our Hands, a show about a trawler fisherman fighting to save his career and most recently, Flux, which toured the UK in Spring 2019 and is currently planned to tour in Spring/Summer 2021. Our outdoor work and education/outreach strands have also seen us travel the UK and abroad, working with some fantastic partners. These include Applause Rural Touring (Arbor the Tree) and the Little Angel Theatre, where we run Spectrum Youth Theatre.
Job role:
- To puppeteer/perform in Kinder, as part of an ensemble. This will include multi-roling.
- To actively contribute creative ideas to the devising process.
- To support the development of the set and puppet design by giving feedback on it’s functionality and use.
- To support the engagement of young people during the project, by actively participating in sharings (live and online).
- To provide a positive role-model to any young people engaged.
- To assist with the get ins and get outs, in a way that is suitable to you.
- To support any planning for the future development of Kinder.
- To attend rehearsals and be willing to travel to the areas specified (travel expenses to venues outside of London will be covered in addition to the fee).
Essential Experience
- Able to demonstrate some experience in puppetry or object manipulation
- Able to demonstrate at least 3 x years of experience working with devised or ensemble-led work
- Be comfortable working collaboratively.
To Apply:
Please either email a CV and covering letter, max. 500 words or a 3 min video, to Molly Freeman at mail@smokingapplestheatre.com
If you’d like to send a video file, please use WeTransfer: https://wetransfer.com
WeTransfer is a free file sharing site that you can upload to, directly from your phone or computer.
Deadline for applications: Friday 11th December, 10am
We regret that we cannot invite everyone to audition but all applicants will be informed either way, no later than Monday 14th December.
If you have any questions regarding the application, please contact mail@smokingapplestheatre.com
Auditions:
Auditions can take place either in person, in London or over Zoom. This will depend on the applicant’s personal preference and the Government guidelines at the time. If you do not have access to Zoom or would prefer to use a different format, please get in touch and we can organise an alternative. We can provide an access support worker for the auditions, if required.
Auditions will take place on Monday 21st December 2020.
This position has been supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Team SA.