Smoking Apples Opportunities

Project Access Manager – Freelance

Job Description

Video version:

(please scroll down for the written version).

 

About the Role:

Smoking Apples Theatre Company (Kinder, Flux, In Our Hands, CELL) seek a freelance Project Access Manager to work with the cast during the rehearsals and premieres of their new show Three. The project will take place between April and November 2025.

As a company, we champion neurodivergent artists and audiences, and we understand and work alongside the Social Model of Disability. For this project, we are looking to improve our access provision for the team in the room. 

This role will be to support the cast whilst they rehearse, preview and premiere a brand new show; ensuring that the access needs of the neurodivergent team members are met and that any barriers preventing them from doing their work can be removed. The tech week, rehearsals and premieres will take place in 3 different locations, with the team needing to adapt to each new working space. By supporting the team in this way, we will enable them to focus their skills and their energy on their creative work, helping to create a production of the highest standard, and act as positive role models for any neurodivergent audiences who see the show.

 

About Three:

Three is about the importance of the relationships between Grandparents and Grandchildren, about how they shape and define us as people. It will dive into the lives of three different relationships; Ida & Sophie from a traditional matriarchal family, Jaanvi and Anika from a multi-generational British Indian family and Ralph, from a disparate separated family. 

 

Dates: 

Phase 1, rehearsals, production week and premiere – 7 days total

  • Preparation (19th May – 29th June): Remote working ad hoc
    • 2 days total (can be split into hours or half days)
  • Rehearsal week 4 (30th June): location to be confirmed 
    • 1 day – to meet the team
  • Production Week (7th – 11th July): BEAM, Hertford
    • 2 days Tech/Dress
    • 1 day invited previews
  • Premiere 1 (12th July): Farnham Maltings
    • 1 day premiere performances (get in and get out)

 

(Break in project)

 

Phase 2, remount rehearsals and premieres (10 – 12 days)

  • Remount rehearsals (w/c 20th October): EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge 
    • 3 x day rehearsals to adjust from preview/premiere feedback
    • 1 x day dress & invited preview TBC
  • Premiere shows at 2nd, 3rd and 4th Venue
    • (27th Oct – 3rd Nov): 
      • 2 days at BEAM, Hertford – Confirmed
      • 3 days at The Marlowe Canterbury – dates TBC
    • (4th – 7th November)
      • 4 days at Quarterhouse, Folkestone – Confirmed

In addition to the above dates, the role will be required to attend team meetings (on Zoom) before rehearsals, between rehearsal weeks, and the end of project debrief/evaluation meeting (on Zoom).  

 

Fee:  

£3060 – 17 days total – at £180 per day

Travel and accommodation expenses will be paid in addition to the fee.

Please note: As some performance dates are TBC, the exact number of days may increase slightly, 17 days work are guaranteed.

This is a freelance contract, individuals will be responsible for their own tax and national insurance. 

 

Job role:

  • Support the access needs and wellbeing of cast and creative team for all above dates
  • Review access audit forms: collate information for the production manager.
  • Make Access suggestions for the room: depending on what works best, this could be an informal chat, a document, anonymise the access requests other than if it is needed.
  • Support rehearsal logistics, through ensuring the production schedule aligns with breaks and the team’s access needs, including supporting cast members to check their travel to and from rehearsals and venues in plenty of time, to enable the production manager to negotiate adjustments with venues where necessary.
  • Supporting the cast to familiarise themselves with venues on arrival, including water points, toilets, dressing rooms etc. 
  • Support with ad hoc tasks as required, such as loading and unloading the set, refilling water bottles, finding nearby places for lunch, cleaning audience fidget toys etc.

 

About you: 

The role requires someone who is: 

  • Able to bring a warm, positive energy to the room
  • Has strong communication skills with the ability to confidently communicate with SA team, all cast and creatives, venue staff and suppliers (ie accommodation) 
  • Able to confidently advocate for the team’s access when required and encourage / support self advocacy
  • Calm and approachable, whilst remaining proactive 
  • Able to provide practical suggestions when required
  • Flexible and able to adapt – responding to each situation as it comes. 
  • Able to recall/access key information when needed. 
  • Comfortable and able to hold emotions and provide support if cast members become overwhelmed.

 

Essential Experience 

  • Experience of working with neurodivergent artists with different access needs 
  • experience of holding space and navigating multiple access needs in one space.
  • experience of creating and implementing an access plan
  • Experience of working directly with creative teams
  • A working knowledge of the Social Model of Disability
  • Experience of being in rehearsals and at performance venues

 

Required Skills

  • Strong administrative skills
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to adapt documents and communication styles to meet the access needs 
  • Confident with Microsoft Office and Gmail (Google Suite)
  • Prioritisation and workload management 
  • Excellent eye for detail and commitment to high standards 
  • An organised and efficient manner
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent problem solving skills
  • Able to drive a van (desirable) 

 

To Apply:

Please email a CV and covering letter (max. 500 words) or a video of 3 – 5 minutes maximum, to Hattie Field at hattie@smokingapplestheatre.com

If you’d like to send a video file, or audio only file, please use WeTransfer: https://wetransfer.com and send it to Hattie at hattie@smokingapplestheatre.com

WeTransfer is a free file sharing site that you can upload to, directly from your phone or computer.

We are committed to increasing diversity in the puppetry sector and accessibility in the arts, and so we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who are from the Global Majority, and/or who are Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent.

We’re using the term Global Majority to mean people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south and/or have been racialised as “ethnic minorities”.

 

DEADLINE for applications: 

Tuesday 29th April, 5pm

We regret that we cannot invite everyone to interview but all applicants will be informed either way, no later than Weds 14th May

If you have any questions regarding the application, please contact hattie@smokingapplestheatre.com

 

Interviews:

Interviews will take place on Zoom on Tues 13th or Weds 14th May 2025. If you can not attend either of these dates, please let us know alternative dates or times in your application.

This position has been supported using public funding by Arts Council England. 

 

Equal Opportunities Monitoring:

To help us to understand who is engaging with our opportunities, we ask that you complete this short equal opportunities monitoring form. Your answers will be anonymous and will not affect your application. 

https://forms.gle/5hawMz5d4iPtqhvM9 

 

We look forward to hearing from you.