The Drum - The UK’s Premier Black-Led Arts Centre - Book Online or Call 0121 333 2444: The Drum – The UK’s Premier Black-Led Arts Centre – Book Online or Call 0121 333 2444 2013-05-17 15:13:47

The Drum is the UK’s premier arts centre dedicated to the development, presentation and celebration of African, Asian and Caribbean arts and cultural activities for the benefit of all is seeking motivated and skilled individuals to join its permanent and casual staff team to support an ambitious and exciting programme of activities:

 

Arts Programme Manager

£20,000 – £24,000 per annum

You will manage The Drum’s artistic programme including touring productions, commissions, arts participation projects and festivals ensuring that it delivers the departmental targets as well as contribute to departmental fundraising and income generation targets.

You will need a degree or an appropriate qualification in a relevant subject, e.g. Arts management, performing Arts, Visual Arts or Project Management, a minimum of 2 years’ experience working in the Arts or a related field, proven planning, Project Management, administration and organisational skills.

 

Arts Development & Outreach Manager P/T 221/2 £20,000 – £24,000 per annum

As Arts Development & Outreach Manager you will manage a range of existing arts development partnerships and produce a new distinctive high quality Arts Development programme that is accessible, wide reaching, engages artists and secures active participation and attendance from target communities.

You will also be required to raise additional project funding to support the programme.  You will need a professional qualification in project management or equivalent, have substantial experience of developing and delivering arts development / community arts initiatives, experience of developing participants / audiences through outreach strategy planning and have experience of working within the arts/cultural sector.

You will need to be educated to A level standard (including English) or equivalent, have good creative writing, proof­reading and print production skills, 2 years’ experience of working in a similar role in a commercial or arts marketing environment, have basic design skills, good computer literacy especially MS Office packages, databases and computerised ticketing systems. 


Bar & Hospitality Steward P/T 221/2

£6.19 per hour

To support the Head of Drum Commercial to deliver a high standard of customer care and deliver a professional Bar and Hospitality service at The Drum and in venues deemed appropriate. The role requires an individual with experience of working in a bar and catering / hospitality environment and have experience of handling cash and excellent customer service skills.

 

Casual Customer Service Co-ordinator

£7.50 per hour

This role requires a highly professional individual to provide high quality customer focused service, to act as a focal point of information for customers and users of the centre and to ensure the effective operation and management of The Drum’s customer service activities.

You will need experience of working in a customer care / duty management environment, excellent communication and self-presentation skills, experience of dealing with a wide variety of people in a busy and pressurized environment and be available to work evenings and weekends.

 

Artifax & Executive Officer

£16,000 — £19,000 per annum

You will take responsibility for the development and implementation of The Drum’s Artifax Event Management system which is used to ensure the effective operation of The Drum’s programme of activities, carry out a range of administrative duties as well as providing professional and efficient administrative support to the Chief Executive and Head of Executive and Operations. The successful candidate will need to have substantial experience of developing and implementing computerised systems, providing administrative / secretarial support, minute taking as well as excellent planning and communication skills.

 

Marketing & Press Officer

£16,000 – £19,000 per annum

This role requires you to provide effective marketing support for the Marketing and Promotions Manager, the Arts and Marketing and Drum Commercial teams as well as contribute to devising and implementing effective marketing, PR and advertising plans and strategies aimed at increasing attendance and participation.

 

Download an information pack and application form :

Artifax & Executive Officer PDF Pack

Arts & Development Manager PDF Pack

Arts Programme Manager PDF Pack

Bar & Hospitality Steward PDF pack

Casual Customer Service Co-ordinator PDF pack

Marketing & Press Officer PDF Pack

 

Closing date: 31 May 2013

 

The Drum is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

 

The Drum receives on-going financial support from Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council.

 

Charity No 1042218

 

NO CV’s OR AGENCIES PLEASE

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mid * point: Inferno Kid 24th May @ Crescent Theatre

The Inferno Kid

A dark comedy by Alex Brockie

 

“The balance of humour and pathos is carefully crafted to deliver a powerful emotional hit…

….Alex Brockie is not only a very talented performer but, as the writer and director of the piece, clearly a skilled wordsmith….”

– Kate Kavanagh Theatre Fever 2013

The Inferno Kid is a pull-no-punches play about a former British wrestling star who, at 36, is disabled, destitute and descending into madness. Now the living room of his wife’s council flat is a fitting venue for one final showdown – this time, with the demons of his past. However, with his mind and his marriage on the line is this a match The Inferno Kid can win?

The Inferno Kid is presented by emerging Midlands based theatre maker Alex Brockie. Early audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive and the show is now moving to larger venues. For one night only, with a young and vibrant cast, the Inferno Kid will be performed at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. This is one performance you will not want to miss.

The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

 

Friday 24 May 7.30pm

 

Tickets: £10 | £8 Concessions | http://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

@infernokid1 / facebook.com/theinfernokid


mid * point: Emerging West Midlands Writers and Directors Given Major Boost

Emerging theatre artists in the West Midlands have been given a boost with the news that, thanks to significant support from The Leverhulme Trust, Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s REP Foundry artist development programme will continue until 2016.

The Leverhulme Trust has awarded Birmingham Repertory Theatre an Arts Scholarship of £136,950 over three years towards its REP Foundry initiative.  Created under The REP’s new artistic director, Roxana Silbert in January 2013, REP Foundry aims to discover and promote the West Midlands’ most promising burgeoning talent with a group of 18 writers, directors and theatre makers receiving mentoring and professional support from staff at The REP and leading theatre practitioners.   As well as master classes with theatre professionals REP Foundry artists have the opportunity to present work in progress in front of an audience at monthly scratch performance nights.

Jean Cater of the Leverhulme Trust said:
“Arts Scholarships are awarded to support the development of artistic talent across disciplines, by providing bursaries for artists and performers, or by supporting innovative approaches to teaching. At a time when funding for the arts is generally being reduced throughout the UK, these scholarships will make a valuable contribution to the development of the next generation of creative talent.  We congratulate Birmingham Repertory Theatre on their successful bid, which will provide 18 artists with exciting new opportunities to develop their careers in theatre and performance.”

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre said the award will make a significant difference to REP Foundry:
“The Leverhulme Trust’s grant will make an invaluable contribution towards nurturing and developing the West Midlands’ next generation of theatre makers.  With our first 18 REP Foundry artists already receiving professional mentoring and support we are thrilled that over the next three years we will be able to support a further 54 West Midlands based theatre makers.”

The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the Will of the first Viscount Leverhulme. It is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing funds of some £60 million every year. The Trust’s Arts Scholarships provide funds for three years for training opportunities across the whole range of artistic disciplines in the fine and performing arts, but not normally within universities.

The first REP Foundry scratch performance nights have already taken place with 11 of the theatre artists sharing their work in front of a live audience. Future REP Foundry nights take place on the last Thursday of the month at The Edge, Cheapside, Digbeth until July, and then at the newly re-opened Birmingham Repertory Theatre in October and November. For tickets, costing £5, and further information call 0121 236 4455 or visit Birmingham-rep.co.uk/repfoundry.  Applications for the 2014 REP Foundry scheme will be announced in Autumn 2013.

 


mid * point: Ridiculusmus: Total Football @ mac

Ridiculusmus: Total Football

Fri 24 & Sat 25 May, 8pm | Tickets £12 (£10) | Age 15+ | Theatre

Created, Written and Performed by David Woods and Jon Haynes

As sports world bigwigs prepared to descend on London for last year’s games and bureaucratic busybodies tried to figure out how best to exploit the national fervour, Ridiculusmus created its very own satirical take on it all – Total Football.

Picking over football systems, political wrangling and changing room banter, Total Football tackles the big questions of life – immortality, happiness and why England always lose. From the controversial attempt to create a united UK football team for the 2012 games to one man’s attempts to reproduce when he can’t even explain the offside rule, Ridiculusmus has patched up its metatarsals to examine the melting pot of what it means to be British today.

Building on the Company’s’ reputation for making seriously funny, multi-award winning theatre and masterfully inventive comic writing, Total Football is a wickedly clever, mischievously sharp, and acutely observed meditation on our times.

“Provocative surrealists Ridiculusmus are the last men on the planet you’d want to run your soccer team – which is what makes Total Football so enticing.”

* * * * Time Out London

 

“You don’t need to give a fig about Football to enjoy this inventive, hectic 70 minute piece… this slice of the absurd has a real lightness of touch.”

* * * * Evening Standard

 

“his wry look at British Identity through the lens of football is bang on target: droll, daft and deft”

* * * * Financial Times


mid * point: Dr Frankenstein’s Travelling Freak Show comes to the OJST next week!

Tin Shed Theatre Company return to The OJST!

Dr Frankenstein’s Travelling Freak Show

Wed 22nd May 8pm

Thurs 23rd May 8pm

Tickets: £10/£8 conc.

What does one see, when looking into the eyes of a monster?” 

You are invited to revel in the freakish delights of Dr Frankenstein’s Travelling Freak Show!

Take your seat and observe as a lobster mind reader, a bearded lady and a chimpanzee retell Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein through the debauched and twisted eyes of one cynical raconteur.

Accompanied by an original score composed by Cardiff based band INC.A, Tin Shed Theatre present the darkly comical and sickly twisted, Dr Frankenstein’s Travelling Freak Show delicately treading the line between hilarity and morality.

“One of the most impressive theatre performances I have ever seen…This is Fringe theatre at its best!” 5 STARS, BROADWAY BABY

“Marvelously grotesque and freakishly compulsive” 5 STARS, THE LATEST

Watch the trailer here!

To Book:

Box Office: 0121 200 0946

Website: www.oldjointstocktheatre.co.uk


mid * point: Arena Theatre appoints new Venue Manager

The University of Wolverhampton is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Reading as the Arena Theatre’s new Venue Manager. Neil takes over the role following the retirement of Kevin O’Sullivan in April.

For the last twelve months, Neil has worked as Promoter at the Arena Theatre’s sister venue, The Performance Hub, which is based on the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall campus. In his new role, as well as overseeing the programming and management of the Arena, Neil will continue to be involved in the development of the Performance Hub.

Prior to his job at the Performance Hub, Neil worked as the Student Activities Co-ordinator at the University of Wolverhampton for five years, greatly increasing student engagement in societies and volunteering. Neil has also worked for a number of other venues, including The Moat House Hotel Stafford and Rugeley Rose Theatre, and has toured work to Battersea Arts Centre, Gatehouse Theatre Stafford and Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh.

Neil has a performance background, gaining a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies at University of Hull and an MA in Directing for Theatre at St. Mary’s College in Twickenham. Neil founded Violet Microwave Theatre in 2000 and has directed all of their shows to date. Neil was also a founder member of JUICE Comedy and has been part of the team that has turned this into Stafford’s only independent comedy promotion.

Neil Reading says, “’I am delighted to be appointed as Venue Manager of the Arena Theatre and Performance Hub. I am looking forward to working with the team and our partners over the coming months to plan a terrific future for the two venues together, as we continue to develop as a centre for emerging artists and innovative theatre. Through working across both of these venues, we will be able to provide audiences in the Black Country with top quality theatre, dance, music and spoken word.”

Peter Robinson, Principal Lecturer and Head of Department for Leisure and The Arena Theatre, says: “Neil brings a real passion and vision for the future to the Arena Theatre. I’m confident that Neil will build on Kevin O’Sullivan’s 27 year legacy to ensure that in these difficult economic times for the arts, the Arena and Performance Hub continue to thrive.”


mid * point: Skills workshops for the Midlands Actor! Booking now.

One off Workshops in the Midlands-please pass on to actor friends!

We’ve teamed up with some top notch teachers and schools and are bringing them to Birmingham. Focusing on developing skills that support the actor whether they’re a seasoned pro, student, returning to the industry or new like a chicklet. We all know there’s a big pool of actors in the Midlands so what better way to keep the juices flowing than a workshop without the cross country train fare…..Please note: Theatre Exchange is run by volunteers, professional actors, writers and directors….we’ve kept the cost as low as possible whilst keeping the quality high. Hope to see you at one of these launch workshops! ……here goes…

The Actors Temple Meisner Week

Tutor: Gary Condes
Dates: 15th – 19th July 2013
Times: 10am – 4pm each day

Who are the Actors Temple? Browse theirwebsite or watch this.

This week long course introduces you to Sandford Meisners ‘Repetition Exercise’. It’s a simple device that gets your attention off yourself, out of your head and onto the other actor.  This week is for those who want to learn how to live truthfully on stage and screen. You will be confronted by the things that ‘get in the way’ of your ability to relate honestly to yourself and to others. During the second part of the week we will move on to improvisation and what Meisner termed ’The Reality of Doing’. Want to know more about the tutor? Click here!

London has been the home of The Actors Temple for nearly a decade, it’s a place where “students are free to be themselves’ (The Stage, June 2011). 

This course costs: £275 (full)
Equity members: £260
Early bird booking (before 31st May): £255
Recommend a friend and you both pay £250

Book now

The Actors Voice

Tutor: Simon Ratcliffe
Date: Monday 3rd June 2013
Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm

This 2 hour session aims to introduce you to a warm up structure that moves through body, breath, voice and speech in a way that refreshes and awakens the actor’s energy, so that you are ready and available for creative work. Based on Simon’s own techniques as a designated Linklater teacher.

Simon Ratcliffe trained at Central in 2003 on the MA in Voice Studies.  He is also a Designated Linklater Teacher having completed a 2 year training with Kristin Linklater in 2010. He has taught voice at CentralLISPA, and now atBirmingham School of Actingand frequently leads actors warm ups at the RSC.
Full: £12
Equity members and Students: £11.50

Book now


Capital Theatre Festival: Review: Cuddles

The second all-female cast of the week was an altogether different proposition. Cuddles by Joseph Wilde is the full professional premiere of a play that Capital showcased last year. Now produced by Ovalhouse and Arch 468, Cuddles is a darker, grimier entity, exposing the flipside of fairytales and presenting a new, horrific take on the princess in the tower.

I have to admit to being biased towards this from the outset, having supported the play last year and delighted to see it getting a full production. It was fascinating to see the evolution in the story – to see loose ends tied up and to see the narrative coherence shine through the shit-stained walls. The tone is as dark as the humour, and both combine to create a compelling and convincing world that doesn’t lie so far outside the bounds of credibility.

Eve is a thirteen year old vampire, kept captive in the attic by her older sister Tabby. But when Tabby tries to re-introduce her into the world of the living, all hell breaks loose.

Their twisted world is governed by rules, which, when broken, trigger fault lines through the heart of their fragile reality. It offers a plausible insight into the mindset of a young girl with a totally different understanding of the world around her. The breakdown occurs when the worlds start to collide, and a new reality begins to emerge.

It did feel as though the play started a little slowly, with an over-reliance on monologues (though beautifully written) to set the scene. But once the fault lines started to appear, the tension was racked up and the atmosphere was cracking. Tabby’s attempts at creating normality fail hilariously, with the “hermaphrodite swimming champion” vying with her clumsy efforts at wooing Steve with a pointed stiletto and a plate of veal.

I think one of the achievements of the play is to create sympathy for Tabby’s character. She blunders through, trying to do the best for herself and the monster that she’s created. The tragedy of the story is her realisation that she can no longer control Eve when she starts to demonstrate independence of thought and action. She grows up.

It was almost heartbreaking in its drive towards the inexorable conclusion – the monster grows ever powerful and can never be silenced. In a way, the play is a twisted allegory on creation and conception – adding a new take on the body horror of stories like Frankenstein  and Alien. Cuddles is a worthy and chilling member of this tradition.

Capital Theatre Festival: Review: End to End

There’s something quite primal and fundamental about journeys. Whether it’s hot-rodding it down Route 66 on the quintessential American road trip, or embarking on a spiritual pilgrimage, art and literature are full of tales of changing landscapes and new perspectives. Journeys are a way for people to re-connect with themselves and the world around them. On the surface, it’s a quest of getting from A to B, but with the focus on discovering what happens in between, rather than reaching the end point.

It’s a story that is handled very well by The Gramophones, an emerging theatre company supported by Theatre Writing Partnership’s Making Tracks programme. I misread the blurb initially, and thought that the story was about three girls hitch-hiking across the country carrying a gramophone. It wasn’t. There were no gramophones involved.

In its place however, was a beautifully choreographed record of new connections, bold initiatives, and pink tractors. Three 20-something women decided to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats using as many forms of transport as possible. That’s it, really. That’s enough. A simple set up yields all manner of encounters and experiences, from skinny-dipping in the Lakes to visiting your home town as a stranger. It’s the latter that provided one of the most poignant moments in the piece – making a journey takes you out of yourself and offers a new way of looking at the world. It offers the chance of reflection, of peace (sometimes conflict), but challenges you to think, take risks, and discover things anew.

It was a beautiful piece of work and I wish the group all the best with their onward journey.

Lands End John O'Groats Tour back flyer

Stan's Cafe Theatre Company: Dance & more Dance

Having very much enjoyed Surtra – the Sidi Larbi/ Shaolin monk/Antony Gormley kung-fu/dance-fest at the Hippodrome last week I’m on the lookout for a bit more contemporary dance. With Pilot Night on Thursday night at our place and Friday nights domestically in demand I may struggle to get to Dan Canham’s Ours Was The Fen Country which is a shame as it sounds like an intriguing idea and worth checking out.