JOB DESCRIPTION Trainee Sound Designer Placement 2019 - Leeds Playhouse

JOB DESCRIPTION
Trainee Sound Designer
     Placement
        2019

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CONTEXT
This role is the result of a collaboration between Leeds Playhouse and
Brighter Sound with the intention of increasing opportunities for female Sound
Designers. We will be providing a 10-week freelance placement from
January–March 2019, to be based at Leeds Playhouse.
For this reason, we particularly welcome applications from female* applicants.
If the recruitment process results in the appointment of a female trainee, this
opportunity would be funded by the Both Sides Now programme, Brighter
Sound’s ground-breaking programme to support, inspire and showcase
women in music in the North of England.
*We use an inclusive definition of ‘women’ and ‘female’, welcoming applicants
who may identify as non-binary, cis-gendered, or trans.

BRIGHTER SOUND

Brighter Sound is a creative music charity based in Manchester, working
across the North and nationally to ensure that music making is part of the lives
of all children and young people, that early career musicians are supported to
develop their artistic confidence and originality, and to ensure that the music
sector is equal and diverse. Brighter Sound is currently delivering Both Sides
Now, a groundbreaking three-year programme to support, inspire and
showcase women in music across the North of England, with support from
Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund.
After years of noting the consistently low level of female participation in the
music and sound industry, Both Sides Now is a programme for young and
early career female artists and industry professionals featuring residencies,
commissions, training and apprenticeships, alongside national and
international showcases. The programme focusses on Manchester, Liverpool,
Leeds, Newcastle and the surrounding areas, and aims to bridge the gap in
access, opportunity and career progression — introducing new voices to
reshape a more equal and diverse music landscape.
Both Sides Now’s objective is a sustained and tangible impact on women’s
representation in the music and sound industry – reframing perceptions and
challenging stereotypes to influence cultural, social and political change for
northern women pursuing careers in music.
Supported by:

LEEDS PLAYHOUSE
Leeds Playhouse was established in 1970. Over the next two decades the
theatre thrived and a purpose built new complex opened on Quarry Hill in
1990 as West Yorkshire Playhouse. In 2018, as the theatre embarks on a major

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capital development project to transform the theatre, the organisation has
become Leeds Playhouse once more.
The Leeds Playhouse is one of the largest, most exciting and active producing
theatres in the UK. It successfully balances a firm commitment to serving the
communities and artists in its region alongside maintaining a national profile
for the quality of its work.
Alongside its work across two stages, the Leeds Playhouse continues to lead
the theatre industry in the ambition and scope of its education and community
work. These activities ensure that, in total, over 250,000 people engage with
the Playhouse and its participatory programmes each year.
The Leeds Playhouse also delivers an ambitious programme of Artistic
Development known as Furnace. Furnace is our development engine. It
describes the work we do to develop audacious artistic voices and vital new
theatre for our stages. Our Furnace activity can be split into four distinct
categories: we develop people (artist development), projects, our programme
and partnerships. Our Artist Development activity covers all of the work that
we do to nurture, support and develop professional artists aged 18+, born,
raised or currently living or working in Yorkshire.

The redevelopment of the Leeds Playhouse will see the transformation of the
theatre spaces and front of house areas, aiming to improve the porosity,
generosity and accessibility of the organisation. This will include a new front
entrance that faces the city, much improved access provision, and the
creation of a third permanent performance space, the 100 seat Bramall Rock
Void.
LEEDS PLAYHOUSE: MISSION
Our mission is to create world class, relevant and compelling theatre and to
transform people’s lives by the power and vitality of our work. We aim to
foster an environment which is a creative home for artists, audiences and
participants and which reflects the rich diversity of our society.
LEEDS PLAYHOUSE: VISION
We will be a vital theatre, a great artistic beacon for the North, rooted in our
communities and creating exceptional art.

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ROLE DESCRIPTION
Overview
During the redevelopment period of Leeds Playhouse, whilst our two theatre
spaces and our front of house areas are undergoing a much needed
refurbishment, the Playhouse is presenting an ambitious season of work in off-
site locations and in a temporary theatre space that has been created in our
workshop space. This temporary theatre, the Pop-Up, seats 350 people in a
thrust formation, and the space is hosting a wide variety of plays from classics
created in a contemporary way to some of the very best writing from the last
50 years, with most productions performed by an ensemble company of
actors. All of the plays have been chosen as we believe they interrogate
Britain through the lens of the past but also speak to now, and many have an
especially Northern perspective.
We are looking for a Trainee Sound Designer to work across a number of
projects at Leeds Playhouse.
The role of Trainee Sound Designer would work across three departments:
Production, Artistic Planning and Creative Engagement.

The Trainee Sound Designer will report to Amy Leach, Associate Director at
Leeds Playhouse and Kate Lowes at Brighter Sound. The successful candidate
will work closely with different departments including Creative Engagement
and the Leeds Playhouse Sound Department.
The Placement
The ten weeks of the placement would be split into the following areas:
   1. The Trainee Sound Designer would assist the Sound Designers on three
      productions in the Pop-Up theatre, to learn from and support
      established Sound Designers in their creative process. The three
      productions are as follows:
      Kes adapted by Robert Alan Evans from the book by Barry Hines
      Directed by Martin Leonard, Sound Design by Tom Mills & John Biddle

      random by debbie tucker green
      Directed by Gbolahan Obesisan, Sound Designer TBC
      Hamlet by William Shakespeare
      Directed by Amy Leach, Sound Designer TBC
   2. The Trainee Sound Designer would be responsible for creating the
      Sound Design for Dinner 18:55, a devised intergenerational theatre
      production created by our Creative Engagement department and
      performed in the Pop-Up Theatre. The Trainee Sound Designer would
      design all of the sound for the show, working with the composer for the
      production. They would be mentored and supported through this
      process by a team member from the Playhouse.
   3. The Trainee Sound Designer may also have the opportunity to work
      with our in-house Sound Department, supporting their delivery of this
      ambitious season.
Alongside all of this work, Leeds Playhouse would create a mentorship for the
Trainee Sound Designer with an established female, Northern Sound Designer
from outside of the organisation.

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DATES
The placement starts on Monday 31st December and ends on Saturday 9th
March.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS

  •   Amy Leach, Associate Director
  •   Kate Lowes, Brighter Sound
  •   Sound Designer (Mentorship)
  •   Head of Sound
  •   Technical Director
  •   Creative Engagement team
  •   Artistic Director
  •   Associate and Assistant Producers
  •   Stage Management
  •   Actors and Ensemble Company

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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential

   •   The Trainee Sound Designer will demonstrate a commitment to living
       and making work in Yorkshire.
   •   A demonstrable interest in using music and sound as a tool for
       storytelling.
   •   Experience of creating sound and/or music for small scale theatre
       productions – these could be non-professional productions and/or
       productions on the Fringe.
   •   A passion for theatre sound and some knowledge of the work of a
       range of musicians and sound designers.
   •   A commitment to pursuing a career as a professional Sound Designer
       and/or Composer.
   •   An interest in and experience of working with non-professional
       participants.
   •   Highly organised with an ability to juggle multiple priorities and projects.
   •   Thriving in a fast moving, pressurised work environment.
   •   Excellent people skills and experience of working within a team.
   •   Positive, proactive and solution orientated.
   •   Attention to detail.
Because of the funding involved in this project, we particularly encourage
applications from people who:
  • identify as female.
  • are not currently in formal education.

Desirable

   •   Basic technical knowledge of Sound equipment, such as how to patch a
       small sound system.
   •   Basic computer Sound Design skills, such as knowledge of programmes
       like Q-Lab.
If you do not have these technical skills, we may still choose to employ you,
however you may not be able to participate as fully in day-to-day activity with
the technical team at Leeds Playhouse, as there will not be the opportunity to
train you in these skills.
Any other duties
The duties and responsibilities set out above should not be regarded as
exclusive or exhaustive as the post holder may be required to undertake
other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities within the
organisation commensurate with the level of the role without changing the
general character of the post.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

   •   Contract: Freelance Fixed term placement – 10 weeks.
   •   Fee: £3650.
   •   This fee will be paid directly by Brighter Sound. The Trainee will be
       contracted by Leeds Playhouse on behalf of both companies.
   •   Hours: Full Time, 40 hours per week over 6 days: Monday to Saturday.
       The 40 hours includes tea breaks but not lunch & dinner breaks.
   •   Some evening and weekend work will be required and weekly hours will
       be adjusted to accommodate this.
   •   Entitled to staff ticket discount & comps.
   •   Subject to receipt of 2 satisfactory references.
   •   Subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
   •   Confirmation that you were born, raised or live in Yorkshire
   •   Confirmation that you are not currently in formal education.
   •   This role does not include relocation expenses. You will be expected to
       live in commutable distance of the theatre during your contract.
APPLICATION
To apply for this role:
   1. Please send a covering letter explaining:
      • Why you are interested in this role.
      • Why this would be an essential next step for you.
      • Your relevant experience and what you can bring to the role.
      • Your commitment to living and making work in Yorkshire.

If you’d prefer to send a video message instead of a covering letter, please
do, but ensure it’s no longer than 2 minutes.
   2. We also ask that you send us a link of up to three pieces of sound
      and/or music you have created so that we can get a sense of your
      design skills and style.
   3. Along with your covering letter please provide an up-to-date CV.
   4. Please also complete and attach our equal opportunities form.
Send these documents and the links to your work to
recruitment@leedsplayhouse.org.uk, who will be managing the recruitment on
behalf of Brighter Sound and Leeds Playhouse.
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds,
especially those currently under represented in our industry and on our
stages.
To apply you must:
   • have been born, raised or currently live in Yorkshire.
   • not be currently in formal education.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday 12th December at noon.
If shortlisted for interview you will hear from us by Monday 17th December.
Interviews will likely be held at Leeds Playhouse on Thursday 20th December.

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GUIDANCE
Please read the job description carefully before starting your application to
ensure that you meet all of the essential criteria and are able to provide
evidence in your application to support these areas. Only relevant information
will be considered when shortlisting candidates. Your application will be
retained securely for 12 months before being destroyed.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Due to the funding for this post, we particularly welcome applications for this
post from Northern Women. During your time in post, however, you will be
subject to the Playhouse’s normal requirements of non-discrimination.
Leeds Playhouse is committed to promoting equality and opportunity in its
employment practices. In particular, the company aims to ensure that no
potential or actual employee receives more or less favourable treatment on
the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origins, marital or civil partner
status, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, disability or
religious beliefs.

ACCESS
If you would like to submit an application in another format we would be
happy to support you and accommodate this. Please contact the HR &
Learning department on 0113 213 7232/7238 or
recruitment@leedsplayhouse.org.uk to discuss a suitable alternative.
Leeds Playhouse and Brighter Sound have made a commitment that all
disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for this job will be
invited for interview. Please complete the Equal Opportunities form and
submit with your application to help us with this. Please state on your
application form if you have any access requirements for interview, or contact
the HR & Learning department via the details above to discuss.

SAFEGUARDING
Leeds Playhouse and Brighter Sound are committed to the safeguarding of all
participants and staff in their programmes. Leeds Playhouse operates
safeguarding policies that you will be required to comply with, including a
requirement to report any behaviour of concern.

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