Jobb för Teaterregissörer

HQ Theatres Limited, the venue management division of the Qdos Entertainment Group, manages the Orchard Theatre Dartford on behalf of Dartford Borough Council. As the UK’s second largest theatre operator, HQ Theatre is continuously growing its portfolio which currently comprises nine theatres and concert halls: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; Palace Theatre, Southend; Orchard Theatre, Dartford; G Live, Guildford; Watford Colosseum; Wyvern Theatre, Swindon; Beck Theatre, Hayes; White Rock Theatre, Hastings; and Orchard Theatre. The Theatre Directors are responsible for all aspects of the management of their venues including programming and achievement of agreed targets over the full range of operation.

The 956-seat Orchard Theatre, Dartford stages an eclectic programme of musicals, drama, pantomime, comedy, music, dance and popular entertainment. Stage facilities support the staging of large-scale musical theatre; sight-lines and acoustics are excellent.

When it took over the contract to run the Orchard Theatre in 2009, HQ Theatres undertook a major refurbishment of the front-of-house areas, to modernise bar, café-bar, ticketing and kiosk operations, and also installed a spacious modern restaurant on the first floor level, creating, for the first time at the Theatre, pre-show dining opportunities as well as an environment for private hires. At the same time, in the auditorium, the “flat floor” configuration of the stalls was made fully operational, so as to accommodate banquets, dinner dances, private functions etc. These building works have enabled HQ Theatres to develop at the Orchard Theatre its particular specialism in hospitality associated with theatregoing and entertainment. All these developments have greatly increased the attraction of the Orchard Theatre to local people, and have grown the business substantially. The Orchard Theatre enjoys strong, responsive marketing of all features of the offer (hospitality as well as theatre and entertainment); and HQ Theatres’ newly-installed web-based ticketing system has created a remarkable growth in online sales.

PURPOSE OF THE POST

By providing strong leadership of the Theatre’s professional team, the Theatre Director will be responsible for developing HQ Theatres’ vision, policies and targets for the whole Orchard Theatre operation, so as to secure its recognition as a centre of excellence in the provision of the performing arts, entertainment and hospitality. The Theatre Director will be HQ Theatres’ main point of contact with Dartford Borough Council, and will be responsible for ensuring that relationships with the Council, and with all relevant local interests, groups, individuals and organisations are harmonious, and contribute to the achievement of the vision, policies and targets of the Theatre.

The Theatre Director reports to the HQ Theatres’ Chief Executive.