Home Theatre – Stage Manager Call Out  

Calling all Southampton based Stage Managers to deliver a new collaborative community project “Home Theatre”. 

Southampton Forward is inviting artists, theatre-makers, and members of the public to shape a bold and exciting new project that will see the creation of bespoke new pieces of theatre sharing stories from our local communities. Made in collaboration with artists and performed in homes across the city, the plays will celebrate the voices of our residents through their stories of what it means to be Sotonian from the many different perspectives of people living in Southampton.  

The performances will take place in the intimate settings of local homes across Southampton and filmed over the weekend of Saturday 26th October and Sunday 27th October 2024.  A screening of the film in early 2025 will invite audiences from around the world to see the work and be part of an online conversation about what it means to live in a global city that speaks over 160 languages with a rich maritime history.  

Apply to be a Stage Manager

To bring this project to life Southampton Forward is collaborating with Olivier Award-winning Theatre Director Kerry Kyriacos Michael. Kerry was Artistic Director at The Theatre Royal, Stratford East for 13 years, and led one of the most pioneering programmes of work in developing community-led collaborations both inside and outside of the venue.  

We are looking for stage managers to help shape this project working with local residents who will hosting performances in their homes. Working collaboratively to co-design the performances, artists and residents will come together to make new work based on the diverse stories of people living in any of the 17 wards of the city and what it means to belong in Southampton. Rehearsing together and devising the performance, our local hosts will be encouraged to invite their own audience of friends and family to a final performance in their homes supported by our creative team of theatre makers, producers and film crew. 

We would love to hear from stage managers who are interested in exploring a practice of collaboration and codesign and who are driven to work with local people bringing new perspectives to theatre and performance. You will be supported by a dramaturg/director and there will be stage management and production support. 

Home Theatre will create three networks: local people, theatre makers and film makers. The collaboration between these groups is anticipated to generate creative energy, new ideas and insights making this an important and immensely exciting project.  

We are seeking 11 Stage Managers/Front of House staff to help support the artists/directors, hosts and filmmakers with the delivery of Home Theatre Southampton 

We are looking for:

ROLE:Stage Managers/Front of House Staff  
LOCATION:Southampton various locations 
FEE:8 hours paid work
STATUS:Apply through via link
REPORTING TO:Producer – Annie Sanger-Davies 
CONTRACT DURATION: 2 weeks – but you are paid for the weekend of 26th/27th October

When will Home Theatre (Southampton) happen? 

Home theatre is running from Monday 14th October 2024 to 27th October 2024, and you would need to be available for the following dates.  

Monday 14th October – training workshop with Kerry Kyriacos Michael and the team. 

Between Tuesday 15th October and Saturday 19th October – meet your allocated Artist and discuss requirements at a time that works for you both  

Full-time rehearsals will take place at Solent University from Monday 21st October  

You will not need to be available for all of this week, however you may wish to touch base with your artist on a couple of occasions to both learn from then and to find out if they have any specific requirements.  

Friday 25th October there will be dress rehearsal and sharing at MAST Studio 3 – 1000 – 1600 You should be available for this day.  

The performances will happen over the weekend of 26th/27th October 2024 (you will have an allocated performance slot – times to be confirmed)  

Screening date: Saturday 25th January at MAST (optional)  

Filming

We will be filming the process of creating Home Theatre Southampton and the performances themselves.  

These will be recorded by one person with a small camera recruited from the University’s Film and Television degrees.   

These films will then be screened on our website to broadcast Home Theatre (Southampton) to the rest of the world! 

Alongside the filming of the performances, we will also be making a short documentary film to record some of the process of creating Home Theatre (Southampton)  

This will be shared at a screening event at MAST Theatre Southampton early in 2025.  

The process is being filmed but we can talk to you about it if you don’t want to be caught in camera.  

How can I get involved? 

We are looking for 11 stage managers/front of house staff, who would like to support a professional performance and artist which will take place in a local home over the weekend of 26th/27th October 2024 

What expectations are there of the Stage Managers  

  • All we ask is that you are open and receptive to supporting the project, artist and host family.  
  • You may need to act as a runner for certain items and tasks. 
  • You may need to help with administrative tasks  
  • You will need to usher guests into the family home and be there to support host and artist.  

Performances 

Who else will be in the house during the performance? 

Along with yourself, the artist and camera person, there will be the host and their invited family and friends.  

Do you need access to more than one room? 

Yes, there is a possibility that you will need access to more than one room, which might be used for the artist to get changed in. The actual performance will take place in one room.  

Will you be using lights and other electronic equipment? 

No, none of the performances will use professional lighting or any other special electrical equipment. You may plug in a laptop or speaker to play music during the performance and if you wish to use anything else, it will be very minimal and won’t take up large amounts of space. 

Required Dates: 

  • Monday 14th October 2024 Training workshop with Kerry Kyriacos Michael 10am – 4pm  
  • Week beginning Monday 14th October arrange a time to meet your artist at a time that suits you both.  
  • You will need to touch base with your artist during this week to see if they need help finding props/costumes etc.  
  • Friday 25th October – sharing and dress rehearsal at MAST  
  • The weekend of the 26th and 27th October 2024 for the performance.  You will be doing one of the performance times which are  
  • Saturday 26th October 3pm and 7pm  
  • Sunday 27th October 4pm  

How will you benefit? 

  • Paid opportunity 
  • 8 hours of paid work – amazing on your CV  
  • Project induction with Kerry Kyriacos Michael  
  • Work alongside a local professional theatre maker/practitioner   
  • building network opportunities 
  • develop your professional profile  

Useful links:  

Home Theatre overview – Theatre Royal Stratford East  

Home Theatre Ireland documentary  

How do I apply? 

Please fill in the application form here by 28th August midnight. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any applications received after this date. 

If you don’t have access to the internet, or would rather apply in person or over the phone please call Annie on 07973 963688.    

Apply to be a Stage Manager