Artistic Leadership

20 Stories High; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading theatre organization in Liverpool is seeking artistic leadership to drive forward equitable and ambitious theatre for working-class and culturally diverse young people. The role offers flexibility regarding titles and structures, inviting innovative visions for theatrical direction. Candidates aligned with the organization's values and ready to co-create with communities are encouraged to apply. This position will significantly shape future programs through 2026 and beyond.

Qualifications

• Aligned with values of co-creation with young people and communities.
• Ready to lead with creativity, integrity, and care.

Responsibilities

• Artistically lead 20 Stories High and curate a high-quality, inclusive programme.
• Work alongside Co-CEO/Executive Director to ensure sustainability.
• Shape future plans and programme.

Job description

Overview

20 Stories High was founded by Julia Samuels and Keith Saha in 2006 as an organisation dedicated to making world-class, groundbreaking theatre with (and for) culturally diverse, working-class young people in many contexts and settings. We have gone through many changes over this time, adapting and evolving to meet the needs of audiences and participants in Liverpool and across the UK. But our mission has always remained the same: to collaborate with young people and communities to develop the stories they want to tell through the art forms they own and want to see.

After 20 years of hard work and success, co-founder Keith Saha will be stepping down in 2026 to pursue making new kinds of theatre with and for adult audiences. 20 Stories High is now entering a new era and inviting fresh artistic leadership to help shape our next chapter. We are looking for artistic leadership to work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive Director that can drive the company forward with ambitious, excellent and equitable theatre and art for culturally diverse and working-class young people and young adults.

Role and expectations

The role is to artistically lead 20 Stories High and to curate a programme that is high quality, inclusive and accessible. Working with the Co-CEO/Executive Director to ensure the company thrives and is sustainable. We are looking for artistic leadership to work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive Director that can drive the company forward with ambitious, excellent and equitable theatre and art for culturally diverse and working-class young people and communities.

Structure and titles

We’re not prescribing a job title or specific structure for the role. Instead, we are sharing the personal and professional key essentials for the job and inviting you to bring your own vision of artistic leadership to the table.

Possible configurations

• Co-CEO/Artistic Director
• Artistic Director – with an aim to develop into Co-CEO/AD
• Job share between two – splitting the role part-time across two people

What matters most is that you are aligned with our values, committed to co-creation with young people and communities, and ready to lead with creativity, integrity, and care. Our current programme takes us into 2026, and beyondthat this role will be critical in shaping the future plans and programme.

There are lots of opportunities to ask questions, meet the team and explore further what this could look like. If you’ve got a vision for what 20 Stories High could be, or you want to discuss it before applying—we want to hear from you.