Assistant Stage Manager

English National Opera; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

English National Opera invites applications for an experienced Assistant Stage Manager to join our Stage Management Department in London. This freelance fixed-term contract covers rehearsals, technical periods and performances, with duties including coordinating backstage activity and maintaining production documentation to ensure artistic and operational standards.

The successful candidate will work closely with creative and technical teams, performers, chorus, orchestra and visiting artists,

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Stage Management or equivalent professional experience, typically at least 2 years.
• Excellent score-reading ability, with experience cueing from full musical scores.
• Ability to work collaboratively with performers, creative teams, technical departments, orchestra personnel and visiting artists.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including production paperwork and cueing documentation.
• Ability to remain calm and solutions-focused in a live performance environment.
• Good understanding of theatre health and safety practices, including risk assessment procedures and emergency protocols.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and unsocial hours as required by production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate backstage activity from rehearsals through live performances.
• Maintain accurate production documentation and running plots.
• Cue from a full musical score and ensure safe, efficient production delivery.
• Work closely with creative and technical teams, performers, chorus, orchestra and visiting artists.

Skills

Excellent score-reading ability

Strong organisational skills

Team collaboration

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

Stage Management degree/diploma

Job description

Salary: £44,000 pro rata per annum

Location: London Coliseum & other locations as required

Contract: Freelance fixed term contract, 05/10/2026-15/11/2026

We're seeking an experienced and proactive Assistant Stage Manager to join our Stage Management Department.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised and solutions-focused stage management professional with experience working on large-scale productions. From rehearsals and technical periods through to live performances, you will help ensure the safe, efficient and consistent delivery of productions, maintaining the highest artistic and operational standards.

Working closely with creative and technical teams, performers, chorus, orchestra and visiting artists, you will coordinate backstage activity, maintain accurate production documentation and confidently cue from a full musical score. If you thrive in a fast-paced production environment and enjoy working collaboratively to deliver exceptional live performance, we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

• Degree or diploma in Stage Management or equivalent professional experience (typically at least 2 years) working on large scale theatre productions
• Excellent score-reading ability, with experience cueing from full musical scores in a rehearsal and/or performance environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with performers, creative teams, technical departments, orchestra personnel and visiting artists
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including maintaining accurate production paperwork, cueing documentation and running plots.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and solutions-focused in a live performance environment.
• Good understanding of theatre health and safety practices, including risk assessment procedures and emergency protocols.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and unsocial hours as required by production schedules.

Please see our recruitment pack for full details of the role.

Application deadline

5pm, Sunday 16 August 2026

Interviews

w/c 24 August 2026

Reasonable adjustments

If you require any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail]

Feedback

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to provide individual feedback to those candidates who reach the interview stage

English National Opera is an Equal Opportunities employer, and we strive to create an inclusive working environment that reflects the diverse communities we serve. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we particularly encourage potential candidates from underrepresented groups and communities to apply, including those from global majority backgrounds and/or with protected characteristics, including race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and religion and belief. We will provide appropriate support for candidates with access requirements if they identify as disabled. This includes during the application process and through candidate assessment stages.