Comedy Programmer

SOHO THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Soho Theatre is seeking a Programming Producer to shape and deliver a bold comedy programme for Soho Theatre Walthamstow. You’ll identify and secure artists for the venue, drawing on knowledge of UK and international comedy, and collaborate with agents, promoters and touring networks to build exciting, commercially resonant shows.

Working with colleagues across producing, communications, production and audience teams, you’ll test ideas, manage deals and settlements, and ensure venues run

Qualifications

• Experience in programming for live comedy or theatre.
• Strong knowledge of UK and international comedy and industry connections.
• Ability to balance artistic ambition with audience potential and commercial aims.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure artists for Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
• Develop relationships with artists, agents, promoters and touring networks.
• Balance artistic ambition, audience potential and commercial considerations in programming.
• Coordinate deals, budgets and settlements with visiting companies and co-producers.
• Collaborate with communications, production and audience teams to deliver the programme.

Skills

UK comedy knowledge

Networking

Programming

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the next chapter of one of London’s most exciting
cultural organisations working with Soho’s comedy and wider teams to bring leading UK and
international comedy to our 960-seat auditorium, identify and support the next generation of talent, and
build adventurous, commercially successful programmes for audiences in Walthamstow and beyond.
The role will also help shape and deliver a new programme strand for Soho Theatre Pub. Using its small
stage and informal social setting, you’ll develop playful daytime, early-evening, late-night and weekend
activity that complements the auditorium programme, attracts custom and makes the whole venue feel
alive.

Programming

• Work with the Head of Comedy and wider team to identify and secure artists for Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
• Bring strong knowledge of UK and international comedy, including artists, agents, promoters, festivals, venues and touring networks, to programming conversations.
• Use and develop relationships across the comedy industry to identify opportunities and initiate conversations with artists and representatives.
• Balance artistic ambition, audience potential and commercial considerations when developing the programme.
• Contribute to Soho Theatre’s wider comedy programme across Dean Street, touring, Edinburgh, international and digital activity as required.
• Regularly see work at Soho Theatre, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and elsewhere, identifying new talent and feeding into programming discussions.
• Keep abreast of developments in comedy and the wider live entertainment industry, including emerging artists, new formats and changing audience behaviours.

Soho Theatre Pub

• Work with creative, communications and F&B colleagues to shape and deliver a distinctive programme for Soho Theatre Pub.
• Develop activity that works with the rhythms of the pub and complements the main auditorium programme.
• Explore daytime and early-evening events, including book launches, conversations, readings, works-in-progress, showcases and other activity that can finish around 6pm.
• Develop late-night and weekend programming, including comedy, cabaret, drag, music, hosted events and comedy-adjacent performance.
• Contribute to regular social formats – such as quizzes, games nights or comedian-hosted events – that encourage repeat visits and audience loyalty.
• Test ideas, learn from audience response and develop successful formats over time.
• In collaboration with colleagues, think about the full experience: programming, hospitality, atmosphere and the reasons audiences might stay, return or bring friends.

Deals, administration and delivery

• Manage programme administration from initial booking through to settlement.
• Negotiate deals and contractual arrangements with artists, agents, promoters, visiting companies and co-producers within agreed parameters.
• Maintain accurate records, contracts, contact sheets and show information.
• Ensure marketing, press, box office, production and audience teams receive accurate and timely information.
• Manage settlements with visiting companies, promoters and co-producers.
• Assist with programme and show budgets, monitoring individual show targets and box-office performance.
• Flag opportunities and risks early and work with colleagues to respond to sales performance.
• Co-ordinate visas, work permits, travel and accommodation for international artists and companies where required.
• Ensure appropriate health and safety documentation, including risk assessments, is in place.
• Contribute to internal and external reporting as required.

Artist and industry relationships

• Be a principal point of contact for comedy artists, companies, agents and promoters working at Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
• Build trusted, proactive relationships that establish Soho Theatre Walthamstow as an ambitious, supportive and professional home for comedy.
• Provide excellent care and attention to artists throughout their relationship with the venue.
• Liaise with Production and Audience teams to ensure performances and technical schedules run smoothly and on time.
• Welcome and host artists, promoters, agents, partners and guests where required.
• Represent Soho Theatre professionally within the comedy industry, at festivals and at sector events.

Communications and audiences

• Work closely with Communications colleagues and visiting companies on marketing and press campaigns.
• Communications colleagues and visiting companies on marketing and press campaigns.
• Share relevant artist, programme and industry insight that can help campaigns reach audiences effectively.
• Understand the audience and income objectives for individual shows and the wider programme.
• Contribute ideas that strengthen Soho Theatre Walthamstow and Soho Theatre Pub as cultural and entertainment destinations.

Working across Soho

• Take an active role in programming and creative meetings.
• Work collaboratively across creative, producing, communications, production, audience and commercial teams.
• Represent Soho Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and other festivals and industry events as required.
• Attend performances, press nights, guest nights, development events and other activity at Soho and elsewhere.
• Maintain relationships with Soho Theatre’s partners, associate artists, companies and venues.
• Contribute to the wider work of the organisation where reasonably required.
• Champion Soho Theatre’s commitments to equality, access, diversity and inclusion.
• Work in ways that reflect Soho Theatre’s values and support its artistic, audience and commercial ambitions.