Front of House Ushers

Royal Ballet and Opera; Greater London; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

The Royal Ballet and Opera in Covent Garden, London, invites applications for Ushers on a fixed-term contract during the festive season. The position is part-time, with three shifts per week and a minimum four-hour call per shift, based in Covent Garden.

Candidates should have strong customer service skills, be comfortable handling sales and takings, and be able to work evenings and weekends in a dynamic theatre environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of providing excellent customer service
• Ability to follow daily operational and health and safety procedures
• A commitment to providing an inclusive environment to colleagues and visitors
• Confidence in making sales and accurately reconciling takings and stock
• Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach
• Confidence in using technology such as point-of-sale software, ticket scanners, etc.
• An eye for detail, excellent time keeping and are well-presented

Responsibilities

• Work three shifts per week on a flexible pattern, rostered weekly
• Ensure outstanding customer experience at Covent Garden
• Handle sales and reconciling takings with accuracy
• Adhere to safety and security procedures in a busy theatre
• Maintain presentation and professional conduct for guests and colleagues

Skills

Customer service

Cash handling

POS systems

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Tools

Ticket scanners

POS software

Job description

Salary: £14.80 per hour Part time – 3 shifts per week, shift length varies, minimum 4-hour call per shift Based in: Covent Garden, London

Prior to commencing your application, please review our application guide here.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis so encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post early should suitable candidates be identified.

The Royal Ballet and Opera continues to lead the way in opera, ballet, music and dance both live on stage and through multiple digital platforms, from live streaming to worldwide cinema screenings. Our Covent Garden theatre has been at the heart of London and British cultural life for three centuries. We are home to two world-class Companies: The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera.

At the Royal Ballet and Opera, we are passionate about delivering world class customer service. We give our audiences and visitors the best possible experience with every visit.

Following a series of internal promotions and secondments, we are looking for fantastic Ushers to support our dedicated, friendly and professional team Front of House team on fixed-term contracts, covering the busy festive season.

To apply, you must be available to work a variable shift pattern including evenings, and weekends.

We would love to hear from you if you can demonstrate the following:

• Proven experience of providing excellent customer service
• Ability to follow daily operational and health and safety procedures
• A commitment to providing an inclusive environment to colleagues and visitors
• Confidence in making sales and accurately reconciling takings and stock
• Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach
• Confidence in using technology such as point-of-sale software, ticket scanners, etc.
• An eye for detail, excellent time keeping and are well-presented

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion underpin all that we do. We want our people to be representative of the diversity in the UK.

We understand the creativity and innovation that diversity can bring and strive to create an inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.

We particularly welcome applications from those who are from a global majority background and/or those who are disabled, as they are under-represented within our organisation.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, which means that we are actively working to ensure that candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions feel supported, engaged and able to fulfil their potential in the workplace. We will endeavour to offer an interview to candidates who tell us they wish to participate in the scheme and who demonstrate in their application that they meet the essential criteria for the role, though sometimes due to the volume of qualified candidates with declarations this is not possible.

The RBO is also committed to safeguarding and protecting all children, young people, and adults and we implement robust safer recruitment practices. Due to our safeguarding promise, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check before commencing employment with us, which will be indicated in the advertising.

Availability

You would work three shifts per week on a flexible pattern, rostered weekly in advance, with each shift lasting at least 4 hours (but could be longer). There is the possibility of working additional shifts in busy periods. Availability must include evenings and weekends, and occasional daytime work may also be required.

Please download the Usher Availability Requirements document before applying. Here you will find further details of the availability requirements.

Please note that time off cannot be guaranteed over the Christmas period.

This role requires extended periods of work within a darkened environment, i.e. Our auditoria.

Interviews

Interviews will be held on site at ROH Covent Garden from w/c 2nd November. For this role, we are not able to offer an adjustment for the interview process to be online.

Job Description

A full job description can be found here.

For more information about working with the Royal Ballet and Opera, please review the info pack here.

For a list of potential reasonable adjustments, please review this guidance document. If you have any access requirements for your application, please contact the RBO Recruitment Team on [e-mail].

If you are applying as an internal candidate, you might find this guidance document helpful.

Closing date for applications

Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Sunday 1st November 2026.

To ensure a fair process, late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

Applicants must have work authorisation for the UK. No agencies.