Resident Assistant Director

Donmar Warehouse; City Of London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Birthday leave

Pension contribution

Travel loan

Gym membership

Eye care allowance

Welfare programme

Cycle to work

Bar discount

Complimentary tickets

Production lunches

Professional development

Job summary

Donmar Warehouse is offering a year-long Resident Assistant Director position in London. The RAD will be embedded within the Artistic team, supporting rehearsals, casting and programming discussions, while developing artistic leadership skills in a leading producing theatre.

The role includes assisting on multiple productions, working closely with directors and actors of high calibre, and gaining insight into the theatre’s operations and strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience directing your own work on a professional production.
• Commitment to a career as a theatre director.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist on productions for a minimum of 4 shows.
• Support running rehearsals, technical rehearsals and previews.
• Balance duties between rehearsals and office responsibilities.
• Contribute to artistic team discussions and casting notes.
• Engage with development, marketing and other departments where needed.

Skills

Directing experience

Ambition and drive

Strong communication

Administration skills

Job description

Resident Assistant Director

Application Deadline: 26 October 2026

Department: Artistic

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Donmar Warehouse Office

Reporting To: Associate Artistic Director

Compensation: GBP 30,900 / year

Description

About the role:

The Resident Assistant Director (RAD) is an opportunity for an outstanding theatre director in the early stages of their career to be embedded at the Donmar for a year. The RAD will develop extensive skills, craft, and knowledge around directing; from casting, in rehearsals, through to the running of shows, working with directors and actors of the highest calibre. The RAD will also experience and contribute to the workings of one of the UK's leading producing theatres and begin to cultivate skills as an artistic leader of the future.

The RAD scheme has been integral to the Donmar through its thirty four-year history. Former Resident Assistant Directors have gone on to become leading directors and artistic leaders.

Across the year, the RAD will spend the majority of their time assisting on productions. They will assist on a minimum of 4 shows. Primary duties include supporting the running of rehearsals, technical rehearsals and previews, and noting the show once it is running. They will balance their time with duties in the office as an integral part of the theatre staff. The RAD will sit in the Artistic Team. They will be involved in literary duties, casting duties, and will contribute to programming meetings. In addition, there is the opportunity to learn from a range of departments e.g. marketing, development, producing.

This is an intensive full-time training role so it will not be possible to be released to work on major freelance projects outside of the contract. However, it is possible to use leave days for smaller projects e.g. readings, workshops. The role does include the possibility of directing a one-week R&D on a small-scale project. We recognise that candidates may have other commitments and encourage you to discuss anything that might impact availability at interview.

Person Specification

We are looking for a passionate, ambitious, highly self-motivated and driven individual who thrives in a busy and fast-paced environment and who is interested in gaining a foundation in artistic leadership and the running of a building.

This is not an entry level position. The role is intended as a bridge from assistant roles to associate / staff directing roles and making your own work as a director.

The aim of the role is to give a rounded experience of the different component parts of a busy producing theatre and to give an introduction to the skills and considerations of artistic leadership.

Terms: 12 months, full time, fixed terms

Timeline

• Applications open: Monday 5 October 2026
• Applications close: Monday 26 October, 9am
• First Interviews: w/c 16 November 2026 and w/c 23 November
• Second Interviews: w/c 07 December and w/c 14 December
• Tentative Start Date: February 2027

Duties and Responsibilities

Working as an assistant director on productions, which includes:

• Supporting the director during rehearsals and with preliminary preparation.
• Supporting stage management with tasks and scheduling.
• Supporting the cast during rehearsals and through the run.
• Noting the production at least twice a week and feeding back to the director.
• A bridge between the office and the rehearsal room, feeding back to the Artistic Team.
• Managing production seat allocation during tech and previews.
• Attending post-show discussions, development events, as required.
• Work with understudies when required.

Working with the Artistic Team which includes:

• Reading scripts and feeding back in Artistic meetings.
• Attending shows and reporting back.
• Some administration of scripts / correspondence.
• Contributing to programming conversations.
• Uphold values around EDI alongside all other Donmar Staff.

Working with the Casting Department which includes:

• Supporting the Casting director with actor lists.
• Undertaking research for the Casting director.
• Attending shows or showcases.
• Attending auditions, general meetings, readings.

Working with Development and Participation departments which includes:

• Facilitating workshops, talks and other events with young people.
• Delivering Q&A sessions with young people, community groups and sponsors.

Other duties to assist the Donmar office as may reasonably be required

This is not an exhaustive list of duties, and we may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.

Person Specification

Assessed at Application

Essential

• Experience of directing your own work; at least one fully realised professional production.*
• Experience of being an Assistant Director on at least three professional theatre productions.*
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to a career as a theatre director; at the point of gaining larger-scale assisting credits, associate director roles, and making your own work at professional venues.
• Can clearly articulate what your creative skillset brings to the rehearsal room and what tasks and duties you would expect to fulfil in rehearsals.
• An understanding of the work and ethos of the Donmar Warehouse.

*NB - (For the purposes of this application we are defining a professional production as being a full-length piece performed by paid actors for a run of 2 weeks or more)

Reviewed at Application and Assessed at Interview

Essential

• A strong interest in how a producing theatre is run and the role of artistic leadership.
• Be able to illustrate where your working practice and/or the stories you tell show a commitment to inclusion and diversity.
• Excellent communication and administration skills.
• Ability to prioritise, work well under pressure, and adapt to new situations.
• A proactive and positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently and under your own initiative.
• Embrace both rehearsal-room and office-based activities and balance tasks for both.

Desirable

• Has worked as an Assistant Director on productions at medium / large scales.
• Experience of script reading.
• Experience of running workshops / working with young people.
• Experience of working with understudies.

Benefits

Holiday

Enhanced holiday scheme with 25 days a year plus 8 Bank Holidays.

Annual Birthday leave.

Benefits (post-probation and dependant on length of service)

6% employer pension contribution as part of the Donmar's stakeholder pension scheme.

Lifestyle

Season ticket loan (travel)

Subsidised local gym membership

GBP 25 towards annual eye tests

Employee welfare programme

Cycle to work bike loan scheme

Discount at Donmar bar on food and drinks

Complimentary tickets to attend Donmar performances

Company Lunches twice per production

Professional Development

All staff training and professional development programme

We believe that representation matters; diversity of identity, of perspective and of lived experience enriches our work and our lives. We recognise that the Donmar and the wider theatre industry is not representative of contemporary society in terms of workforce, artists and audience. We particularly encourage applications from those who are currently under