Resident Director - New Work

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary staff tickets

25 days annual leave (32 with service)

Development programmes and training

Season ticket loan (interest-free)

Enhanced sick pay

Family-friendly policies

Pension schemes

Sabbatical option

On-site staff canteen

Occupational health support

Mental health and wellbeing support

Staff talks and insights into NT

Discounted NT at Home access

Volunteer leave (paid day)

Local discounts (bars/cafes/bookshop)

Job summary

National Theatre is seeking a Resident Director for the New Work team on a 6 Month Fixed Term Contract. The role blends administrative duties with creative engagement, supporting casting, project development and workshop activities.

You will work closely with actors, creatives and the Casting Department, gaining insight into how leading directors shape projects while maintaining confidentiality and high standards of organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience casting artists from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience directing professional productions in studio/fringe venues.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to multitask under pressure.
• Commitment to theatre directing with a demonstrable body of work (2–3 week paid run).
• Broad experience as an Assistant and/or Associate Director.

Responsibilities

• Support New Work Department admin tasks (printing scripts, creating contact sheets).
• Attend sharings and read projects; engage with developments and casting discussions.
• Liaise with NT Casting Department and other creatives to prepare for incoming work.

Skills

Casting experience

Directing exposure

Organisational skills

Discretion & confidentiality

Assistant/Associate directing

Job description

We are looking for a Resident Directorto join the National Theatre's New Work team on a 6 Month Fixed Term Contract.

This role is part of the NT’s development opportunities for early to mid-career directors and offers the opportunity to deepen and broaden the director’s knowledge of actors working in the UK today. The role is embedded within the New Work department and casts all workshops and play readings, dealing directly with actors, creatives and agents, and liaising closely with NT’s Casting Department. The position offers directors a direct insight into how leading creatives develop their projects, particularly through the casting lens. This is primarily an administrative role where the Resident Director supports the activity of the New Work Department, printing scripts, creating contact sheets and making general preparations for incoming work, but there is creative engagement through reading, attending sharings and connecting with the projects that we are developing for our stages and taking part in the artistic conversations within the department.

The successful candidates will have the following:

• Demonstrable experience casting artists from all different backgrounds, and a commitment to keeping performers from historically underrepresented backgrounds visible and valued in the casting process.
• A good working knowledge of actors from different disciplines and with different abilities, including those with established theatre careers who may be working in leading roles around the country.
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to work calmly under pressure. Knowledge of how to prioritise, multitask and to deliver work accurately and with attention to detail while respecting confidentiality and acting with discretion.
• A commitment to being a theatre director, with experience of having directed professional productions in studio and fringe venues over a number of years accruing a demonstrable body of work. (By professional we mean having had a 2-3 week public run with a paid creative team and company).
• Broad experience of working professionally as an Assistant and/or Associate Director on a range of scales of productions.

Working with us will give you..

• Complimentary staff tickets for shows and guided tours, subject to availability and policy
• 25 days annual leave increasing up to 32 with length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Development Programmes via e-learning platform, and specialist in-person training relating to role
• Access to interest-free season ticket loan and cycle scheme partnership
• Enhanced sick pay
• Family Friendly policies including Family leave and Support leave
• Family-friendly employer - we are a member of Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts (PiPA)
• Pension schemes with Legal & General and NEST
• Sabbatical option, subject to agreement and policy
• On-site staff canteen and social facilities
• On-site occupational health support
• In-house mental health and wellbeing advisors providing workplace counselling and support
• Wellbeing programme of events, including mental health awareness, financial wellbeing, skills sharing and opportunities to get active
• Exclusive staff talks to hear more about NT productions, past and present, from leading practitioners
• Discounted access to National Theatre at Home
• Volunteer leave – one paid day per year to volunteer for your chosen charity
• Discounts in the NT’s bars, cafés, restaurants, and bookshop, as well as in local businesses (from Wagamama to gyms), on and around the South Bank
• Access to retailer discounted gift cards and a cash-back-on-spending card

Please note

The closing date for the receipt of a completed application is Friday 25th September 2026 at 9:00am.

Unfortunately, we are unable to progress an application for this role if you do not currently have (or would be able to obtain) an ongoing right to work in the UK. We cannot sponsor candidates under a workvisafor this role because the role is ineligible for sponsorship under the UK government’s requirements for the Skilled Workervisaroute. If you have any queries or would like to discuss this matter further, please contact [e-mail].

In line with our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), we recognise that we need to address underrepresentation in our organisation. We actively welcome applications from individuals who are part of global majority, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

We strive to promote inclusive and equitable practices in all areas of the NT. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee to interview disabled applicants who meet our minimum requirements for our vacancies.

If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or have any questions about the recruitment process, you can email [e-mail] or call us on 02074523834.