Tech Swing - PUNCH Tour Nottingham Playhouse Technical & Production

Nottingham Playhouse; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ticket discounts

Playhouse Pass

Bar discounts

Annual leave

Sick pay

Staff events

Parking discounts

Cycle to Work

Training

Relaxed environment

Pension scheme

Job summary

Nottingham Playhouse is seeking a skilled Tech Swing to join the Production Department for the 2027 remount and UK & Ireland tour of PUNCH. You will support Stage Management, Sound and Lighting across Nottingham Playhouse and the road, handling get-ins/get-outs and learning running plots.

The role requires broad technical interests, strong communication, and the ability to work evenings and weekends. Experience in touring productions and knowledge of lighting practices are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in technical production for theatre and live productions.
• Experience with touring productions and recreating lighting designs across venues.
• Extensive knowledge of current theatre practices in lighting and sound.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and strong communicator; capable of independent and collaborative work.
• Able to adapt to evenings, weekends and other unsociable hours; safe working practices.
• Willingness to support multiple technical departments as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide backstage and operational support for get-ins and get-outs.
• Learn and implement running and maintenance plots for sound, lighting and stage management.
• Support day-to-day technical operations on show and tour.
• Collaborate across departments in a fast-paced touring production.

Skills

Technical production experience

Touring productions experience

Lighting design knowledge

Strong communication

Organised and detail‑oriented

Team collaboration

Flexibility to evenings/weekends

Job description

Nottingham Playhouse is looking for a skilled, adaptable and enthusiastic Tech Swing to join the Production Department for the 2027 remount and UK & Ireland tour of James Graham’s PUNCH.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in delivering a major touring production, supporting the Stage Management, Sound and Lighting departments both at Nottingham Playhouse and on the road.

Working primarily with the Sound and Lighting Departments and Stage Management, starting on Wednesday 20 th January 2027 this role will support the smooth day-to-day running of technical operations on the show and across the tour. The Technical Swing will provide practical backstage and operational support, with responsibilities spanning get-ins and get-outs, learning running and maintenance plots for sound, lighting and stage management as well as general technical cover.

This is a varied and hands-on role suited to someone with broad technical interests who enjoys working collaboratively across departments on a fast-paced show. The role will predominantly involve evening and performance-based work, with hours weighted towards the production schedule at the start and end of the week.

About you

You will be an experienced theatre professional with a strong background in technical production and lighting, ideally gained within a producing theatre or a production of a similar scale. You will have experience of touring productions and recreating lighting designs across different venues, alongside an extensive knowledge of current theatre practices.

You will be organised, detail-oriented and an effective communicator, able to work independently and collaboratively. You will bring a positive, professional and flexible approach, with the confidence to make decisions, take control when needed and support colleagues across different technical departments.

The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends and other unsociable hours, including during busy get-ins and get-outs. A commitment to safe working practices and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of a touring production are essential.

We recognise that candidates may not have every skill listed in the person specification. We are committed to developing and nurturing our employees and will provide appropriate support and training where needed.

About Nottingham Playhouse

Nottingham Playhouse creates theatre that is bold, thrilling and proudly made in Nottingham. Named Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2025, we are one of the country's leading producing theatres, presenting an ambitious programme of classics, new writing, family shows and innovative commissions.

We are passionate about creating theatre that reflects our city, tells diverse stories and provides life-changing experiences for our communities. We want our theatre to be a place where everyone feels they belong.

What we offer

Benefits of working at Nottingham Playhouse include:

• Free and discounted tickets for performances, including Press Nights.
• Free Playhouse Pass membership.
• Discounts on our bars offer.
• Enhanced annual leave, starting at 25 days per year and increasing with length of service, plus an additional day off for your birthday.
• Enhanced company sick pay.
• Staff social events, including summer and Christmas parties.
• Discounted parking at Mount Street and St James NCP.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• A relaxed working environment and informal dress code.
• Access to the Nottingham Playhouse contributory workplace pension scheme.

Terms and conditions

The salary is £700 per week, payable weekly by credit transfer. This is a 48-hour buyout inclusive of all hours worked, overtime, publicity calls and other incidental payments. Overtime in excess of an average of 48 hours per week over the engagement will be paid at the end of the contract.

The contract runs from Wednesday 20 January 2027 until April 2027. Performances take place six days per week at Nottingham Playhouse and five days per week on tour. Evening and weekend work will be required, with allocated days off expected in the middle of the week, subject to operational requirements.

Holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks per annum, pro rata, with payment in lieu of unused holiday at the end of the contract. A contributory workplace pension is provided through NOW, with a 5% employee contribution and a 4% employer contribution.

Diversity, inclusion and access

Nottingham Playhouse is committed to equality of opportunity and building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from the Global Ethnic Majority and disabled people.

Applicants who declare as being from the Global Ethnic Majority and/or as disabled will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum criteria on the person specification. We are a Disability Confident employer and welcome conversations about reasonable adjustments to make the recruitment process accessible.

Hours

48 hours per week

Complimentary programme for Nottingham Playhouse produced shows, Cycle to Work scheme, Discounted parking at Mount Street and St James NCP, Discounts on our bars offer, Free and/or discounted tickets for performances, including Press Nights, Free Playhouse Pass membership, Holiday increases with length of service, Paid day off for your birthday, Relaxed working environment with informal dress code, Staff pension, Staff social events, Training and professional development opportunities