KEY DATES

Rehearsals: w/c 21st July onwards (schedule to be confirmed)

Show dates & times: w/c 11th August

Closing date for applications: Friday 20th June 12pm

ABOUT US:

Contact is a charity, arts venue and theatre based in the centre of Manchester that puts young people at the heart of everything they do. Contact is Manchester’s leading centre for inclusive and innovative creativity, offering a dynamic space where the next generation of artists and audiences come together. Since 1972, Contact has championed local talent and produced pioneering work that inspires and entertains both national and international audiences. The organisation is committed to bringing diverse, high-quality creative experiences to the city, while empowering young people through free and accessible arts and leadership programmes.

Contact Young Company (CYC) is Contact’s renowned, Manchester Theatre Award-winning young ensemble. CYC is made up of young performers, actors, dancers, musicians, stand-up comedians, poets and MCs. Each Year, Contact Young Company works with major national and international artists to create brand new theatre shows. These shows are premiered here at Contact, and have toured to venues and festivals across the country.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Contact has been awarded funding from The Baring Foundation to run a 2-year CYC (Contact Young Company) project called 'Creatively Minded Men'. This project is aimed at young people who identify as men, aged 18-30, who have not previously engaged with theatre, who have experienced mental health problems.

Statistically, we have found that more young men engage with music programmes at Contact, than theatre. As a result, we've designed this project to begin with 6 months of music workshops, led by our Music Therapist in residence. From May 2025 the group will begin workshops to develop skills in spoken word, movement and devising.

Working with a director, the group in year one will create their own live performance, incorporating the music they have created throughout the workshops.

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a Director for the production, who identifies as a man, has a strong background in devising and collaborating with young people, and enjoys working closely with other artists.

You will have a proven track record of working sensitively with young people and/or artists, and feel confident leading CYC through their rehearsal process, directing and shaping the production alongside them.

You should be a skilled theatre-maker with experience in music, gig-theatre, or musical theatre, and a history of creating dynamic, original work at a professional level.

A commitment to Contact’s ethos is essential, along with a passion for environmental sustainability and a dedication to fostering a supportive, caring environment for our young company.

Contact is proud of its long-standing commitment to diversity across our programming, production, staffing, and community engagement. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities.

This project is forming part of a wider research into men’s engagement in the arts and men’s mental health and has specific funding, which is why we’re seeking a creative team who identify as men. This is inclusive of trans men.

Fee: £3000 flat fee, based on session rates (inclusive of planning and travel).

The fee is inclusive of travel, accommodation, and preparation, so the role is best suited to someone based in, connected to, or within commuting distance of Manchester.

Contact is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. For all successful roles we require an enhanced disclosure and barring certificate as part of our recruitment checks.

TO APPLY:

Please send a brief cover letter (no more than 2 sides) and a copy of your CV and/or links to your website or photographs or footage of your work. To ensure accessibility of the application process, if you would prefer to send us a video or a voice note for your cover letter, we would welcome these formats too.