Call for Assistant Designers Set/Props, Costume, Lighting, Sound, Video/Projection

Company Overview

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of Forum events, designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers. At this time we are undergoing a culture shift to support anti-racism and anti-oppression and ensure a respectful, equitable and inclusive environment in which all staff, artists and audience members can feel a true sense of belonging.

 If you would like to be part of this change and contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you. We are currently welcoming applications for:

Job Description

 

Call for Assistant Designers – Set/Props, Costume, Lighting, Sound, Video/Projection

 To heighten awareness of the opportunities available and to broaden the reach of our recruitment efforts, we are posting multiple contract positions for Assistant Set Designers, Assistant Costume Designers, Assistant Lighting Designers, Assistant Sound Designers, and Assistant Video/Projection Designers for our 2023 season. These positions report to the Head of Design and are part of the design team. All positions require full time residency for the contract period in Stratford, ON.

 Contract lengths vary depending on the production and assignments but range from approximately 8 weeks to 32 weeks and begin as early as January 3, 2023.  There will be events where Assistant Designers may be required to attend prior to their official contract start date (TBD virtual and/or on location). More details will be provided to candidates who are selected for interviews.

 Please indicate which design discipline you are applying for in your cover letter.

 Responsibilities:

·       Assistant Set/Props Designer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

o   Assist the set design process on specific productions by following through the visual aspects of the productions and interpreting drawings for props and sets

o   Research and acquisition of photographic reference and distribute this information to the various departments and craftspeople

o   Assist in the building of the set model

o   Attend production and design meetings with the designer to support the creative team on the design process

o   Assist with crossover items between set/props and costumes as required

o   Compile all paperwork for archiving of production

Assistant Costume Designer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

o   Assist the costume design process on specific productions by following through the visual aspects of the productions and interpreting drawings for costumes

o   Research and acquisition of photographic reference and distribute this information to the various departments and craftspeople

o   Assist on buying trips to acquire fabric samples and materials

o   Attend production and design meetings with the designer to support the creative team on the design process

o   Attend all fittings with the designer

o   Assist with crossover items between set/props and costumes as required

o   Compile all paperwork for archiving of production

 

  Assistant Lighting Designer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

o   Assist the lighting design process during the creation of the lighting used for the production

o   Prepare floor plans, cue sheets, tracking sheets, plots, and other forms for the documentation of the lighting design

o   Attend production and design meetings with the designer to support the creative team on the design process

o   Prepare an accurate sketch of all lamps as focused

o   Maintain tracking information and cue sheets during lighting sessions and technical rehearsals

o   Coordinate with stage management to confirm placement of all called cues

o   Create follow spot cueing and tracking paperwork (Musicals)

o   Compile all paperwork for archiving of production

Assistant Sound Designer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

o   Assist the sound design process during the creation and execution of all sound for the production

o   Prepare cue sheets, tracking sheets, plots, and other forms for the documentation of the sound design

o   Attend production and design meetings with the designer to support the creative team on the design process

o   Record a detailed description of the function, content and operation of all cues created for the production

o   Help coordinate and manage microphone placement and tracking (Musicals)

o   Coordinate with stage management to confirm placement of all called cues

o   Compile all paperwork for archiving of production

Assistant Video/Projection Designer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

o   Assist the video/projection design process during the creation and execution of all video and projection used for live stage performances

o   Assist in creating and editing digital content such as photography, video, graphics, and animation

o   Understand digital media basics such as file formats, resolution, and compression

o   Attend production and design meetings with the designer to support the creative team on the design process

o   Record a detailed description of the function, content and operation of all cues created for the production

o   Coordinate with stage management to confirm placement of all called cues

o   Compile all paperwork for archiving of production

  

Qualifications:

·       Experience working as a Designer or Assistant Designer in a theatre environment

·       Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written

·       Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to multi-task

·       Self-motivated

·       Superior file management skills

·       SET/PROPS or COSTUME: Proficient in Photoshop, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office Suite

·       SET/PROPS: Experience with 3D printing is an asset, but not a requirement

·       LIGHTING: Proficient in AutoCAD and/or Vectorworks, Lightwright, and ETC consoles

·       SOUND: Knowledge of sound systems, system design, and Digital Audio Workstations

·       SOUND (Musical): Knowledge of live performance sound and Digico Consoles

·       VIDEO/PROJECTION: Knowledge of video technology, processes, and equipment

 Job Type: Seasonal Contract

The Festival is working diligently toward a safe and healthy workplace for everyone.  We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know.

 As a condition of hire, all successful job candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of full vaccination at time of contracting. This condition is subject to the provisions of the Human Rights Code.