Production Assistant

Company Overview

a Company of Fools are best known for our Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park series, where we tour 90-minute versions of Shakespeare’s hits to parks across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for pass-the-hat donations. This tour spans two months, offers 42 performances, and reaches over 10,000 patrons. Over 20% of the company’s patrons report that Fools shows are the only theatre productions they attend. Outside the summer season, the Fools offer educational programming in the form of our annual spring School Tour, in-school workshops, and a (Young) Company of Fools in partnership with Ottawa Children’s Theatre. We believe that it doesn’t matter where you live, how much you make, or how old you are: theatre should be accessible to everyone.

Job Description

a Company of Fools is seeking a Production Assistant to join our team for our Shakespeare in the Park Torchlight Tour in our 35th season! They will be a key player on the crew of this outdoor production that reaches over 10,000 patrons in 35+ communities across the Ottawa region. Candidates must meet the requirements for the Canada Summer Jobs program (age 15-30, eligible to work in Canada and have a Social Insurance Number).

Contract Dates: June 23 – August 18, 2025  
Pay Rate: $18/hr average 35hr/week + 4% vacation pay

Production Assistant duties include:

• Assist Production Manager and crew in setup and teardown of stage/set, audio, lights, backstage and front-of-house areas for outdoor performances during the Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park tour. 
• Assist Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) in facilitating actor quick-changes. 
• Take an active role in managing the backstage area during performances.
• Assist Front of House by guiding patrons, handing out programs/flyers, answering questions from the public, and working the concession stand.
• Assist Production Designers and Production Manager in constructing and maintaining design elements (costume, props and/or set).

Successful candidates must be available for all contract dates (Monday-Saturday, afternoons and evenings), be physically capable of repeated heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs), and be able to maintain a professional, positive attitude at all times and in all sorts of summer weather (rain, shine, heat, humidity, cold).

Assets:

• Enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Theatre production or backstage experience
• Experience or interest in audio and/or lighting
• Stage Management experience
• Familiarity with Ottawa theatre companies and practices
• Can adapt to different working conditions and processes
• Can work independently
• Detail oriented
• Open to feedback and ongoing direction
• Can calmly communicate your limits when working in challenging conditions (extreme heat, heavy lifting, high-pressure timelines)
• Familiarity with a Company of Fools and/or pursuit of theatre-related studies 
• G class driver’s license/access to a vehicle 
• CPR and/or First Aid Training
• General enthusiasm for workplace safety