WORKING FOR BITESIZE

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There is now a direct rail link between WREXHAM and LONDON MARYLEBONE. 5 trains a day each way; 4 on Saturdays and 3 on Sundays. Return Fares start from £24. To find out more go to www.hop2london.co.uk.

BITESIZE only employs Professional Actors, i.e. Those who have undergone and completed training at a recognised Drama School or have significant experience in the profession.

General Auditions are held in the summer months both in London and in North Wales, and applications should be made in writing from early June until September each year.
[Please do NOT telephone , fax or e-mail your details]

send to:

CASTING
BITESIZE THEATRE COMPANY
8 GREEN MEADOWS
NEW BROUGHTON
WREXHAM, LL11 6SG

Please include your CV, a recent (preferably 7x5) photograph, a SAE and a covering letter.

Other auditions are held, as and when required.

(Current casting requirements are posted on our news page)

NOTE:

General Requirements

We employ over 50 Actors a year on a variety of projects from scripted workshops to full-length Shakespeare, which tour to schools throughout most of England and Wales. The touring is split into eight areas with a tour base in each area. Most productions run with a cast of between 3 and 6. There is normally a three week rehearsal period followed by between 6 and 14 weeks of touring, performing twice a day (Mon-Fri).

Our policy is to take high quality, accessible theatre into schools; with a mixture of shows from New writing to Shakespeare, which are both educational and entertaining. About a sixth of our work is done with Special Needs children. The shows include large amounts of audience involvement and we carry lights, sound, costumes, set and props with us and we make our shows fun to watch and to be part of. These are all ensemble productions requiring good team players.

In all of our productions Actors are required to play multiple roles of both sexes; so versatility is a big plus (a minimum of 3 accents please); as are good solid (if sometimes larger than life) believable characters. Circus or magic skills, dance or a good singing voice are useful extras for our actors to have. Experience of working in schools and with Special Needs children is also useful. Sex, age and ethnic background are NOT important. Applicants should be flexible, hard-working, disciplined and conscientious and committed to working for young audiences. While on tour everyone will help with get-ins and get-outs. Drivers are particularly welcome (particularly over 25's). If chosen, employment requires you to be successfully vetted by the CRB under the provisions of the PROTECTION of CHILDREN ACT.

The company is not funded by any Arts Council, Lottery or local or national Government grant, but this year we are offering contracts giving: £192 per rehearsal week (6 working days) and between £195 and £225 per performance week (10 shows), depending on experience PLUS accommodation throughout. Drivers (over 25; two per vehicle) can earn a further £20 per week while touring.

BITESIZE offers a full programme of Workshops all year round, and needs WORKSHOP LEADERS to deliver them; particularly drivers. The workshops are bespoke and available across the country to a range of schools, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Special and can be from one hour to several days in length. They can often be arranged to fit the availability of WORKSHOP LEADERS. We try to offer our Workshop Leaders work near to where they live. You would be required to visit our base in Wrexham to initially rehearse a Workshop before undertaking work for us. BITESIZE provides all the resources required to deliver the Workshops. If you are interested in being considered please send your CV, a recent (preferably 10x8) photograph, a SAE and a covering letter to:

BITESIZE THEATRE COMPANY
8 GREEN MEADOWS
NEW BROUGHTON
WREXHAM, LL11 6SG

We are also looking to recruit a full time WORKSHOP CO-ORDINATOR. The successful candidate will work on developing the workshops that we teach; will assist with the marketing, preparation of these workshops; will be able to lead the workshops, create teachers packs, create resources etc. You must be a driver, who is over 25, with at least two years driving experience and a clean licence.
The ideal candidate would also be able to assist in rehearsals and work as a repetiteur with the actors to continue rehearsals; would assist with the BITESIZE Youth Theatre. We are looking for someone who is willing to give everything a go, who has an eye for quality, and who will work within the existing team and who is happy to "muck in" when the need arises.

We have positions available for Assistant Directors on most of our productions. These can be for a single production or for a number of shows. The type of person we are looking for will be required --

1. To assist the Artistic Director who will work as a repetiteur with the actors to continue and develop rehearsals in the house style when she is unavailable I am in meetings etc.

2. To assist with our community arts work and Youth Theatre. There are 13 different classes per week with regular and visiting tutors in dance, drama and singing.

3. Someone who is computer literate and able to can assist with administration work.

4. Someone willing to muck in, with what ever needs doing in this thriving theatrical business, as an integral part of the small family like team of professionals where no one is so important that they can't help with the, tea-making, cleaning, the mailings, in fact anything that needs doing.

5. Someone who, most importantly, is willing to give everything a go, without worrying about their status within the company, looking a fool, clock watching. Someone who is a good team player, someone willing to learn the Bitesize house style and way of doing things. We work long and hard to create the best we can with limited resources with good humour and the ever present motto 'the show must go on'.

6. Someone special who wants an interesting, exciting, overworked and underpaid job because they live and breathe theatre.

If you still think that this is for you, contact us in the following way, because before offering anyone an interview it is important that we find out more about them.
So please write to us at

BITESIZE THEATRE COMPANY
8 GREEN MEADOWS
NEW BROUGHTON
WREXHAM, LL11 6SG

as well as your CV, and a SAE please write a covering letter; answering the following questions.

1) Please tell me about the sort of director you are. Your attitude to actors, rehearsal style, preferences.

2) Give a brief description of your natural style, management approach in rehearsal & with the company, your strengths and weaknesses

3) What do you believe is important for a young audience ? When directing Shakespeare what would you expect of the actors ? When directing Panto what would you expect of the actors ?

4) What is your take on Shakespeare - Verse - Language - Character ?

5) What is important about acting/directing for an audience of Special Needs children ? How is it different to any other audience ? What do the actors need to know or do that is different ?

6) We multi-role play. How would you help actors to achieve this successfully ?

Please don't try to second guess what we are looking for. Tell us what you believe. we are looking for people who are honest and hard-working and who will be happy to direct in the house-style.

BITESIZE currently runs a total of 13 hours a week of Youth Theatre classes in the Wrexham area during term time; as well as Summer Schools, Easter and Half-term courses and two productions annually. We are looking for tutors to help deliver this.

£5.50 to £10.00 per hour according to experience/qualifications

If you live locally, have Dance, Drama or Music training, particularly as a teacher, then we would like to hear from you.
Teaching Qualification OR experience in the Arts essential. Successful applicants will be required to pass a CRB check in accordance with the Protection of Children Act.

call us on 01978-358320. or send your CV and a covering letter to

BITESIZE YOUTH THEATRE
UNIT 4 CLWYD COURT
RHOSDDU INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
WREXHAM, LL11 4YL

BITESIZE offers work experience at a number of times during the year. If you would like to be considered for a placement you should apply in writing, to

BITESIZE THEATRE COMPANY
8 GREEN MEADOWS
NEW BROUGHTON
WREXHAM, LL11 6SG

telling us about yourself , your experience of the theatre and telling us why we should choose you.

In order to be successful, you must be able to make your own way, each day of the work experience to one of our base on the Rhosddu Industrial Estate in Wrexham. [We are sorry, but we are not able to make any contribution to your accommodation or travel costs.]

Please note: You will be given a variety of tasks during the period of work and be offered the opportunity to observe the Company during rehearsals. You will NOT be given any opportunity to perform.