Assistant Director
The Yard Theatre
The Yard is looking for an Assistant Director for a new production of Ntozake Shange’s play for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, directed by Diane Page, with original music by Jammz.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Hello and thank you for your interest in becoming an Assistant Director at the Yard Theatre. This short pack is designed to give all the information you need, but if there’s anything that you’re unsure of, please don’t hesitate to contact The Yard’s Theatre Producer, Hannah (hannah@theyardtheatre.co.uk)
For this role we are particularly keen to hear from artists who are D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, and/or are Black, of Middle Eastern heritage or from the global majority. We believe work is at its best when it is impacted upon by people from different backgrounds and life experiences. We also recognise that these artists have historically been underrepresented at The Yard and elsewhere. If you identify this way, there will be a section on the application form where you can tell us this in your own words.
An artists' impression of the new Yard,
designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects
CONTENTS
THE ROLE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
REPRESENTATION, ANTI-RACISM, ACCESS, INCLUSION
ABOUT THE SHOW
This Autumn, The Yard will produce a new production of Ntozake Shange’s play for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, directed by Diane Page, with original music by Jammz.
Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem returns - 50 years on from its first performance, long overdue in London. for colored girls brings stories of love and violence, joy and survival - and what it feels like to come out the other side.
ABOUT THE YARD
"A mecca for some of the most interesting theatre in Britain."
British Vogue
The Yard is a theatre in East London, opened in 2011 when Artistic Director Jay Miller and fifty volunteers converted a Hackney Wick warehouse into a theatre with a six-month lease.
The lease ran out. The Yard didn't.
The Yard makes and programmes work at the borders of theatre, live art, cabaret, dance and drag. Shows that started here have transferred to the National Theatre, become BAFTA-winning television shows, toured the world and won at the Olivier Awards.
The Yard's new purpose-built venue in Hackney Wick is designed by RIBA award-winning Takero Shimazaki Architects. Twice the size of the original. Built with reused brick from the old Yard and a six-storey natural ventilation chimney. Built sustainably throughout.
Six months became fifteen years. Fifteen years became this.
Recent work includes: Olivier award-winning ★★★★ The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (2025), directed by Jay Miller, ★★★★ Multiple Casualty Incident written by Sami Ibrahim, directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart (2024), ★★★★★ Samuel Takes A Break, written by Rhianna Ilube, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike (2024), ★★★★★ The Flea written by James Fritz, directed by Jay Miller (2023 & 2024), ★★★★★ An unfinished man written by Dipo Baruwa-Etti, directed by Taio Lawson (2022), The Cherry Orchard, reimagined by Vinay Patel, directed by James Macdonald (2022), ★★★★★ The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, directed by Jay Miller (2019), ★★★★★ Dirty Crusty written by Clare Barron, directed by Jay Miller (2019), ★★★★ Armadillo written by Sarah Kosar, directed by Sara Joyce (2019), ★★★★ A New and Better You by Joe Harbot, directed by Cheryl Gallacher (2018) and ★★★★★ Buggy Baby by Josh Azouz, directed by Ned Bennett (2018).
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Diane Page is an award-winning theatre director winning the 2021 JMK Award for her production of Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act staged at the Orange Tree Theatre.
Training: MFA Theatre Directing (Birkbeck University), BA Theatre and Drama Studies (First Class. Hons, Birkbeck University).
Theatre as Director: The Tempest,Julius Caesar (Shakespeare’s Globe); Testmatch, Yellowman, Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (Orange Tree Theatre); Lost and Found (Royal Opera House); Out West (Co- director, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre).
ROLE DETAILS AND KEY DATES
Fee: £4,000
Freelance engagement from Monday 27 July - Saturday 17 October 2026.
This will be a full-time commitment between Monday 27 July - Tuesday 8 September, then attending one evening performance a week until Saturday 17 October as follows:
- Rehearsals: Monday 27 July - Wednesday 26 August. Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm, a rehearsal space in East London.
- Technical Rehearsals: Thursday 27 August - Tuesday 1 September. 10am - 6pm, at The Yard Theatre.
- Preview and Press Night performances: Wednesday 2 September - Tuesday 8 September. Daily working hours TBC but agreed in advance. Evening working is required (watching the performances).
- After the Press Night on 8 September, we expect the Assistant Director to attend one performance a week at the Yard Theatre until the final night on Saturday 3 October 2026.
THE ROLE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
The Yard is looking for an Assistant Director to provide creative and administrative support to Director Diane Page, during the creation of the show.
The Assistant Director will work closely with Diane and the team (five cast members, a Creative Team and Production Team) to create the show, whilst having the opportunity to observe a professional theatre director in action.
What you will do
- Attend rehearsals, and provide general and creative support to the Director - e.g. researching elements of the play, discussing the production together
- Understanding and facilitating the rehearsal process - e.g. keeping in mind rehearsal goals and schedule
- Help the Director with communicating notes and updates with venue staff, cast, creative and technical teams, e.g. sending email updates to the Producer
- Work closely with the cast, providing support and care, e.g. running warm-ups, helping with line-runs and practising any relevant choreography. Post-press, you will be responsible for giving notes on performances to the cast.
- Attend all technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and preview performances, offering notes and supporting their smooth running
- Attend 1 performance each week of the production, making notes for the cast and technical team to ensure the production remains consistent and strong.
What we’re looking for
If these statements describe you, then please get in touch:
- I have had experience of working on at least two shows (including fringe performances, community theatre, digital work) as Director or Assistant Director.
- I would be confident in offering my insight, experience and expertise to support the Director.
- I can offer administrative and research support
- I am a strong communicator (verbal and via email) and would be confident delivering notes to the team.
- I will enjoy developing relationships with the Director, cast, creative and technical teams, and The Yard Theatre staff.
- I have a deep commitment to supporting actors and members of the creative team.
Please do not apply if, at the time of applying for this role, you are in education. We want to offer this opportunity to someone in the first years of their professional practice.
ANTI-RACISM, ACCESS, REMOVING BARRIERS
Commitment to Anti-racism
The Yard is doing ongoing work related to anti-racism, to make our organisation better for our artists, employees and audiences who experience racism. You can read about some of our work here.
If you would like to hear more about this in advance of applying for this role, we can set up a conversation with Ashleigh Wheeler, Executive Director: [email protected]
Removing Disabling Barriers
We are Disability Confident Committed, and are working with Real, the Disabled People's Organisation to remove barriers across our organisation.
We want you to have every opportunity to shine in our recruitment process, so please let us know if you have disability access requirements, or if there is anything that we can do to make sure that it’s a process that works for you. We are open to making reasonable adjustments, for example providing a support worker to remove barriers in completing your application, and also supporting Access to Work applications. Just contact us by emailing [email protected]
Disabled People can also opt in to our guaranteed interview scheme in the application form. With this, we guarantee an interview with up to five Disabled candidates who score the highest against our Person Specification.
How to Apply
APPLY
To apply, please complete the following link by 10am on Monday 29 June 2026: (https://forms.gle/wiuuttqvHKaUD82b7)
In the application form, you will be asked to:
- Copy and paste your up-to-date CV, either written, or as a link to a website, online document or an audio recording of no more than 2 minutes (e.g. via Sound Cloud, Drop Box, Google Drive, or any other filesharing service).
- Tell us why you are interested in this role (no more than 500 words), or an audio recording (of no more than 2 minutes). See below for what to include.
- For this role we're particularly keen to hear from artists who are D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, and/or from the global majority - including, but not limited to, artists who are Black. If any of this applies to you, there's a section on the application form where you can tell us this in your own words.
- Whether you need access support to take part
- Whether there are other barriers to you taking part
In your answer for Q2, we would like you to address:
- Why is this the right role for you? Why is now the right moment for it to happen?
- Why do you want to work at The Yard, on this production and with Diane?
- What do you hope to learn from your time on this production?
NEXT STEPS
- Applications will be read and shortlisted by The Yard’s Producer and Senior Producer
- The shortlist will be read by Director Diane Page.
- For successful applicants, there will be a 30 minute interview on Friday 3rd July 2026
- All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 10th July 2026
While we have publicised this opportunity, please note that: (i) the application and selection process is managed by the advertising company/organisation; and (ii) we rely on them to: provide accurate, up-to-date details about themselves and the opportunity; ensure that opportunities are ethical and paid fairly. To report a listing, please email [email protected].