Freelance Assistant Director – Contact Young Company

Key dates:

Contract: Fixed Term, Freelance.
Closing date for applications: Monday 22nd June, Midnight

ABOUT CONTACT: 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.

ABOUT CYC: 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 2026 the group will begin workshops to develop skills in spoken word, movement and devising.

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

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking an Assistant Director for the production. The successful candidate will be someone who identifies as a man and has some experience in theatre, with a strong interest in music.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• To offer creative assistance to the director in the rehearsal process and production week of the show

• To work with participants/members of CYC to create an environment that is accessible, dynamic, fun and stimulating creative process, empowering individuals to develop their own creativity

• To support CYC to produce online content to promote the production where needed.

• To support young people at all times and keep the Contact staff team updated on any pastoral or safeguarding issues. To provide support with the participants’ access needs.

• You should be confident in leading group games and exercises

• To assist director in producing a script from the devising period.

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.

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.