The Engine Room
A customised residency at Auckland Theatre Company
The Engine Room programme is designed to support the training and development of early to mid-career theatre directors keen to develop their careers and broaden their directing experience.
We are looking for two early to mid-career Theatre Directors to join Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) and work as Assistant Directors on three plays each across the 2025 season.
Offering two theatre directors the opportunity to join Auckland Theatre Company as Engine Room Assistant Directors, the programme allows access to the inner workings of a large producing theatre company, and insight into its programming and producing processes, audiences, teams, venues and on-going core business.
Be part of the process of staging three theatre productions at the ASB Waterfront Theatre: from the design phase, planning, rehearsals, production week and opening through to closing night. Engine Room residents will engage with all departments at ATC to gain a holistic view of how they all feed into and support the making of our productions.
The Engine Room Residencies are paid, full-time roles, offered on a fixed-term employment basis. There is a weekly wage, plus an hourly rate to cover pre-residency design meetings, an introductory meeting and a group wrap-up at the end of the programme.
“The greatest learning has been in finding my own artistic point of difference and the aesthetics I’m interested in pursuing further in my career.”
Application Timeline
Deadline for expression of interest: 5pm Wednesday 20 November 2024. Late applications will not be accepted
Candidates invited to apply notified by: Monday 25 November 2024
The Engine Room Dates
The Engine Room Residency One: Tuesday 21 January to Sunday 15 June 2025
The Engine Room Residency Two: Tuesday 3 June to Sunday 2 November 2025
We are looking for two early to mid-career Theatre Directors to join Auckland Theatre Company and work as Assistant Directors on three plays each across the 2025 season.
- Applicants should have had training and/or equivalent experience in Theatre Directing.
- Applicants need to be passionate and committed to directing as their chosen profession, with a track record of directing theatre productions.
- We are keen to work with Directors at a turning point in their career who are determined to develop their capacity to direct productions of scale in a company context.
- We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.
- You need to commit full-time for the full residency period. This role includes regular evening and weekend work.
- You will be required to be based in Auckland for the residency period. ATC cannot provide relocation, travel costs or living allowance. A limited contribution towards expenses may be possible.
- You must have a right to work in New Zealand.
- As Auckland Theatre Company frequently works with young people, shortlisted candidates must undertake a criminal record check.
- Applicants must be aged 18+
- Fixed term, fulltime employment for roughly five months, immersed in Auckland Theatre Company.
- The role of “Engine Room Assistant Director” on three ATC productions back-to-back.
- A schedule of ATC Company meetings, Board meetings and Artistic Operations meetings to attend.
- Six sessions with an external mentor, with sessions scheduled before the residency, between each project, and at the conclusion of the programme.
- Salary of $1,200 per week plus holiday pay, employer contributions to Kiwisaver. Salary based on CNZ’s Remuneration Policy for Artists and Arts Practitioners.
The Engine Room application process starts with an Expression of Interest, designed to be accessible with a view to respecting the time of all interested candidates.
Explore the full application process:
If you’d like to submit an Expression of Interest in another way please contact Head of Learning & Participation, Sam Phillips, [email protected].
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Round One: Expression of Interest video |
Deadline: 5pm Wednesday 20 November 2024 |
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Round Two: Application and Interview |
Notified by: Monday 25 November 2024 |
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Round Three: Practical Workshop |
Notified by: Monday 2 December 2024 |
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Announcement of successful candidates |
Monday 9 December 2024 |
The Engine Room application process starts with an Expression of Interest, designed to be accessible with a view to respecting the time of all interested candidates.
We want to understand who you are and what you’re about, and how you meet the “WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?” criteria for The Engine Room.
Please submit a short (max 5-minutes) video to introduce yourself and answer the following questions:
- Please introduce yourself.
- Have you had formal or tertiary training as a Director? If your training has been through another route (for example, work experience), please tell us about it.
- What theatre productions have you directed?
- What steps are you currently taking to develop your career as a Director?
- Are you available for full-time work based in Auckland on either:
- DATE RANGE ONE: Tuesday 21 January to Sunday 15 June 2025 or,
- DATE RANGE TWO: Tuesday 3 June to Sunday 2 November 2025
Video requirements:
- Record and upload a short (max 5-minutes) recording as an unlisted YouTube or Vimeo link.
- Please don’t worry about the video quality. Mobile phone quality will be accepted. We just want to hear and see you; it’s the content of what you say that we’re interested in understanding.
- Please email a link to your video (unlisted YouTube or Vimeo link) to: Jonathan Bielski, Artistic Director & CEO, Auckland Theatre Company; [email protected]
Deadline: 5pm Wednesday 20 November 2024.
If you’d like to submit an Expression of Interest in another way, or if you’d like more information about The Engine Room, please contact Head of Learning & Participation, Sam Phillips; [email protected].
Start by exploring the Applicant Pack.