Post of THEATRE DIRECTOR, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

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1 Post of THEATRE DIRECTOR, Crewe Lyceum Theatre JOB DESCRIPTION HQ Theatres & Hospitality (HQT&H), the venue management division of the Qdos Entertainment Group, is the UK s second largest theatre operator, and is continuously growing its portfolio which currently embraces ten theatres and concert halls. HQT&H operates Crewe Lyceum Theatre on behalf of Cheshire East Council. The Director of Crewe Lyceum Theatre is responsible for all aspects of the management of the venue including programming and achievement of agreed targets over the full range of operation. Opened in 1911, Crewe Lyceum Theatre is a landmark Edwardian theatre with 677 seats and an elegant and comfortable auditorium which is in excellent decorative and operational order. In preparation for beginning its contract to operate Crewe Lyceum Theatre, HQT&H undertook a 150,000 refurbishment and upgrade of the front-of-house areas (which are housed in a fine twentyyear-old new extension), creating new bars and private hospitality spaces, as well as a comfortable allday restaurant. From period frontage through to breathtaking period auditorium, the building now presents itself as a comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing entertainment complex, with excellent commercial opportunities for HQT&H. Amongst UK theatre operators, HQT&H is unique in its specialism in hospitality. Its food and drink operations in all of its venues are managed in-house as an integral part of the venue business; nothing is sub-contracted. At Crewe Lyceum Theatre, there is an all-day café-bar serving drinks and light meals; pre-show, the café-bar becomes an à la carte restaurant, fully bookable by theatregoers. In the newlyrefurbished upper bar area, HQT&H offers a range of private dining, celebration, and reception packages, as well as theatrically-themed food-and-drink events. The sustainable development of Crewe Lyceum Theatre will depend as much on the strong growth of this hospitality strand as the theatre / entertainment strand. Page 1 of 6

2 Nevertheless, the entertainment programme represents the most significant feature of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre brand, and comprises a mixture of runs of up to one week, and one-night performances in genres including: traditional pantomime; stage musicals; rock music; folk music; jazz; new and world music; country music; spoken word; drama; dance; light entertainment; children s and family shows and entertainment; and stand-up comedy. Performances by local musical societies and orchestras also feature regularly in the programme. The successful future operation of Crewe Lyceum Theatre is going to depend very heavily on the presentation of an excellent and distinctive programme, attractive to the range of tastes and interests in the nearby communities as well as to visitors to the town, which will make the Lyceum a destination entertainment venue. From 2013, HQT&H s sister company Qdos Pantomimes (the world s leading pantomime producer) will be presenting a top-quality traditional pantomime at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre; these pantomimes will be star-led a policy reflected in the casting of Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale in EastEnders) as Captain Hook in Peter Pan in 2013 / All these developments have been designed to increase the attractiveness of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre to local people. Under HQT&H s management, Crewe Lyceum Theatre stands to benefit from stronglyled Group marketing of all features of the offer (hospitality as well as theatre and entertainment); and HQT&H s newly-installed web-based ticketing system established from the outset a remarkable level of online sales. Against this supportive Group background, there is substantial business growth opportunity via the presentation of a distinctive and attractive programme (theatre / entertainment and hospitality) and via the development of audiences in response to a boldly-articulated Crewe Lyceum Page 2 of 6

3 Theatre brand. These opportunities combine to make this an unrivalled opportunity for an energetic and entrepreneurial Theatre Director to advance his / her career. PURPOSES OF THE POST The Director of Crewe Lyceum Theatre is responsible for developing and mobilising HQT&H s vision, policies and targets for the whole Crewe Lyceum Theatre operation, so as to secure its recognition as a centre of excellence in the provision of the performing arts, entertainment and hospitality. The Director will provide leadership of the Theatre s professional team, so as to ensure sustained and sustainable business growth in conjunction with the achievement of agreed business, artistic, attendance and service targets. The Director will be HQT&H s main point of contact with Cheshire East Council, and will be responsible for ensuring that relationships with the Council, and with all relevant local interests, groups, individuals and organisations are harmonious, and contribute to the achievement of the vision, policies and targets of the Theatre. The Director reports to HQT&H s Joint Managing Director. ACCOUNTABILITIES The Director of Crewe Lyceum Theatre is accountable for the following: With HQT&H s Joint Managing Directors, development of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre s annual operating budgets, and of an annual Programming Strategy and Marketing Strategy, so as to ensure sustained and sustainable business growth, maximising profitability of both concert / entertainment and hospitality operations; The arrangement of a programme of productions, events and activities (theatre / entertainment and hospitality) which will be attractive to audiences and potential audiences, and on terms which will make sustained business growth possible, and will support the achievement of business targets; Development, with the Marketing Manager (and others as appropriate) of marketing strategies, plans and campaigns which make possible the achievement of attendance and business targets (for theatre / entertainment programme and for hospitality), and development and supervision of arrangements to monitor the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the spend on marketing; The achievement of agreed Crewe Lyceum Theatre income, expenditure and profit targets for all aspects of the business; attendance targets; and customer service targets; Page 3 of 6

4 With the Management Group at Crewe Lyceum Theatre, agreement of internal Crewe Lyceum Theatre business, attendance and service targets, designed to lead to achievement of budget targets; Monthly internal analysis with the local Crewe Lyceum Theatre management team of all results against business, financial and attendance targets, in order to agree strategies and plans as necessary to secure achievement of, and improvement on, agreed targets; Production of monthly Notes to Accounts, in order to give to HQT&H S Joint Managing Directors, and to the Qdos Group Chairman (Principal Shareholder), a clear picture of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre s actual and predicted performance against profit targets; Monitoring of the performance by all members of the local Crewe Lyceum Theatre management team against agreed personal business, attendance and service targets, and agreement with individual managers as to measures necessary for achievement of agreed targets, and management of their implementation; Timely and accurate contracting of all events, performances and activities in line with HQT&H s policies, so as to protect the interests of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre and HQT&H; Development and monitoring of customer service standards in all departments of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre, and achievement of agreed targets and standards as agreed with HQT&H s Joint Managing Directors; Via delegation as appropriate, management of contractual arrangements with contract cleaners, maintenance contractors, and Health and Safety at Work contractors, so as to support agreed financial, business and service targets and to achieve statutory and contractual compliance; Development and management of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre s relationships (via delegation as appropriate) with external individuals and organisations those individuals and organisations to include (but not be limited to) local authority personnel; promoters and producers of the professional programme, and their personnel; relevant trades unions; local media; local tourist agencies; local cultural agencies; local amateur performing arts societies and organisations; and local schools and colleges; Adherence by the Crewe Lyceum Theatre to all statutory and regulatory requirements underpinning its operation, ensuring that HQT&H is fully protected at all times; Via delegation as appropriate (including internal co-ordination and liaison with external interests), management of all Crewe Lyceum Theatre operations so as to achieve the highest standards of performance in respect of Health and Safety at Work of employees and contractors; and of the duty of care to customers and visitors to the Theatre; and preparation of a quarterly report on Health and Safety at Work for the HQT&H Board of Directors; Page 4 of 6

5 Via delegation as appropriate, management of the security and good order of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre premises, so as to safeguard HQT&H s best interests; Via delegation as appropriate, management of financial and reporting systems as required by HQ Theatre s Joint Managing Directors so as to facilitate timely reporting of accurate and relevant financial information upon which reliable business decisions can be taken; Identification and securing of sources of external funding to support features of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre operation, and also identification of new business opportunities complementary to the core operation of the Crewe Lyceum Theatre; Any other related duties as may, from time to time, be reasonably required by HQT&H s Joint Managing Director. PERSON SPECIFICATION An impressive track-record as a commercially-successful programmer; a wide range of productive relationships with producers and promoters; and excellent understanding of concert and entertainment programming options and ambitions at a level appropriate to the Crewe Lyceum Theatre. Demonstrable commercial success via achievement of sustained business growth and service targets as manager (head) of one or more theatres or concert halls. Excellent understanding and experience of theatre and entertainment marketing a theatre / entertainment marketing background being a positive advantage. Enthusiasm for, and ideally experience of, successful food, drink, and hospitality operations in an entertainment / arts / theatre context. Evidence of leadership of teams of professional managers towards the achievement of agreed targets and objectives, via development of vision and policies, and their effective mobilisation. Understanding based on direct personal experience of the full range of operational challenges facing theatre, concert or entertainment organisations. Proven success in developing new business relationships and productive, mutually-beneficial relationships with stakeholders and potential business partners. Page 5 of 6

6 SALARY AND APPLICATION DETAILS For this important Post, HQT&H will offer a competitive remuneration package of up to 60,000, comprising salary, benefits, and performance-related and profits-related bonus opportunities. To apply, please send a copy of your curriculum vitae, accompanied by a letter which sets out clearly your interest in this Post, and your view of your suitability for it, and the name of two referees*, to: Derek Nicholls Chairman HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd 2 nd Floor 161 Drury Lane London WC2B 5PN Or your application to David Swain (Business Coordinator, HQT&H) dswain@hqtheatres.com For an informal discussion about Crewe Lyceum Theatre, the Post of Director, and about HQT&H, you may telephone HQT&H s Chairman, Derek Nicholls, on HQT&H Limited strives to offer equality of employment and recruitment opportunity. Closing date for applications: 12noon, Tuesday 23 July 2013 *One referee should be current employer. HQT&H will not approach referees until final interview stage, and only with the consent of the candidate. June 2013 Page 6 of 6