FOH Assistant - Usher & Bar

Our Front of House Assistants provide a high quality experience for customers of The Old Vic. As front line staff, Front of House Assistants welcome and help our visitors; control entry into each space; supervise the audience during performances and events, serve drinks from the Theatre Bars, and ensure the smooth and efficient running of all the public areas of the Theatre.

Please note that this is a rolling job posting and we may not have live roles available when you submit your application.

Where a mainly Bar or mainly Usher vacancy arises, we may prioritise experience on either to fill the vacancy.

A full job description can be found below.

Terms

We operate Minimum Shift Contracts (MSC). The key terms of MSCs are:

• You will work a fixed number of shifts each performance week. Please note that as we are a producing theatre, we have a number of dark weeks throughout the year to allow productions to change over. Therefore, you will not be guaranteed shifts in this time, but there will be shifts available to pick up, and two paid training sessions.
• Our rota is fortnightly and is shared for the entire run (usually 8-12 weeks ahead) in advance of the start of the production
• You will work the same days each week
• You may work in either Bar or Usher positions for these shifts
• You may request accrued holiday if you are unable to work a shift in advance
• You may be able to pick up additional shifts on top of your MSC as overtime
• You will be paid on a monthly basis

What’s great about working at The Old Vic?

• Access to interest free travel schemes including Cycle 2 work and Season Ticket loans after your probation period
• Free therapy from our therapy partner SelfSpace
• Mental health support via our in house Mental Health Champions
• Two complimentary tickets to a preview performance per production
• Pension scheme with The People’s Pension
• Enhanced sick pay
• All staff social events
• Staff discount in The Old Vic bars as well as discounts in local bars and restaurants
• Opportunities to get involved working groups such as the Inclusion Working Group and Sustainability Working Group
• Commitment to learning, education and development

The job

Assistants must have full knowledge of the House evacuation procedures and perform all duties to a high standard of customer care in attitude, approach and appearance.

Areas of responsibility

• Working as part of the Front of House team (Bar and Usher)
• Welcoming patrons in a polite and enthusiastic manner
• Proving patrons with accurate information, correct directions and effective assistance and help, as required in all parts of the House
• Assisting customers with access requirements
• Contributing to the health and safety of our customers by playing an active role in emergency evacuation procedures where necessary
• Sales reconciliation
• Assisting with events, specific access performances or other responsibilities (show specific) as required
• Maintaining a customer friendly and safe environment in which the public can enjoy the performances
• Contributing to the delivery of a great audience experience by providing outstanding service, enhancing our reputation

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and the Theatre's management may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.

Person Specification

Essential

• Previous experience of working in a theatre or similar venue in a customer facing role (bartending and/or usher).
• A proven ability to provide a high level of customer service at all times.
• A proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Able to demonstrate proactivity and initiative.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and demands.
• Availability to work evenings, matinees and/or weekends

How to apply

We understand that everyone is different and we want you to apply in whichever way you feel best shows your skills and experience. There are a range of ways that you can apply with us:

1. Sending a short video file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you (have a look at the person specification in the job description).
2. Sending a short audio file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you.
3. Completing our application form.
4. Uploading your CV and covering letter, explaining why you are interested in the role and working at the Old Vic.

We will always endeavour to interview candidates who identify as disabled and meet the criteria, however in the event that we have a high volume of applications all of whom meet the criteria and identify as disabled, meaning it is not practicable to interview everyone, we may apply a weighting to the shortlisting criteria, or add an additional shortlisting stage before any interviews take place. In all cases we will take care to ensure that any criteria or weightings do not disadvantage disabled applicants.

All appointments are made subject to satisfactory references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Following your application

Applications are reviewed on a regular basis, and we will be in touch with you if we have a position available that we would like to interview you for. Where application numbers reach 500, we will pause accepting applications until all applications have been reviewed. This is so that we can ensure due time has been given to all applications. We may reopen the advert at a later date.

Applications will be reviewed based on the gaps we have to fill in our rota and as such, please do let us know what days you are looking to work as part of your application.

We will aim to review your application as soon as possible, with a maximum limit of 3 months.

Equal Opportunities

We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of the global majority, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled candidates.

We may take positive action, in cases where candidates are equally qualified, to increase the employment of under-represented groups at The Old Vic.

In the event that we ask you to attend the theatre for a conversation and you are struggling financially, we may be able to reimburse you for any reasonable travel costs.

We partner with a range of inclusive organisations, to find out more please read our FAQs.

FAQs

Read our recruitment and selection and equal opportunities FAQs here .