Comedy Programme Assistant (12-month fixed term contract)

To support the comedy programme across all aspects of programming and administration, with a specific focus on the programme at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, to ensure its successful delivery. This role requires a passion for comedy and theatre, energy, enthusiasm and a determination to get the job done.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who loves comedy, loves entertainment and wants a hands-on experience of Soho Theatre’s acclaimed programme – putting comedy artists on stage and giving audiences a great night out.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ARTIST LIAISON

• Be a lead point-of-contact for artists and companies programmed at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, greeting them on arrival and ensuring they are treated with the highest standards of care and attention.
• Liaise with Creative, Communications, Technical, and Audience teams, ensuring effective communication between them to aid with the smooth running and good timekeeping for performances and technical schedules.
• Welcome and host artists, promoters, agents and guests as required and be Soho Theatre’s representative during this time.
• Be responsible for coordinating and purchasing an agreed rider and for stocking the venue’s artist Green Room with this rider ahead of artist arrival.
• Support artists as necessary to ensure sound checks are effectively fulfilled.

PROGRAMMING

• Play an active role in the Comedy department for discovering and building relationships with artists and companies, contributing to the development of the comedy programme.
• Nurture relationships with agents and promoters to ensure these are positive.
• Represent Soho Theatre in seeing shows elsewhere to potentially play on the Soho Theatre and Soho Theatre Walthamstow stages, feedback to the comedy team at programming meetings.
• Understand and support the key relationship between the Comedy department and Comedy Labs at Soho Theatre, identifying performers who can one day bring their full shows to Soho Theatre and beyond. Encouraging artists who might benefit from taking part in Labs to apply.
• Network and maintain relationships with Soho Theatre’s Associate Companies and Associate Venues as required.

ADMINISTRATION

• Work with the Comedy team in all aspects of administration of the Soho Theatre Walthamstow programme, including contractual arrangements, budgeting, and settlements.
• Assist in the preparation of appropriate control measures and paperwork to cover all health and safety aspects of shows and engagement activities, including risk assessments and contracts.
• Create and maintain contact sheets, ensuring relevant show and event information sheets are up to date and communicated as necessary.
• Assist in the management and processing of artist and promoter tickets as required.
• Contribute to reports on productions for a variety of stakeholders.
• Assist in budgeting as required, with an awareness and foresight for income targets.
• Contribute and respond to show reports as necessary.
• Support artists and companies in marketing activity, and take an active role in contributing to those campaigns in collaboration with the Communications team.
• Assisting with VIP, Press and Guest nights.
• Lead in the data collection of equal opportunities forms from artists and visiting companies and preparing contracts for visiting companies.

GENERAL

• Liaise with teams to ensure a coordinated approach across the whole company and our venues.
• See performances outside of Soho Theatre as required.
• Attend meetings, as required, including taking an active role in all meetings.
• Attend and engage with events such as press nights, guest nights, and development events as required.
• Awareness of Soho Theatre’s programme and activities across the company.
• Administrate all aspects of the role, including filing and record keeping, and reporting as required.
• Support the aims and objectives of Soho Theatre Company both internally and externally.
• Uphold and champion the company’s Equality, Access, and Diversity policies.
• Undertake such other reasonable duties as may from time to time be required.
• Any other duties as the Head of Comedy may reasonably require.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills

• Able to take initiative individually and collaboratively
• Able to work to deadlines
• Quick learner
• Highly organised and comfortable working in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent attention to detail, maintaining awareness of the bigger picture
• Able to contribute to ideas
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Qualities

• Creative, confident and positive individual with an approachable nature
• A keen interest in comedy and desire to learn more about the industry
• The ability to work alone and as part of a team, under pressure and to deadlines
• Energy, enthusiasm, and a determination to get the job done
• Discretion, tact and a sense of humour

Experience

• Ability to communicate confidently and respectfully with people face to face, over the phone and/or email
• Working and communicating with different types of people
• Work in the comedy/arts sector

Don’t meet every single requirement of the job? Don’t worry. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

14/07/2025