Guest Director Call for Pitches

The Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg (www.uwinnipeg.ca/theatre-film) invites applications for Guest Director. This Contract Academic Staff position fulfills the role of director for the Acting IV: Honours class in a public production as the culmination of their degree. In addition to the usual role of a director, the reality of working with student actors requires simultaneous teaching and coaching as the cast puts into practice the skills they have been learning. In addition, the Guest Director works with student designers and student production team members who are gaining practical experience as part of their course work.

Our department’s main commitment is to practical theatre and film making within a liberal arts context. Both BA and BA (Hons) degrees are offered through a range of streams of theatre study, and we are one of Canada’s largest undergraduate programs offering this range of study. Our graduates can be found working in every aspect of theatre and film in Canada and beyond. This contract position is attached to our BA Honours training and in particular the Acting IV: Honours course, which focuses on style. The course cap is 12 students, but for 2022/23 the cast size will be 7 to 8 actors. Plays need to suit young actors.  Final course enrolment will be determined by July 2022.

The successful candidate will be expected to be available for the following:

·       Rehearsals from February 27 to April 3 with the show running from April 4 to April 8.

·       Additional meetings typical of a professional theatre production.

·       Auditions within the Acting IV: Honours class for specific roles will take place in January 2023.

·       The director will also be expected to generate the sound design for the production, supported by a production student who will source, edit and execute it.

The fee for this contract is based on standard rates for Contract Academic Staff in the Collective Agreement (https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/hr/collective-agreements.html).

All interested candidates must apply through the University of Winnipeg Human Resources portal (see below), and include in the application a cover letter outlining their work, which may include a pitch for a specific play, and a professional resume with contact information for three professional references. We also reserve the right to contact previous employers.

In the cover letter please address:

–        The “style” of plays you are interested in and have experience directing;

–        Your experience working in an academic setting or with student actors;

–        If you choose to pitch a specific play include a rationale for its fit for our students and any details on your production concept;

–        If you choose not to pitch a specific play include information on types of plays that you would be excited to undertake with students.

Please note that, should you pitch a specific play, we reserve the right to program that play at some point in the future whether or not you are the successful candidate. You have a right to your specific concept, but not the play choice.

We are open to submissions from a national pool of experienced directors. Please only apply if you have at least two years of experience working with student actors in an academic setting and relevant professional level directing experience. Like so many University theatre programs we are seeking to redress historical inequities in our hiring of Directors. Members of equity seeking groups are strongly encouraged to apply, including candidates who draw from directing methodologies beyond the Western perspective.  At this time, we cannot accept plays that are in development or being workshopped for publication or future performances.

For local Winnipeg applicants, we will accept those without experience directing in an academic setting in order to offer support for regional capacity building and to build experience amongst our past graduates. Some professional directing experience is required.

Applications received by May 11, 2022 will receive full consideration. We anticipate shortlisting by May 15th for interviews and making selections in early June.

The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to confidentially self-identify at time of application. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact: Melinda Tallin, Office Administrator 204.786.9955 or m.tallin@uwinnipeg.ca

To apply please see the University of Winnipeg Human Resources Employment Opportunities listing by clicking here.