Why work with us?

A career with Southend Theatres is never dull, often challenging but at the same time fun and rewarding.

• Our business model is unique and our specialisms are broad.  You will learn and grow with us. 
• Our teams are super people to work with – we know because they regularly tell us!
• We expect staff to express their views, to listen to ours and to be part of decision-making processes.
• We’re proactively committed to diversity and equal opportunity for all.
• We’re very supportive of our staff achieving a happy work-life balance.
• Our vision is quite simply to be the UK’s premier provider of live entertainment and hospitality and we know that our people are our most important asset.

Students

Working with the Southend Theatres is popular with students as we offer a range of casual opportunities within hospitality, technical and marketing that can work around your studies.

Types of Roles

Hospitality

Providing an innovative dining, drinking and conference facilities with theatrical flair requires a range of talented chefs and friendly servers over a range of levels and employment types.  

Box Office

The approachable Box Office team provide excellent customer service while proactively selling tickets in this customer-facing role offering fun and flexibility.

 

Technical

Often the hidden function of a theatre, these heroes make the show happen from assisting with the ‘get-in’ to managing the sound and lighting. 

 

Marketing

The award-winning marketing and promotions teams ensure our customers know about the broad-range of incredible events within the venues' many spaces.

 

Administration and Management

Off the stage a gifted group of administrators, finance and management teams ensure the venues run smoothly. 

There are currently no vacancies.
 

Assistant Front of House Manager (P/T)

Hours – 32 hours per week
Salary – £18,275 per annum pro rata (£25,750 FTE)

We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity to join the Southend Theatres team.
 
This career development opportunity has arisen to assist the Front of House Manager at the Palace Theatre, as well as playing a key role in developing the Palace Theatre hospitality/bars offering.  We are looking for someone who has both management and hands on experience within a busy hospitality environment.

The successful candidate will have worked within the hospitality industry in a customer-facing role, a particular emphasis on bars, retail sales and exceptional customer service delivery.  They will be self-motivated, a team player with great people skills and keen to learn new skills in relation to operating within a theatre environment.  The ability to motivate and manage a team is essential as is the ability to contribute to and support the growth and development of a business.
 
This new role sits within the Front of House team undertaking shifts as Duty Manager on show nights.  This involves all duties related to running a theatre on a show night i.e. customer care, health and safety provision, retail sales, looking after visiting show companies.  As noted above, alongside this, they will play a key role in the development of the bar provision

For an informal discussion, please contact Georgie Perkins on  01702 335518.

Job Description

Application Form

Email your application

Closing Date: 1^st September 2017

Community Arts Apprentice (18 months)

Salary:   £5,460 p.a.
Hours:   30 hours per week 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Community and Education department and gain experience working within the UK’s second-largest venue operator, HQ Theatres and Hospitality!
 
The Community Arts Apprentice will be working at both the Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre, carrying out administrative duties, workshops, work within the youth theatres as well as helping to coordinate large youth and community projects.
 
During the apprenticeship you will also be working towards completing a Community Arts Level 3 Award in Arts Management.
 
Experience of working with children and young people is essential as well GCSE level, grades C and above in English, Maths and IT.  A qualification in an Arts based subject is also essential.
 
You will require a flexible approach to working arrangements and hours as well as a desire to offer excellent customer service.
 
If you are interested in gaining valuable experience in Community Arts, we’d like to talk to you!

Job Description

Application Form

Email your application 

Closing date:      Monday 28 August 2017

Front of House Porter (part time)

£15,104 pa (£9,440 pa pro rata)

An opportunity has arisen for a friendly and enthusiastic person to join our team at the Cliffs Pavilion, helping us look after over 430,000 customers a year.  With a wide programme of entertainment, a busy coffee shop, bars, restaurant and function rooms, there will be more than enough going on to keep you busy.
 
In this varied role responsibilities include:
 
•             unlocking and locking the building,
•             receiving and storing deliveries,
•             event set up,
•             displaying of marketing material,
•             day to day maintenance and
•             general cleaning duties outside our cleaning team’s hours of work

The ideal candidate will possess previous experience in a similar role and the ability to undertake basic maintenance tasks.  A flexible approach to working arrangements and hours is essential, as is good communication skills and a positive approach towards cleanliness, service standards and health and safety.  Duties will include lone and assisted lifting tasks.
 
Basic hours of work:  usually 25 over 5 days Monday to Sunday, subject to variation to meet our business requirements.  Shifts will include evenings, weekends and Bank Holiday working.

Job Description

Application Form

Email your application

Closing date: 5th September 2017 5pm

Part Time Box Office Supervisor 

£17,300 p.a. (£10,380 p.a. pro rata) rising to:
£17,819 p.a. (£10,631 p.a. pro rata)
following successful probation

Hours of work (subject to variation):
24 hours per week over 4 days
Monday to Saturday on a rolling rota, plus Sundays, Bank Holidays and over the Christmas period as required 

This is an interesting and busy customer-facing role assisting the Assistant Box Office Manager in the supervision of our large Box Office team and playing an active role in data management and maximising ticket sales.
 
You will have a proven ability to organise and instruct staff, possessing good numeracy and IT skills and be competent in learning IT systems.  You will be an excellent communicator, both over the telephone and face to face.  Previous cash handling and reconciliation experience is essential, as is a proven track record of delivering excellent service in a busy and sometimes pressurised environment.  You will be required to work at the Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre as rostered.

Job Description

Application Form

Email your Application

Closing Date: 10th September 2017

Do you love theatre and the arts?

Have you ever considered Volunteering?

There are lots of reasons why people volunteer. It may be that you want to make use of your skills (or learn new ones). Perhaps you would like to broaden your work experience, give something back to your community...or perhaps you simply want to meet people and make new friends. Whatever the reasons, volunteering with the Palace Theatre is a really rewarding experience!

As a Palace Theatre Volunteer Usher you’ll be the face of the theatre, meeting and greeting our guests and ensuring that they have a fantastic experience when they visit us. We’ll train, guide and support you so that you can volunteer for us with knowledge and confidence. We know that everyone has commitments in their lives, so we’re flexible about when you volunteer. 

Volunteering with the Palace Theatre is an opportunity to taste, first hand, life in a theatre environment. If you have time to spare and would like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply via email

Meet the team

We’re committed to training and developing our staff, preparing them for their next step in whichever direction that might be. Here’s the proof.

Michael Rowley 

Michael started working for Southend Theatres in 2007 as a casual member of the front of house team and for the next 4 years went on to work in every department.  He then went on to enjoy four years as a technician at the Palace Theatre and Dixon Studio - which he managed.  Michael has recently taken on the varied role of Building Support Manager across both Southend venues. 

Michael says ‘The opportunity I have had to expand my knowledge has been exceptional, I love a challenge and with no two days ever being the same I never get a chance to get bored!’

 

Anna Fordham

Anna started working at the Cliffs Pavilion in 2003 under the company of Sodexho before HQ Hospitality took over the theatre in 2007 working as a casual member of staff in the conference and events and the Pavilion Restaurant departments.  Anna worked her way up as supervisor, team leader and is now Conference and Events Assistant Manager running varied events at Southend including weddings, conferences and auditorium award ceremonies catering up to 600 people, Anna has achieved an NVQ in Food & Drink and is near completion of Wedding Planner and Event Management level 3 with the Open Study College.

Anna says ‘I feel privileged to be working at the Cliffs Pavilion now as a Manager, Over the past years, the journey has been eventful and entertaining with a massive learning curve, I have made many friends along the way and I always feel there is support from these and also HQH. No day is ever the same whether it's helping to arrange a couples' dream wedding or the sound of laughter at an Only Fools And 3 Courses dinner as they get up to mischief. I could not ask for a better job and I hope that I can continue to progress through the company.’