The National Theatre of Great Britain
National Theatre
Upper Ground, South Bank
London SE1 9PX
Tel +44(0)20 7452 3333
Fax +44(0)20 7452 3344 www.nationaltheatre.org.uk jobs@nationaltheatre.org.uk
Our Purpose
The National Theatre is dedicated to the constant revitalisation of the great traditions of the British stage and to expanding the horizons of audiences and artists alike. In its three theatres on the South
Bank in London, it presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics from the world repertoire with seven or eight productions in repertory at any one time. The National Theatre aspires to reflect in its repertoire the diversity of the nation’s culture. With a commitment to openness, wide reaching engagement and access for everyone, the National shares its resources, energy and creativity with audiences and theatre-makers around the globe; using its Studio for research and development of new work, offering extensive learning and public engagement programmes, touring and broadcasting in the UK and internationally, and creating innovative digital and content.
Our Vision
The National Theatre of Great Britain strives to be a national centre of theatrical arts, central to the creative life of the country and unmatched in the world for scale, range of repertoire and audience reach. It aspires to produce to the highest standards by attracting the best artists and staff and by providing an environment which stimulates them to realise the fullest extent of their talents. Education and public engagement are founding principles for the NT and are central to our vision of the future.
Our Objectives
The National’s core aim is to present a balanced artistic programme, staging around 20 productions a year from the whole of world drama.
Through our repertoire, the NT seeks to represent the widest range of voices and is tireless in trying to reach more people.
We aim to be an inspirational, internationally recognised resource for lifelong learning about and through theatre, opening up the theatre, its repertoire, skills, resources and artistry to people of all ages.
The NT operates in a financially and environmentally responsible manner, whilst being open to ideas and innovation and to all the possibilities that a thriving creative environment can imagine and achieve.
As a national theatre, the NT takes responsibility for fostering the health of the wider British theatre.
Department Background
Lighting Technicians and Senior Lighting Technicians work within one of 3 lighting teams and are led by the Lighting Operations Managers and Supervisors who are responsible to the Head of Lighting.
The department also has a Resources branch responsible for equipment development and purchase,

theatre lighting infrastructure, maintenance and testing and any other additional events off the stages.
Whilst based in one theatre, staff are expected to work across all 3 theatres and other NT spaces as required.
The National Theatre sets high and exacting standards; to help lighting staff meet these demands it is committed to developing the changing skills needed by staff through its training, development and
Workplace Assessment programmes. This involves all staff demonstrating their skills in the course of normal working practice to the NT standard of competence. Staff are facilitated to achieve all skills elements appropriate to their grade.
While the day to day work in the lighting department includes fit-ups, rehearsals, performances and changeovers in repertoire, staff are encouraged to undertake special projects appropriate to their skill set.
Staff are rostered on a flexible schedule generally ranging between 8.30am and 11.00pm over 5 days between Monday and Saturday with occasional overnight and Sunday working built into the contract.
Staff may be invited to tour in Britain or abroad on NT productions.
Staff will be deployed and scheduled in their chosen discipline in order to carry out the specialist tasks demanded by the activities of the department and to use their average working hours. All technicians, regardless of grade or discipline, are expected to co-operate with colleagues from other disciplines and assist with tasks and duties as appropriate. Where an individual has unused hours, they may be scheduled and deployed to work with colleagues in other disciplines across the three theatres and will be supervised in the tasks and activities of that department.
Purpose of Job
The emphasis of this role is towards programming lighting consoles and taking a supporting role in all aspects of lighting control platforms in the theatre. This involves close liaison with the Lighting
Operations Manager (LOM), Lighting Control Supervisor (LCS) and Lighting Programmer, providing regular updates and reporting issues relating to programming and assisting with delivering and developing informal workplace training.
When not engaged in aspects of programming Senior Lighting Technicians are expected to take a leading role in other projects as defined by the LOM and to instigate projects as required. At all other times, they are expected to take part in all other tasks of the department and support the LOM and
Lighting Supervisor.
These include: rigging, focussing, and maintaining lighting rigs and operating lighting control systems on National Theatre productions. The work may be carried out on any of the National's stages, relevant working areas, and at designated outside venues on tour.
Senior Lighting Technicians are expected to work under minimum supervision and to supervise other
Technicians, and to initiate, plan and take responsibility for projects and activities within the theatres, delivering informal training and passing on skills in the process.
Senior Lighting Technicians deputise for the Lighting Programmer when required and ensure control equipment is maintained and to communicate any changes to the control systems.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. To set up, programme and operate lighting consoles during production periods, rehearsals and performances and function at an advanced level. Produce rig plans using the NT’s agreed software package (e.g. CAD and/or Vectorworks).
2. To provide ‘basic’ training to other Lighting Technicians who are engaged with programming, plotting and operating control platforms.
3. To assist where appropriate in research and development activities relating to control platforms, contributing to internal and public forums and liasing with manufacturers as defined by the LCS
(e.g. ETC, Focus Track etc.)

4. To work with the Lighting Programmer in the theatres network infrastructure and focus plotting process development.
5. To deputise for the Lighting Programmer when required. Responsibilities will include liaising with guest LX designers and other internal customers, attending meetings etc.
6. To carry out first-line maintenance of all production lighting control and related equipment, in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and training received.
7. To undertake projects in conjunction with other departments when necessary.
8. To carry out production risk assessments as necessary and distribute the information to technicians and others as required.
9. To rig, check, and focus lighting equipment and set up equipment for fit-ups, rehearsals, changeovers and performances alongside other NT Lighting Technicians.
10. To actively participate in the evaluation of new equipment and technology for future acquisition and use.
11. To ensure that electrically operated effects are set up and operated during performances.
12. To receive collect and load/off-load lighting and ancillary equipment as required. Collect and return equipment from and to storage areas and to store equipment in an organised manner.
13. To carry out first line maintenance of non-production lighting control systems within, or related to, the theatres, i.e. house, working, side/rear stage lighting, or similar.
14. To ensure that lighting control equipment used is deployed in a clean, orderly and tidy condition and to take appropriate care of all items and to ensure that control rooms and lighting control areas are kept clean and tidy.
15. To attend rehearsals and production meetings as required.
16. To prepare and maintain accurate show files and bibles including plots and records detailing all aspects of luminaries and other performance-related equipment to enable the accurate reproduction of a production's lighting requirements.
17. To adhere to the National's Health and Safety and Equal Opportunity Policies at all times and maintain a safe working environment.
18. To wear protective clothing and footwear when required and to adhere to codes of practice as directed.
19. To participate in NT training and Workplace Assessment programmes as necessary.
20. To multi skill, assisting in other disciplines as required and undergoing training to facilitate this.
Person Specification
The post-holder should ideally have the following:
1. A minimum of 3 years' experience in professional Theatre, ideally in a producing house or equivalent with extensive experience in lighting control. Experience in a repertoire environment would be beneficial and should include the rigging and focusing of luminaries and other equipment.
2. Proven ability to operate and programme lighting control platforms to an advanced standard with automated fixtures.
3. Excellent communication skills and experience of working with Lighting Designers on large scale productions. A sympathetic approach to creative concepts and the ability to realise the requirements of Lighting Designers, Designers and Directors.
4. Experience of using CAD, Vectorworks and focus-plotting software to create and amend LX rig plans.

5. Excellent IT skills with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) and
Outlook.
6. A good working knowledge of fundamental electrical practice and theory. Industry recognised qualifications would be an advantage.
7. The ability to communicate clearly and concisely, including understanding and responding to visual, oral and written instructions and to be self-motivated and work well as part of a team under minimum supervision.
8. An ability and confidence to work at height using appropriate access equipment safely.
9. An open mind to new and different ways of working and the ability to acquire new skills when needed.
10. The ability to work calmly under pressure.
Smoking Policy
Please note that the National Theatre is a no-smoking building.
Alcohol Policy
All NT staff are expected to remain alcohol free during working hours and take personal responsibility for presenting themselves in a fit state for work i.e. alcohol free.
Outline of Terms and Conditions
T ITLE OF P OST :
GRADE:
H OURS :
Senior Lighting Technician – (Programmer bias)
BECTU G RADE 3B
Flexible hours based on a 48 hour week; although you will be expected to work such hours as may be necessary to carry out your duties properly.
S ALARY : £42,742.02
A NNUAL L EAVE : 28 days in the first year including bank holidays, pro rata, increasing with length of service thereafter.
P ROBATIONARY P ERIOD :
N OTICE P ERIOD :
20 weeks
One week during probation period and varies according to length of service thereafter.
P ENSION : The National Theatre operates a Stakeholder Pension scheme with
Legal & General . If you wish to become a member, you may opt to contribute either 4.5%, 6% or 7.5% of basic pay and the National will make a matching contribution. The National also operates an alternative pension scheme with NEST. Full details of these schemes are available from the HR department.
O THER B ENEFITS :
 complimentary tickets for performances, subject to availability and staff ticket policy.
 staff canteen, cycle-scheme, interest-free season ticket loan, childcare voucher scheme.
 discount on meals in the National’s two restaurants, the
Mezzanine and the Terrace Café, subject to discount policy.
 discount on the majority of books and play texts available from

 the National’s bookshop, subject to discount policy.
Application Procedure
Applications must be submitted on the Senior Lighting Technician application form and returned, including any supplementary documents, by 12 noon on Monday 1 April 2013 using one of the following methods:
E-mail: jobs@nationaltheatre.org.uk
(quoting Senior Lighting Technician - 3B in the subject line)
Fax: 020 7452 3270
Post: HR Department, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
.
The closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is: 12 noon Monday 1 April 2013
The National Theatre is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer
HR Department
March 2013