Programmer

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Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Programmer

Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: BKL Head Office, London (Paddington)

Salary Band: Circa £40,000 per annum

Reports To: Managing Director, Finance Director

Responsible for: Programming associate

Works with: Producers

Application Information:

To apply please send your up-to-date CV and a cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the role by email to Please include your current notice period (if any) and when you would be available to start.

Main Purpose

Bill Kenwright Ltd is looking to appoint an experienced, pro-active, and driven programmer to undertake the scheduling and booking of all touring productions across the UK and internationally. The key elements of the role are:

• To lead on the scheduling of all venue dates and negotiation of deals and contractual terms for all new and existing touring productions.
• Optimise tour routing and bookings for all touring productions, including consideration of barring clauses, week's out and contractual terms.
• Undertake analysis of proposed deals, comparison with historical and benchmark productions.
• Work with the producers, marketing, and the production manager to undertake feasibility studies on touring productions, including forecasting.
• Ensuring the smooth and timely administration and distribution of venue information across all internal departments as productions are given the green-light.
• Ensuring the smooth and timely administration and delivery of deal memo's, venue contracts (and associated amendments) and contact details.

General Information

Bill Kenwright ltd is one of the UK's largest commercial theatre producers, the company produces a range of touring, West End, and international productions in addition to running both Theatre Royal Windsor, The Other Palace London and its film and TV department BK Studios. Head office is based in Little Venice a 5-min walk from London Paddington station.

With over 5 decades of producing and more than 500-productions to date, the company is one of the most established theatre producers in the UK. With a key focus on touring productions of plays and musicals that range from playing smaller regional playhouses to large 'No.1' venues in the UK as well as international tours, West End transfers and Broadway productions.

Recent productions include Heathers (West End and UK Tour), Blood Brothers (West End and UK Tour), Be More Chill (West End), Hamlet & The Cherry Orchard (Windsor season with Ian McKellen), Cat & The Canary (UK Tour), Evita (West End and UK Tour), The Best Man (West End), Foxfinder (West End), Cabaret (West end and international tour), Dreamboats and Petticoats (West End and UK Tour) amongst others.

The role will work closely with both the producer's office, marketing office and production office as well as reporting directly to the Managing Director. The role also line manages the programming associate role, who supports with the administration of touring productions.

Usual officer hours are 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, with some evening and weekend work as required, particularly with attending first night and press night performances of BKL productions.

Responsibilities include:

1. To lead on and deliver the scheduling of all venue dates for BKL Touring productions, both within the UK and internationally in line with BKL policies on pre-booking and programming sign-off.

1. To negotiate with venues on dates, financial deals, contractual terms, and performances, including barring clauses, get-in and get-out considerations

1. Optimise tour routing and bookings to achieve 'best dates / routing' strategy for each touring production and provide recommendations on non-playing weeks / performances.

1. Provide analysis and projections on proposed tour dates and deals, based on both historical data and benchmarked productions, working with the producers to forecast the commercial outcome both on each booking and across each production.

1. Delivering feasibility studies, working alongside the producers, production, and marketing departments to assess the viability of new projects. Identifying new or less frequently visited venues.

1. To act as the key point of communication for touring venues, ensuring the timely and efficient administration and delivery of all contractual and venue paperwork, including but not limited to deal memo's, venue contracts (and associated amendments), pricing and performance schedules.

1. Ensure the smooth and timely administration and distribution of venue / booking information across all internal departments at each stage of the process, as each production is green-lit.

1. Working with the finance director and Managing Director to establish and report on Key Performance Indicators as requested.

1. Keeping the DAS and Scheduling board, programming bible, venue contact database and box office history database up to date.

1. To line manage and motivate the programming associate to ensure efficient working and administration support, and to assist in personal skills development through the appraisal process.

1. To keep abreast of the theatre industry, including new and upcoming touring productions or productions in early-stage development, industry people movement, and productions playing in London as well as industry-wide movement and national trends for audience behaviour etc.

1. To work alongside the Theatre Directors at Theatre Royal Windsor and The Other Palace on co-productions, tours, and transfers as required.

1. To ensure that production tours always perform within any restrictions of rights agreements.

1. Attending first nights and press nights for BKL Productions as required, in addition to visiting other productions and venues as directed.

1. To maintain effective internal working relationships with other BKL departments, in addition to acting as an ambassador for the company at all times.

1. Preparation of weekly information for management meetings as needed in addition to reporting daily and weekly performance figures against KPI's set.

1. Any other duties appropriate to the post and under the Equalities Act with due consideration to any employees with a "protected characteristic" and within the framework of equal opportunities.

1. Lead on creating a culture of pride in the workplace by always ensuring clean and well-presented office.