Job Advert
Company Stage Manager (on book) – BABY
Job Title: Company Stage Manager (on book) – BABY
Reports to: Producer, Production Manager, Director,
Responsible for: Assistant Stage Manager and the day-to-day running of the production and overseeing the company.
Department: Technical & Production
Fee: £650 per week, (£4,550 for the contract with an addition for holiday pay and pension contributions).
Location: Clean Break (Kentish Town) and Brixton House (Brixton), London
Contract: Freelance – 7 weeks
Hours: Full time - Evening and weekend work required.
Artform: Theatre
A Brixton House and Clean Break production
Brixton House is more than just a cultural space; it is a vibrant community hub where creativity thrives, voices are heard, and everyone is welcomed and celebrated. We invite you to join us in our mission to enrich lives through the power of the arts.
Our vision is to empower the undervalued, unheard, and excluded communities through our creative and cultural spaces. We believe in creating a haven where every voice matters, where stories from all walks of life can be shared and celebrated. Our mission is rooted in the rich and influential history of Ovalhouse Theatre, from which Brixton House has emerged as a dynamic new cultural hub. We are dedicated to presenting and collaborating with voices and perspectives that are often marginalised in mainstream funded culture.
Our commitment to building a strong connection with our community is reflected in our core values:
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Always be welcoming to our international community
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Be radical and progressive in our thinking and activities
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Be collaborative in our ambitions – nurturing new relationships locally, and beyond Brixton
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Most importantly, always celebrate our unique identity and growing accomplishments
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Brixton House and Clean Break are looking for a Company Stage Manager (on book) for the 2026 premiere of BABY, written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and directed by Milli Bhatia.
A Company Stage Manager (CSM) is the person responsible for overseeing all aspects of the show’s operation throughout rehearsals and in production. The role bridges creative, technical, and administrative duties, ensuring the production runs smoothly, safely, and consistently night after night.
As this is a one woman show, the CSM will lead a small stage management team, working alongside an Assistant Stage Manager. The CSM will be on book throughout rehearsals, as well as operating sound and lighting for the show.
ABOUT THE SHOW
A provocative play about one woman’s desire to survive even though she hasn’t got a chance in hell!
They name me Baby. Means you’ll never seem old, even when you are. You’ll always bring hope, even when there is none. And you can always pretend you’re wanted, even when you’re not…
Baby’s bright and beautiful. Baby’s trouble. Baby can do things nobody else can and why not? Britain’s got talent, hasn’t it?
Baby’s had it tough and she wants to keep Bliss. That’s all she wants. But something terrible stands in her way.
Now Baby has to solve a problem… and you’re part of her solution. Because you’re proper people. You must be, to be reading this. Plus, there’s nobody else she can ask…
Baby is coming…
BABY is a one woman show, written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and directed by Milli Bhatia, premiering at Brixton House in Autumn 2026. A Brixton House and Clean Break production.
CONTENT WARNINGS
We want applicants to be able to make an informed decision about working on this production. The play contains the following themes:
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Criminalisation, imprisonment and probation
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Adverse childhood experiences (including neglect and sexual abuse)
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Separation of mother and child through imprisonment
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Foster care
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Sex work
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Abusive relationships
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Drug and alcohol use
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Self-harm
The CSM will work alongside an Assistant Stage Manager, and a dramatherapist will support the company across rehearsals and the run.
Given the subject matter of the play, both Brixton House and Clean Break have safeguarding leads and established duty of care structures in place, and Clean Break works to a trauma-informed practice which the whole company is inducted into. The CSM is a first point of contact for the company day to day but is not expected to hold responsibility for company wellbeing alone, there are clear routes for escalation and support.
WHO CAN APPLY
This role is open to women (including cis, intersex and trans women) and to non-binary people.
Clean Break is a women's theatre company. Its work is about highlighting women's experiences and providing gender-specific services to women, as such all of our positions are open to women and non-binary people only (exception under Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, part 1). Its building in Kentish Town, where the first week of rehearsals will take place, is designated as a trauma-informed women-only space.
As part of our commitment to anti-oppressive practices, Clean Break has historically operated as a trans and intersex inclusive women's service. In light of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 and the recently adopted Statutory Code of Practice, we are currently not able to operate our Trans Inclusion Policy. We send our solidarity to the trans and intersex communities at this challenging time. In relation to non-binary inclusion, the Clean Break community includes and welcomes individuals who want to be part of a company that defines itself publicly as ‘women-only’, and to work in a space that centres the experiences of women. We recognise that the decision to work in this type of environment is a personal one, and we want you to be able to make an informed decision about whether it is right for you.
If you would like to know more about Clean Break’s women-only status or its Trans Inclusion Policy before applying, please get in touch using the contact details below.
KEY DETAILS
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Dates of Engagement: Monday 14 September – Saturday 31 October 2026 (7-week engagement)
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Rehearsals: Monday 14 September – Friday 2 October 2026. Week one at Clean Break in Kentish Town, then at Brixton House.
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Tech: Monday 5 – Wednesday 7 October 2026
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Previews: Thursday 8 – Saturday 10 October 2026
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Final Preview (Pay What You Feel): Monday 12 October 2026
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Press Night: Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Run at Brixton House: Wednesday 14 – Saturday 31 October 2026
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Show Operation
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Operating sound and lighting for the show.
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Maintaining the director’s vision: ensuring performance quality and consistency throughout the run, including notes to actors or crew if needed.
2. Company Management
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Supporting the cast and crew: acting as a first point of contact for company welfare, including managing schedules, sickness reporting, and general wellbeing.
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Running the rehearsal room: coordinating room bookings, distributing schedules, and liaising between creative and production teams, sending out daily rehearsal reports.
3. Liaison & Communication
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Acting as the point of contact for all departments: connecting the cast, creative team, backstage crew, front of house, and producers.
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Daily reports: sending performance reports to the wider production team noting any incidents, show times, technical notes, and absences.
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Maintaining the director’s vision throughout the run, noting performance changes or inconsistencies.
4. Scheduling & Admin
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Writing and distributing the show schedule, including calls for rehearsals and technical maintenance.
5. Health & Safety
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Ensuring backstage and onstage safety protocols are followed.
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Coordinating risk assessments with the Production Manager and ensuring they are adhered to throughout rehearsals and the production run.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
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Company Stage Manager (or Company Manager, Stage Manager or DSM) experience on a professional production.
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Confident on book, with experience of running a rehearsal room and producing rehearsal and show reports.
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Experience of operating sound and lighting for a live production, or the confidence to train into operation with the technical team.
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An organised approach, with an ability to work under pressure, to work autonomously, and to manage and support an Assistant Stage Manager.
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An in-depth knowledge of Health and Safety and a good knowledge of union agreements.
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A proven track record in the supervision of productions at the highest artistic and technical level.
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An ability to work sensitively and with care in a company working with women with experience of the criminal justice system, and to support the implementation of equal opportunities, covering race, culture, religion, sexuality, gender and all other protected characteristics.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit our website join the team | Brixton House
To apply, you should describe what attracts you to this position and provide clear evidence of your ability to meet the criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification. Please make sure to include:
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Your CV
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Letter of application, no more than two sides of A4, size 12 font
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Names and contact details for at least two employment referees. We will take up references only if a job offer is made
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Completed Equal Opportunities monitoring form
Applications Open: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Closing Date: Tuesday 1 September 2026
Interview Dates: Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 September 2026
Please note: this is a fast-turnaround call out, as rehearsals begin in September. We would encourage you to apply as early as you can, and we will be in touch with all applicants promptly after the deadline.
