General Manager — The Play House

 

After forty years of bringing participatory theatre into Birmingham primary schools, The Play House is recruiting a new General Manager to lead the company alongside the Artistic Director through its next chapter.

 

This is a senior role for someone organised, capable and committed — a partner to the Artistic Director in running a small charity with a strong reputation, deep school relationships, and a clear sense of where it's going. The work matters: many of the schools we work with describe our practice as core to their curriculum, and for many of the children we meet, we are their first experience of live theatre. We're looking for someone who can hold the operational and financial life of the company with confidence — budgets, governance, contracts, planning. Specific experience of arts or charity management is welcome but not essential. We'd be just as glad to hear from skilled operational leaders in education, the wider third sector, or any other setting where running a complex organisation well is what you do. The ability and the desire to take on the challenges of supporting theatre-in-education matter more to us than any specific track record.

 

The details

 

Salary: £38,000 per annum

 

37 hours per week, permanent contract

 

30 days annual leave plus bank and public holidays

 

Based at the Action for Children Centre, Ladywood, Birmingham.

 

Anticipated start: 1 September 2026 (or by agreement)

 

To apply

 

The full Application Pack is available here

 

Applications close at midnight on 15th June 2026; interviews will be held in the week of 29th June.

 

Please send a CV and covering letter [up to 2 sides A4]  — or a video or audio file of up to five minutes, in a standard format — to director@theplayhouse.org.uk, with "General Manager Application" in the subject line, along with a completed equal opportunities form.  Or if you prefer, print and send by post to the company address: 2-4 Guild Close, Ladywood, Birmingham B16 8EL.

​

We particularly welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are currently under-represented in our team and the wider theatre sector.

​