Work With Us
Summer Drama Practitioners
Creative Coliseum runs popular, imaginative Drama Holiday Clubs for ages 5-11 in York. We provide a vibrant, creative playground where we dive into brand-new worlds every workshop, through acting, crafting, movement and clowning. Through a unique blend of performance and craft, our participants are invited to become theatre-makers from the moment they walk through the door.
Whether they are building a simple set piece, a costume item, or a prop, they use their creation to bring our ‘story of the day’ to life. It’s a chance for children to pick up new skills from professional performers in a high-energy, no-pressure environment where the main goal is to have a brilliant time in the holidays!
Summer 2026
As our Co-Director is expecting a baby in late July, we are expanding our team for the Summer 2026 season. We are a family-run business and pride ourselves on reliability and the personal touch. We are looking for two dedicated practitioners to join us to ensure our high standards of consistency, energy and safety remain unwavering. Our goal is to provide a seamless experience for our families while our Director transitions to parental duties.
Work Dates For Both Roles:
Week 1 - Monday 6th - Friday 10th July
Week 2 - Monday 17th - Friday 21st August
Week 3 - Monday 24th - Friday 28th August
Role: Lead Drama Practitioner
Pay: £200 per day (£26.67 per hour - inclusive of pro-rata holiday pay)
Hours: 08:15-16:30
Contract: Fixed-term (15 days)
Group: 16 children (Ages 5–11), supported by an Assistant and Director.
Paid via company payroll with all equipment and session plans provided.
The Role: This is a senior position for a confident facilitator who thrives in a high-energy holiday club environment. Working closely with our Director, you will transition into the primary Lead on-site for our Summer season. You’ll balance dynamic drama games with the "theatre-maker" craft—mentoring an assistant and ensuring the Creative Coliseum magic stays front and centre for children who love the fast-paced, imaginative world of youth drama.
Key Responsibilities: Lead Drama Practitioner
● Leadership: Transition from co-practitioner to Lead Practitioner taking full
responsibility for session delivery and safeguarding when the Director is off-site.
● Parent Liaison: Acting as the main point of contact for arrivals/pick-ups and
managing the daily register.
● Safety: Acting as the Safeguarding Lead on-site and First Aider when the Director is
absent (training provided if necessary).
● Delivery: Leading all activities throughout each day - including high-energy drama
games, improvisation, mime and movement exercises. Managing behaviour and
ensuring delivery is suitable for all ages.
● Craft & Creation: Explaining and overseeing the daily "theatre-maker" craft (simple
props/costume items/set pieces) and integrating these into the final performance.
● Pastoral Care: Overseeing break times and ensuring a safe, fun environment.
● Operations: Reporting venue issues and ensuring the space is reset for the following day.
Person Specification: Lead Drama Practitioner
We are looking for an experienced leader who can command a room with kindness and creativity.
● Experience: Proven track record in leading drama teaching, youth theatre, or holiday club facilitation. Experience in directing or managing the operations of a youth programme is highly desirable. We’re looking for someone who is equally skilled at engaging a 5-year-old’s imagination and directing an 11-year-old’s performance.
● Background: Ideally a trained actor, director, or drama teacher.
● Communication: Confident in acting as the "Face" of the company when
communicating with parents and venue staff.
● Passion: A genuine drive for using drama to capture young imaginations and
bringing "different worlds" to life.
● Skills: Ability to manage assistant facilitator and keep a schedule running smoothly
without losing the "magic."
● Requirements: Enhanced DBS (or paid for by applicant), Paediatric First Aid trained
(or training provided prior to work start date)
Role: Assistant Drama Practitioner
Pay: £110 per day (£15.17 per hour - inclusive of pro-rata holiday pay)
Hours: 08:30-16:30
Contract: Fixed-term (15 days)
Group: 16 children (Ages 5–11), working alongside Lead Practitioner & Director.
Paid via company payroll with all equipment and session plans provided.
The Role: Perfect for a recent drama graduate or early-career practitioner, this role is about energy, support, and keeping the creative momentum going. You will gain hands-on experience in an award-winning youth drama setting, working with a small group of children aged 5–11 to bring our session plans to life.
Key Responsibilities: Assistant Drama Practitioner
● Welcoming: Managing welcome activities (colouring in, quiet games) and helping
beginners feel at home.
● Drama Support: Assisting in drama games, movement, mime and improvisation
exercises. Encouraging and demonstrating for unsure participants and helping with
behaviour management.
● Craft Support: Setting up materials and providing 1-on-1 help to children during the
making phase.
● Pastoral Care: Overseeing break times and ensuring a safe, fun environment.
● Ensemble Building: Helping small groups devise their performances and end-of-day
scenes.
● Operations: Helping children get ready for pick up and ensuring the space is reset
for the following day.
Person Specification: Assistant Drama Practitioner
We are looking for an energetic, "hands-on" assistant who is ready to jump in and play.
● Experience: Proven experience assisting in drama youth programmes, classes, or
holiday courses.
● Suitability: This role would perfectly suit a drama student or a recent graduate
looking to gain experience in a professional holiday club setting.
● Passion: A love for working with children and a passion for imaginative storytelling.
● Reliability: A proactive "can-do" attitude—someone who sees a messy craft table or
a shy child and jumps in to help without being asked.
● Skills: Ability to work as part of a team and assist the lead practitioner across all
areas, with the confidence to step in and play a game with the group if required.
● Requirements: Enhanced DBS (or paid for by applicant)
Additional Details For Both Roles:
● Structured Freedom: A full workshop plan and a "Craft Pack" (all necessary
equipment/materials) will be provided for every session to maintain the Creative
Coliseum standard.
● Adaptability: While the plan is your map, we value practitioners who can read the
room. You are encouraged to swap in your own favourite exercises or pivot the
session if a specific activity isn't landing or needs more time.
● Communication: Maintain a "Live Inventory" check, reporting back to the Director if
supplies (paint, glue, specific props) need replenishing for the following day.
Working with the Director:
We believe in a "supported handover." Here is how the collaboration will work:
● Phase 1 (July Weeks): The Director will be on-site full-time to lead the vision. The
Lead Drama Practitioner will shadow and lead specific blocks to build rapport with the
children and parents.
● Phase 2 (August Weeks): The Lead Practitioner will move into the Lead on site role.
● The "Executive" Presence: During August, the Director will remain "on-call" and will
drop in for lunch break support and pick up assistance. However, the Lead Practitioner should be prepared to manage the 08:30–16:30 window independently with the assistant.
Looking Forward: A Growing Team
At Creative Coliseum, we are looking for more than just a summer crew; we are building a "Creative Ensemble" for the future. We are looking for practitioners who want to grow with us. We intend to offer the successful candidates priority for future holiday clubs, school workshops and upcoming CC projects beyond 2026.
How to Apply & Selection Process
We want to see your creativity in action!
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Expression of Interest: Please send your CV and a short cover note (or a 2-minute
video) to contact@creativecoliseum.com. Please state which role you are applying
for, tell us about your experience and why you would like the position.
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Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a brief interview.
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Workshop: Successful interview candidates will be invited to our upcoming holiday
workshops or classes, where you will be asked to lead a brief game or exercise with the group so we can see your style and energy in the room.
Closing Date: We are looking to move quickly and will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Early expressions of interest are encouraged, as we may appoint before the final deadline if the right team members are found! Submission Deadline: Friday 5th June.