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WE’RE HIRING

Job Title: CAFÉ AND BAR ASSISTANT

Purpose of Post

To support the Café/Bar Supervisor and Customer Service Manager in the running of the café; providing refreshment to customers; keeping a clean and hygienic café area and keeping the area safe, mitigating risks as necessary.

Report to: Kirstin Chapman, Customer Service Manager

Principal Responsibilities

• Opening, setting up / closing down of the café and/or bar.
• Daily cleaning of all café areas, ensuring necessary paperwork is completed.
• Stock rotation and topping up of the stock daily.
• Making drinks and delivering food to customers.
• Simple preparation of food and plating up.
• Using till system.
• Taking calls/emails.
• Making reservations.
• Being aware of cinema/theatre numbers in our diary for staff rotas.
• Reporting back to Café/Bar Supervisor and CSM stock requirements as and when necessary.
• All staff should ensure that Café & Bar areas maintain a safe and working environment and that standards are high.
• Undertaking training necessary for the role.
• Building a customer base through good customer service and maintaining a positive public image.
• Cash handling, cashing up, uploading onto banking system and storing cash in the safe – elements of this are done by all staff, the CSM or Duty FOH Manager.
• Contribute to completion of and practical application of Risk Assessments, MAC, RAPP, COSHH and all matters H&S.
• Keep clean and tidy workwear and ensure presentable at all times, wearing any uniform as required by the business.
• Be supervised by the Chef/Kitchen Manager in the absence of the Café/Bar Supervisor.
• Work the bar as and when required by the business – within agreed working hours (ie this may be during the day).
• Other duties as reasonably required to meet needs of business.

Customer Service

• Greeting all customers and visitors with a smile and with respect.
• Meeting all complaints with a calm and respectful manner and an eagerness to resolve the situation. A complaint should be seen as an opportunity to improve something.

If you are interested in applying for this post, please contact Jo Scott on jo.scott@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk – please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining why you are interested in the post and what qualifications and experience you can bring to the role.

Deadline for applications Tues 17^th October 2023

Interviews to be held w/c 23^rd October 23

MAIN HOUSE REOPENS

The main house (Bill Hugonin Auditorium) reopened on the 17th June for live events with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band taking to the Playhouse stage. All live events and cinema programming have now resumed a full schedule in the main house.

Our Studio Hub/Screen 2 is still operating live events and cinema as usual, the Playhouse Gallery is open and the Playhouse Kitchen is open for food and drink.

We look forward to welcoming you back into the Bill Hugonin Auditorium.

The Playhouse Team

SPANISH NORTH EAST

Thursdays 2.30pm & 4pm

Immerse yourself in the Spanish Language in an informal and friendly environment.

HOLA, HOLA Group 2.30pm

This is an informal conversational group: Advanced, GCSE & A levels. Chat in Spanish whilst making friends, gain the confidence you will need to have a conversation; get ready for your next holidays.

BEGINNERS Group 4pm

This is a group aimed for people with no prior knowledge of Spanish. It’s a great group for individuals to get into Spanish and socialise.

For more information please contact Gina. Email: gina.saddington@gmail.com Telephone: 07711340646.

A Tribute to Bill Hugonin (1925-2022)

Alnwick has an arts loving community which spans generations simply because they have grown up with access to a vibrant arts provision within the Playhouse.
The Playhouse would not be here without the vision, determination and passion of Mr Bill Hugonin.
Bill was a kind and generous man who believed in people and the power of the arts to transform lives and it was his wish for this community to have access to great art, to have a dedicated arts centre. At first a Playhouse for Alnwick seemed like a dream however Bill managed to gather like-minded supporters to champion the arts and together they made the Playhouse a reality.

To this day there are thousands of people from all different backgrounds who have attended performances, participated in arts projects and some who now work in the profession, who owe a great debt to Mr Bill Hugonin.

Alnwick is an arts loving community who continue to champion the arts which is a wonderful legacy for a wonderful man.

We shall miss you dearly Bill and remain forever grateful, with love from your Playhouse family.

Jo Potts

Theatre Manager 2011-2021

It is with great sadness that we at Alnwick Playhouse have learned of Bill Hugonin’s passing. His commitment to the Playhouse and its work is well known. He was determined that the people of Alnwick and surrounding area had a place to participate in the arts as doers and watchers.  To this end he drew together like-minded local people whom he inspired to get involved and make things happen.

Bill’s commitment was more than talk. His considerable financial support down the years made the Playhouse’s survival possible and beyond that played a key role in the development of the new Playhouse we are blessed with today. This leadership has encouraged others to give generously and in turn secure the buildings future prospects.

I met Bill only once, I visited for tea and cake and a chat about his hopes for his beloved building and how he and others had worked down the years to make it a reality. He was charming, clear minded, modest and generous.

The Playhouse is of course so much more than a building. It enshrines an idea that the Arts matter, that a life lived with creativity is a life worth living. This is Bill’s gift to his community and such gifts are precious. He was keen to impress upon me that this idea should be nurtured for future generations. This wish is one that our small team at the Playhouse are determined to fulfil.

Damian Cruden

Artistic Director

Bill epitomised what it meant to be a gentleman. He was just a joy to be with – keen, passionate and dedicated to ensuring a thriving arts community to the end. We are indebted to Bill for his decades of vision, help and support that means the Playhouse is what it is today. At the reopening of the Playhouse in 2020, Bill spoke from the stage to a packed house, everyone hanging on his words. He was the “grandfather of the Playhouse” and we will miss him dearly.

Chris Sayers

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

OPENING HOURS

Box Office: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm & 1 hour before an evening performance

McKenna’s: Monday 10am -4pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9am-5pm & before live performances.

Library & Visitor Information: Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm

Bar: from 5pm before any evening performances

Frequently Asked Question’s

A performance I have booked for has been cancelled/postponed. What should I do?

We will contact you to let you know of any changes to performances.  You may retain your ticket for any rescheduled date, you may get a credit to account refund (keeping the money on account for a future performances) or you may discuss a refund with Box Office.

Please ensure your contact details are correct by either logging in to your online account, leaving an email at info@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk or calling the box office on 01665 660550.

If you do not hear from us please get in touch.

How can you help?

DONATE – As the Playhouse receives only 8% public funding, we are reliant on ticket sales and secondary spend, so this interruption means we face difficult times ahead. We respectfully ask any patrons who can afford to donate the price of their ticket or simply take a credit to use against a future performance later in the year instead of a refund to do so during the closure.

BECOME A MEMBER – Actively support new initiatives and enjoy exclusive benefits through becoming a Friend or Front Row member. A small annual payment will allow you to enjoy a whole year of pleasure and make a real difference to your local Playhouse. Benefits include discounted ticket prices, invites to our season previews, priority booking on the biggest shows of the season, the Playhouse brochure delivered directly to your door and the opportunity to become more actively engaged with events and opportunities.

BOOK TICKETS – Book now for upcoming shows later in the year! With a diverse programme of theatre, music, comedy, dance and more there is something for everyone to look forward to. Customers are to be reassured that should a performance be cancelled or postponed we are happy to make changes to your booking.

How can I contact the Playhouse?

Telephone: 01665 660550

Email: info@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CEO

It gives us great pleasure to announce Jo’s successor as Damian Cruden who shall be here in Alnwick in time for A Viking Christmas!

There is no doubt that an exciting new phase in the history of this much loved building and artistic community is about to begin. Onwards & Upwards.

“I am delighted to join the team at Alnwick Playhouse as Artistic Director. The building is in fantastic shape, clearly much loved by the community and a hive of activity. I look forward to meeting those who are currently involved in creating and curating work for the centre and those who come to the events. Jo Potts leaves an organisation that is thriving and I can only thank her for having guided the company through the capital project and Covid with great skill and sensitivity. It is indeed a joy to pick up the reigns. I hope I can do her legacy justice and bring something to the community that continues the tradition of a cultural programme centred on the community of Alnwick and beyond.” Damian Cruden

Damian trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has worked extensively throughout the UK as a theatre director, arts practitioner and Artistic Director in various contexts. Early in his career he was a workshop leader for The Scottish Youth Theatre, Theatre About Glasgow (TAG) and Artistic Director of the Maryhill Borough Hall Drama Project. He moved to Hull in 1988 where he was Education Director for Remould Theatre Company. He was artistic Director of the Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre 1990/’91 and then joined Hull Truck Theatre Company as associate Director. He was Artistic Director at York Theatre Royal (YTR) from 1997 until 2019. He was Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, in 2019 producing 8 productions in two 900 seat pop up theatre spaces, with an acting company of 76. His production of the 2012 York Mystery Plays worked with over 1500 members of the community in a pop up theatre space seating 1400 people. Working under his direction York Theatre Royal became well known for community productions working with large groups of local people and professional artists, immersive projects in found/non-theatre spaces and working with museums and other partners to deliver narrative around particular events, subjects and/or issues. He won an Olivier for his production of The Railway Children, which was staged initially in York at the NRM, then London Waterloo Station, Toronto Round House and back to London Kings Cross Station, playing over 2000 performances. The production was renowned for the use of a real Steam Engine in the action of the play. He has subsequently worked with the NRM on the community project In Fog and Falling Snow a site specific community play at the NRM.

During his time at YTR Damian jointly led on the £6.5 million capital project to redevelop the building which is grade 2 star listed. This project was complex and required an engagement with all areas of Health and Safety as well as engaging the workforce in the purpose of the project. The project has been subject of interest as a positive example of a theatre redevelopment, wining various awards.

In 2020/21 he directed and managed the community project The Whispering House York in Tang Hall and Heworth working with 30 members of the community to create a series of creative responses to the National Census.

He is currently a tutor/director for The Soldiers Arts Academy running weekly online workshops for current and ex-military personnel and their families. The project offers them access to a wide variety of cultural activities to assist with their journey from service life back to civilian.