The Havering Theatre Trust Limited
12.21 per hour
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
Full-time
1st October 2025
Front of House Assistant
(Temporary Pantomime Cover, November 2025 -
January 2026)
www.queens-theatre.co.uk
Closing date: Wednesday, 01 October 2025, 5 p.m.
Welcome
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch: where your talents find their stage.
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (QTH) is the producing theatre serving Outer
East London & South Essex, with a catchment area of 1 million+ people.
As a community hub, over 220,000 people enjoy the programme each year,
including the best in home grown theatre, visiting live entertainment and
inspiring community projects.
Behind the scenes, sets & costumes are lovingly created on-site by
a highly skilled carpentry workshop, scenic artists, prop makers
and wardrobe team.
We pride ourselves
in being more than just a
theatre, placing the local
community at the heart
of all we do.
James Watson, Acting Chief Executive
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch aims to:
• Relentlessly prioritise addressing the under representation of
those people QTH works with and serves, including an
increasing focus on D/deaf & disabled artists and participants.
• Increasingly work in different ways off site to engage with new
people, often hyper locally in underserved places.
• Ambitiously address environmental responsibility in the stories
QTH tells and the ways and environment in which these are
made and told.
• Place QTH firmly at the heart of cultural place making within its
sub region through the international, national, regional and
local partnerships it facilitates and engages in.
• Secure the future of the award winning 21st century producing
theatre QTH has developed into during the last 5 years,
through increased levels of public and private investment.
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Sucker Punch, 2023, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Photographer Manuel Harlan
About the Role
Job Title: Casual Front of House Assistant
Reporting to: Duty Manager
Salary: £12.21 per hour.
Double-time payments are due for actual hours worked on Sundays and Public
Holidays, as per the UK Theatre / BECTU agreement.
Contract: Casual (November 2025 - January 2026)
Hours: Daytime, evening, weekends & public holidays. Holiday cover for
co-workers will be required. Shifts are allocated four weeks in advance and
staff are notified by an app.
Dick Whittington 2023, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Photographer: Zbigniew Kotkiewicz
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Purpose of the Role
As a Front of House Assistant, you will often be the first point of contact for the customers in the theatre. You will work in three main areas: Café,
Bar, and as an Usher.
•
Always ensure that the public receive the highest standards of comfort and safety before, during and after a performance.
• Queen’s Theatre, Front of House staff must always present a welcoming, courteous, helpful, and efficient service to all members of the
public.
•
Be proactive, on behalf of the Theatre, in customer care and Front of House sales.
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Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Noises Off 2024 - Photographer: Craig Fuller
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Responsibilities
Public Safety
Front of House Sales
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•
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To always anticipate the comfort and safety needs of Queen’s
Theatre patrons.
To be familiar with Queen’s Theatre fire and evacuation
procedures. Attend all emergency and evacuation drills and
training to ensure that emergency procedures are correctly
executed.
To be responsive to any other emergency, i.e. an accident or
sudden illness, and to react calmly, quickly, and efficiently.
• Maintain the Theatre’s high standards in the Bar, Foyer and
Auditorium.
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•
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To be familiar with the Theatre’s products and facilities, to assist
the public with their queries, and to promote current and future
shows / events.
To be aware of the needs of patrons with disabilities and to
ensure those needs are met accordingly.
To ensure that all current Theatre Covid regulations are adhered
to for the health and safety of both patrons and staff.
• Must be over 18 years old as per licensing requirements, as selling
alcohol is required.
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•
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To carry out sales of food and drink in accordance with procedures to
ensure the efficient running of Queen’s Theatre Bar and Café-Bar.
To sell ice cream, confectionary, and merchandise to the public.
To ensure the accurate accounting of sales and takings, using the till
facilities provided and in keeping with the Theatre’s financial
regulations.
In accordance with Environmental Health Regulations, observe a high
standard of cleanliness and hygiene in all areas; especially of Bar and
Café equipment, glasses etc. General tidiness in the Bar and Café and
related public areas. Maintain a high standard of personal appearance,
in matters of hygiene, security and tidiness.
Be aware of the need for maximum profit contribution from the Front
of House operation and be vigilant in waste management and spoilt
drinks, keeping losses to the minimum.
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Responsibilities cont.
General
•
Regularly check the staff rota and ensure any problems that arise are reported immediately.
• Wear appropriate clothing and always adhere to Queen’s Theatre dress code on duty and to adhere to the Theatre’s standard of personal
presentation.
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•
•
•
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Complete an accurate weekly timesheet for authorisation by the Head of Customer Services & Facilities.
To undertake training in Health and Safety, First Aid, Fire Marshalling, Food Hygiene, and Sales as required both in-house and away from the
theatre.
At the end of the performance, and subject to operational requirements, undertake to clear the auditorium of litter and prepare it for the next
performance.
To be aware of the Theatre’s Health and Safety rules affecting the Front of House area.
To carry out any other duties as shall be reasonably required by the Deputy Customer Services & Facilities Manager.
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Person Specification
Essential:
• Minimum of 18 years old.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Enjoys interacting with a wide range of people
Enthusiastic and polite manner
Flexible and pro-active approach
Enjoys being part of a team
Enthusiastic about Theatre and live events
High standard of personal presentation
Customer care experience
Sales experience
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Jack & the Beanstalk 2025
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Person Specification Cont.
Desirable:
•
•
•
•
Enthusiastic about Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and our shows /
events
Experience working in a busy Bar
Catering experience
Stock handling experience
Qualifications
•
•
Current First Aid certificate
Basic Food Hygiene certificate
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Dick Whittington 2023, Photographer Zbigniew Kotkiewicz
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How to apply
Application Deadline:
Wednesday, 01 October 2025, 5 p.m.
Interviews:
In-person interviews are taking place at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
on Tuesday, 07 & Wednesday, 08 October 2025
To submit your application:
Send completed Application form and Equal Opportunities form to:
recruitment@queens-theatre.co.uk
For assistance:
Please email: recruitment@queens-theatre.co.uk
The timeline dates are not flexible; please ensure you can attend prior
to applying.
We want to make all opportunities at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
accessible to anyone who wants to apply.
If submitting a written application is not the best way to tell us about
your skills and experience, please let us know and we will
discuss with you.
If you would like an informal conversation with Peter Thorne-Darby,
Head of Customer Services & Facilities to find out more about
the position, in advance of, or whilst you are considering making an
application, please contact: recruitment@queens-theatre.co.uk to
arrange a mutually convenient time.
Please note for interviews we will reimburse travel expenses, provide
BSL interpreters and language interpreters
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Disability Confident
At Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical
and mental health of all our staff.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we have committed to:
•
•
Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
Communicating and promoting vacancies
• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
•
•
•
Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health
condition, enabling them to stay in work
At least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people.
Find out more about Disability Confident at: www.gov.uk/disability-confident
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Equality and Diversity
At QTH, we champion a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing every individual's unique background and perspective.
We believe that a diverse team fosters creativity and innovation, enhancing our artistic endeavours. We are committed to equal
opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, abilities, or socio-economic background. Embracing differences,
we create an environment where all employees feel respected and empowered.
We actively challenge biases, promoting mutual understanding and respect for all voices. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and
encourage an inclusive space where everyone can thrive and contribute.
Join us in celebrating diversity and inclusion, shaping a vibrant theatre community where every individual is valued, respected, and inspired, guided
by a passionate new Creative Directors team of inspirational leaders.
Here, you can make your mark, learn, and grow. Be part of a team that enlightens and engages audiences locally and beyond.
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About Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from a three-year winner of UK Theatre’s
Most Welcoming Theatre (2016-2018), London Theatre of the Year 2020 (The Stage
Awards) - the first Outer London theatre to receive this prestigious award – and 2023
finalist for 8 of the Off West End Theatre award categories for the public’s favourite venue.
QTH is known for new plays, including premieres of Wilko (Jonathan Maitland), Killing Jack
(Sadie Hasler), New Beginning (David Shearing), Maggie May (Frances Poet), Love Letters
(Douglas Rintoul), Misfits (Anne Odeke, Guleraana Mir, Kenny Emson & Sadie Hasler),
Stiletto Beach (Sadie Hasler) and Abi (Atiha Sen Gupta). Adaptations have included Henry
James’ The Turn of The Screw, Neil Bartlett’s Jekyll & Hyde and Vicky Donoghue’s The
Witchfinder’s Sister. Its 2022 Blueprint Festival of new works enabled 60+ creative
practitioners. QTH champions working class female playwrights, with Vickie Donoghue,
Amanda Whittington, Kelly Jones, Sadie Hasler, Anne Odeke & Guleraana Mir currently
commissioned.
Record breaking regional premiere productions of musicals have seen Kinky Boots, Adrian
Mole - the Musical, Once, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Made in Dagenham on stage in
Hornchurch. Productions toured include The Crucible, which undertook a 5-month tour,
and a major revival of Kindertransport produced in an innovative international partnership
with Les Theatre de la Ville de Luxembourg.
QTH has long established producing partnerships with the New Wolsey Ipswich and Derby
Theatre, and has successfully co-produced with the National Theatre, Lee Dean, Central
School of Speech & Drama, Selladoor Productions, Hull Truck Theatre, Oldham Coliseum &
Salisbury Playhouse.
QTH offers a wide range of life enhancing workshops & classes for people of all ages -
working with more than 32,000 participants each year & recently celebrating 30 years
of Youth Theatre.
QTH is Theatre partner to the National Theatre for Public Acts, which creates
extraordinary acts of theatre and community, producing the European premiere of the
musical adaptation of As You Like It, which saw 149 participants from
across London’s diverse communities experiencing a life changing performance on
stage.
QTH is a leading member of Theatre Nation, making theatre with and for under served
audiences, and has toured the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time, Jekyll & Hyde and Shut Up, I’m Dreaming into Havering & Essex schools.
QTH talent development programme, Outer Limits, connects with regional professional
artists, reaching 1,700 each year, now internationally too through Future Laboratory, in
partnership with 12 European theatres. Essex on Stage is QTH’s ambitious programme
championing positive notions of Essex & raising aspirations for working class artists,
made possible through the 2018 Clothworkers’ Foundation Theatre Award, launched
with the regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon.
Situated in the borough with the 4th lowest arts engagement in London, and as the
11th fastest changing in the country, QTH secured £1 million of Creative People and
Places funding towards Havering Changing, a partnership of 8 local organisations
engaging local people in culture. QTH is leading new local cultural education and
creative health voluntary sector partnerships. Each year an astonishing 45% of QTH’s
audience are new to the Theatre and 61% are from under served areas.
As a much-loved registered charity, QTH receives regular funding from London Borough
of Havering and Arts Council England (recently securing a vital uplift). This is alongside
increasing support from a generous range of supporters. Recently QTH
delivered QNew, a £1.3 million pound capital transformation project, the first in
40+ years, creating vital new spaces with access at their heart.
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Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
Billet Lane
Essex
RM11 1QT
Box Office: 01708 443333
www.queens-theatre.co.uk
queenstheatreh
QueensTheatreHornchurch