Head of Casting

Department/Team: Producing

Responsible to: Artistic Director

Contract: Permanent

Location: Mix of home working and from The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB

Hours: Part Time - [26 hours per week, based on a 40-hour FTE]

The Old Vic offers the ability to work these flexibly under the guidelines in our Hybrid Working policy. Additional hours may be necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the post

Salary: c. £65,000 p.a.

Direct reports: Casting Assistant

Role Summary

The Head of Casting is a key player in The Old Vic’s artistic team, working with the Artistic Director and visiting Directors to cast productions, actively cultivate talent, and champion emerging artists.

Your Team

The role sits within the Producing team and line manages the Casting Assistant.

Areas of responsibility

Casting

· Casting The Old Vic productions to a standard of excellence, including any transfers.

· Support the Casting Assistant with casting of understudies and children.

· Oversee the Casting Assistant with casting of studio projects and workshops.

· Initiating strategic casting discussions with agents, actors and sector advocacy organisations.

· Alongside the artistic team helping to shape strategy and identity for The Old Vic’s work.

· Produce casting breakdowns and distributing as required to cast roles.

· Review CVs, head shots and show reels and produce a shortlist of relevant performers for consideration for each role, including understudies.

· Upon the Artistic Director's or individual show director's confirmation of preferred performers for these roles, approach them or their agents to determine their availability for auditions/readings.

· Alongside the Artistic Director, Producer and General Manager liaise and consult with any Casting Director appointed in the US to cast any American actors on Old Vic productions either transferred to the US or originating in the US.

· Building relationships with directors engaged by The Old Vic, working with them to discuss projects, creating character breakdowns, providing role actor lists, undertake availability checks, arrange and conduct auditions, meetings and discussions regarding casting.

· Maintaining an excellent knowledge of and building relationships with actors, agents and directors across London, the UK and internationally.

· Regularly attending theatre productions and keeping up professional networking and relationships, identifying trends and industry developments.

· Identify emerging and potential talent through attending drama school showcases, talent agency relationships, and industry events (budget provided).

· Keep the casting and identity of The Old Vic’s work relevant to the world and developments we operate within.

Programming

· Key involvement in programming, including proposing projects suitable for leading actors, advising on actor availability when planning the year, reading scripts and advising on potential opportunities and challenges for proposed projects.

· Liaising with Producing on the budget implications of casting decisions.

· Actively cultivating leading talent over the long term, working closely with actors and their agents to bring artists closer to The Old Vic and developing strong relationships.

· Attend workshops, readings and presentations and contribute to the development of projects in the early stages.

Management and Leadership

· Managing and providing mentoring to the Casting Assistant.

· Representing the voice of actors and casting considerations on a strategic level in The Old Vic’s strategic and operational planning.

· Representing The Old Vic at industry forums and events as necessary.

· Collect, monitor and report on casting statistics as required and work with the Inclusion and Access Lead to monitor diversity and representation objectives.

· Maintaining knowledge of union negotiations, rates and work with Producing and People to meet our obligations and best practice in these areas.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and the Theatre's management may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.

Person Specification

Essential

· A minimum of five years’ proven experience leading casting in a range of mid-to-large scale theatres

· Strong current relationships with leading directors

· Excellent relationships with actors’ agents in the UK and the US

· Good knowledge of the dramatic canon

· Proactive and confident, with the ability to cultivate new relationships with established and emerging talent

· Diplomatic, discreet and professional

· Knowledge and experience of union agreements, including British and American Equity

· Enthusiasm for the work of The Old Vic

· Good commercial instincts and awareness of which actors will attract audiences

Desirable

· Experience of working with musical theatre artists

· Good contract negotiation skills

· Experience of working in the commercial theatre

· Management skills

· Experience of working at a senior level within a comparable organisation

· Member of Casting Directors Guild

Benefits

· Hybrid working for eligible teams and a company culture that promotes good work/life balance

· Enhanced annual leave, starting at 25 days per year, increasing by one day per year up to 30 days (plus bank holidays).

· Opportunity to switch statutory bank holidays to mark a religious event or festival

· Complimentary tickets for you and a guest to Old Vic preview productions

· Discretionary invite to Press Night performances and parties

· Free therapy from our therapy partner Self Space

· Mental health support via our in-house Mental Health Champions

· Salary sacrifice scheme with The People’s Pension and enhanced employer pension contributions

· Festive day – one discretionary additional paid day off around the festive period for a collective pause

· Time to volunteer – one day per year to support a charity or project of your choosing

· Commitment to learning, education and development

· Enhanced sick pay

· Access to interest free travel schemes including Cycle 2 Work and Season Ticket loans after your probation period

· Family friendly policies and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental pay

· All staff social events

· Staff discount in Backstage café/bar and The Old Vic bars as well as discounts in local bars and restaurants

· Opportunities to get involved with staff clubs and working groups such as the Inclusion Working Group

· Buddy schemes including New Starter and Parental buddies to support your induction and return to work after parental leave

· Death in Service benefit

How to Apply

We understand that everyone is different and we want you to apply in whichever way you feel best shows your skills and experience. There are a range of ways that you can apply with us:

• 1. Sending a short video file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you, with your CV.

• 2. Sending a short audio file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you, with your CV.

• 3. Completing our application form.

• 4. Uploading your CV and covering letter, explaining why you are interested in the role and working at the Old Vic.

The Old Vic has made a commitment that all applicants with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for this job will be invited to interview.

All appointments are made subject to satisfactory references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

The Process

The recruitment process for this role will be two stages:

• 1st stage conversation (likely to be virtual)

• 2nd stage conversation (likely to be in person)

• You may be asked to complete a work based skills assessment or challenge

The closing date for this role is 5 June 2026. We reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive a high volume of applications. Please submit as early as you can to avoid disappointment. There may be telephone screening calls to help us shortlist. First conversations are likely to take place w/c 22 June 2026.

Equal Opportunities

We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of the global majority, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled candidates.

We may take positive action, in cases where candidates are equally qualified, to increase the employment of under-represented groups at The Old Vic.

In the event that we ask you to attend the theatre for a conversation and you are struggling financially, we may be able to reimburse you for any reasonable travel costs.

We partner with a range of inclusive organisations, to find out more please read our FAQs.

FAQs

Read our recruitment and selection and equal opportunities FAQs here.

Our teams

Production

Locations

The Old Vic

Remote status

Hybrid

The Old Vic

About The Old Vic

The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB. oldvictheatre.com