OLD FIRE STATION
Theatre Technician Recruitment Pack
Art is for everyone. Everyone has potential.
About Old Fire Station, Oxford
TThe Old Fire Station is a centre for creativity in Oxford housing three organisations: the homelessness charity Crisis, the Old Fire Station (OFS) and Damascus Rose Kitchen (DRK). We share our building.
OFS encourages people from all backgrounds to understand and shape the world in which we live through stories, creativity and the arts, and by connecting with others.
ART IS FOR EVERYONE. EVERYONE HAS POTENTIAL.
See our latest impact report here, and watch short videos about the OFS here and here.
Learn more about our projects Marmalade, Offbeat, Hidden Spire and Storytelling.
What we do
Produce and present across art forms
We want our reputation to be good-quality art, in person and online, which is aimed at adults, takes a risk, asks questions and entertains. We want our audiences to have fun and be open to new ideas and different people.
Help people to be creative
We want people to be able to write, sing, draw, devise, design, perform, move, make, imagine, play and create – physically and online – individually or with others and to a high standard. Creativity includes artistic practice but also extends to technology and science and imaginative thinking. We want people to tell their own stories using the medium that works best for them.
Support artists
We want early to mid-career artists from all disciplines to have access to the advice, networks and promotion they need to develop their practice as creatives and as facilitators of other people’s creativity.
Include people facing tough times because of disadvantage
We share our building with the homelessness charity, Crisis. Through this partnership, we offer people who are homeless space to define themselves and choose their own labels by including them in the running of the centre. We also seek to include others who are socially isolated and disadvantaged. We do not focus on homelessness. We focus on what people who face disadvantage can offer.
Work with communities across Oxford
With Crisis, we offer a public space which is shared by very different people and helps to break down barriers and promote solidarity in Oxford. We will also work through partnerships beyond our building with different communities around Oxford.
What we consider in everything we do
Be human friendly
This means working with others to
educate ourselves about healthy organisational culture and decision making
take practical steps to develop honest supportive relationships within our team, with our volunteers, our partners and funders and with the public
use our creativity to promote services founded on good quality relationships and learning
It also means having fun!
Experiment and Listen
To make great art and to achieve change we have to experiment and play. This means taking risks, being prepared to fail and being able to adapt and respond. It also means listening carefully to those with whom we work (especially to dissent), reflecting deeply on what we do and how we do it, and measuring impact primarily through storytelling.
Build financial resilience
This means ensuring that we are here for the long term by diversifying income streams, securing core and project funding, developing the business, minimising expenditure whilst delivering our mission and maintaining appropriate levels of reserves. It also means ensuring that those we work with are properly paid to help them become financially resilient.
Unlearn Discrimination
This means working with others to
educate ourselves about racism and other forms of discrimination in cultural organisations (especially with regards to disability and class)
take practical steps to become more representative of diverse communities
use our creativity to explore diverse culture and challenge ignorance or abuse
Face the Climate Emergency
This means working with others to
educate ourselves about the emergency
take practical steps to reduce carbon emissions
use our creativity to help our community face the challenges ahead
How do we do it?
We do all this by focussing on:
good quality relationships
listening and learning
encouraging creativity and risk-taking
offering a public space which is welcoming to all
working collaboratively online, outside and elsewhere
Why is this needed?
Oxford is globally renowned for stunning heritage and outstanding research.
Oxford is also a place of disadvantage and inequality.
Oxford needs the Old Fire Station because it is about openness, inclusion, looking forward and different thinking.
The Old Fire Station acts as a bridge between sectors, organisations and people.
About the role
The Theatre Technician supports the Technical Manager in providing a high-level of technical service for the Old Fire Station's received performance programme and hires, as well as the in-house productions and events.
To run the technical lights, sound and AV of the theatre and building, to a high standard, as well as managing the space in terms of health and safety and stage management. Ensure the technical department is kept organised, tidy and maintained. Assist in the management of the organisation of technical documents and show information
Salary: £27,052 full-time salary (37 hours per week)
Benefits: Full-time annual leave entitlement of 33 days including bank holidays (pro rated for less than full-time hours). Additional annual leave awarded for long service. Additional work-related travel expenses (not including travel to and from the office) will be payable in line with the relevant conditions and rates agreed. Pension is offered to all employees.
Contract: This post is offered at between 3 and 5 days a week (22 to 37 hours). The hours are worked over a flexible pattern, which will include evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday working.
Permanent role, subject to a 6-month probationary period.
Technical ManagerLine managed by:
Line manages: None, but will require supervision of other technical staff on duty
Key responsibilities of the Theatre Technician
Manage the theatre auditorium and its associated spaces, maintaining tidiness and proper storage / use of equipment and observing security procedures.
Provide technical support for events across all areas of the OFS, including but not limited to: space preparation, rigging, equipment set-up/tear down, programming and operation of lighting, AV and sound.
Observe safe working practices as per HSE legislation and the venue’s own protocols.
Supervise visiting production companies in their use of the venue and its resources, ensuring compliance with safe working practices and supporting where necessary with technical requirements.
Maintain a stock inventory, communicating any re-stocking requirements to the Technical Manager
Maintain the Theatre’s technical resources and infrastructure, reporting any faults to the Technical Manager
Work alongside the Technical Manager and FOH department to ensure administration relevant to the role is completed timely and accurately.
Undertake both in house and external training relevant to the post.
Work with the Gallery to support any technical aspects of installs and de-installs when available.
Support the inclusion of volunteers, Crisis Members and Oxford Brookes University students on technical aspects of theatre, when required.
In conjunction with the Technical Manager and Front of House team, share responsibility for lock-up procedures in the building after events.
Selection Criteria
If you have all or most of these, please apply:
Demonstrable knowledge of theatrical and live event conventions and practices
Familiarity with industry specific lighting, AV and audio systems including but not limited to: ETC Eos consoles, digital audio consoles, Qlab, Black Magic ATEM, OBS
Familiarity with staging and rigging practices and associated H&S considerations pertaining to loading, manual handling, work at height and electrical safety
Ability to generate and interpret documentation relevant to live events, including but not limited to: technical riders, stage plots, set designs, risk assessments and method statements
A working knowledge of electrical theory
Familiarity with industry specific 3D modelling software, such as Sketchup, StageCad, CaptureSE, LXfree, Vectorworks
Level 2 or above qualification in a subject relevant to technical theatre and/or live event production
Level 2 or above qualification in any relevant H&S training, such as work at height, manual handling, first aid, fire marshalling, stage electrics
Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), good Microsoft Office skills.
Basic carpentry skills are desirable.
The flexibility and willingness to work evenings and weekends, and occasional long days of up to 14 hrs (with breaks).
A working understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities, in particular with regards to working with vulnerable adults.
Working at the Old Fire Station
This contract is offered at between 3 and 5 days a week (22 to 37 hours)
This post involves regular evening work and regular Saturday and Sunday working.
The post is subject to a six-month probationary period
As an equal opportunity employer, we recognise the diversity shortcomings of our industry and are committed to driving change and supporting employees to provide an inclusive workplace
We expect staff to have a commitment to unlearning discrimination in order to become a more inclusive organisation
We recognise the major impact that climate change is having on our world. We work as an organisation and with partners in the city towards a low-carbon sustainable Oxford. All staff are expected to share this responsibility and support this work
All staff are expected to be able to support and supervise volunteers and trainees on placements, including Crisis members as part of our Training Scheme
The Old Fire Station requires an open, creative and flexible approach to the work. This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not fully comprehensive or restrictive. This job description will be reviewed with the post-holder annually
The post-holder will be expected to carry out the duties of this post in line with the Old Fire Station’s policies and procedures and in line with all relevant insurance, legal, health and safety obligations
How to apply and what to include
To apply, please send us your CV and complete the application form, which you can download from our website, to recruitment@oldfirestation.org.uk
If you require a printed copy of the application form, please email recruitment@oldfirestation.org.uk or call 01865 294606.
We recommend the software Speechify for reading aloud the job description and application form.
Application deadline: Thursday 21 May 2026, 12 noonst Interviews will take place on 11 or 12 June., followed by a trial shift forth th selected candidates
You are welcome to contact the team for an informal discussion in advance - please email recruitment@oldfirestation.org.uk
We think it is important to hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds, representative of our society, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it enriches the arts for all and makes us stronger as a team.
We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of discrimination and disadvantage due to class, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, neurodivergence, race and sexual orientation. Please tell us if you have this lived experience in your application. Based on this, if you meet the selection criteria, we are committed to offering you an interview.
We are keen to learn more about the barriers to inclusion and it would be really helpful if you could also fill in our demographics monitoring form. This is anonymous and is for us to assess how well we are doing in terms of attracting applications from people who experience discrimination.