Leeds Playhouse are delighted to be one of the partner theatres for RTYDS’ Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residencies, where a mid-career, working class director can spend 18-months training in an artistic leadership role.

We are very excited to be one of three organisations who are partnering with RTYDS to host a Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency, alongside Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

RTYDS is committed to the development of directors and theatre makers as cultural leaders, and their Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency sees regional building-based theatre companies partnering with them to host a mid-career working class or low socio-economic background director or theatre maker for 18 months.

At each theatre the successful candidate will join the senior management team, contribute to the strategic planning and delivery of the theatre’s artistic programme, and direct a mid-scale production. They will develop their craft as a director while learning about the role of an artistic or creative director in cultural leadership.

The Fair Play Associate Artistic Director will work 80% with Leeds Playhouse and 20% with RTYDS as part of this training opportunity. The time spent on the residency with RTYDS will deepen their understanding of the sector on a national level, as well as build relationships with other regional theatres and contribute to class equity advocacy work.

You will be working closely with our Artistic Director and play a central role in shaping and delivering Leeds Playhouse’s programme, developing new projects, nurturing creative talent, and supporting the theatre’s strategic, operational and cultural ambitions.

To be eligible for the role, you must identify as working class, or from a low socio-economic background, and work professionally in theatre. For the full details on eligibility for the role, please see our Recruitment Pack below.

This is a fixed-term training opportunity for 18 months, kindly funded by RTYDS, and not a permanent job role. The role will be full-time 35 hours per week, but open to possibility of flexible working and part-time applications, to accommodate access needs and caring responsibilities. Salary for the role will be £35,000 per year.

Please read our recruitment pack below for more information on the role and full instructions on how to apply.

The closing date to express an interest in the role is 10am Thursday 18 September 2025.

An online Q&A session is scheduled for 4pm on Monday 4 September for more information and opportunity to ask questions. Sign up here.