"We “see” through our experiences, which influences the way we live and interact with the world and I am glad that my experience at the Miskin has influenced the way I live and my beliefs"
Lucy Flack
Miskin Theatre Actors Contract
PROFESSIONAL / PERSONAL DISCIPLINEProfessional discipline is a vital part of any arts workers daily life. It is the Miskin Theatre's job to ensure that your training is underpinned by a clear understanding of the needs of the industry for which you are preparing yourself.
To this end major emphasis will be placed on the importance of self discipline, appearance, punctuality, courtesy, respect for colleagues, unselfishness and a great deal of common sense. These elements form a significant part of your assessment in all areas of work throughout your course.
This contract represents a way of working that is about your course and your industry and is designed to reinforce your own responsibility to your training, to your craft and to your company. It is important that you read and understand it and that you show willing to undertake the responsibilities needed to achieve success in your chosen field.
You will also sign a learning agreement with NWK College, please note that your contract with the Miskin augments all similar agreements.
Company Responsibilities and Ticket Sales
We are a commercial organisation, in order to sustain our industrial practice we are dependent on bringing audiences in to all our events. It is also in everyone’s interest to encourage people to come to live theatre, dance and music, that way the industry will stay alive long enough for you to benefit from it.
You are expected to attend every performance at the Miskin so we offer a ticket formula which allows many of our company members to enjoy their time here without ever having to pay for tickets. We encourage you to bring two paying members of the public with you which means that you get a complementary ticket for yourself. If you don’t take advantage of the offer you will need to buy your own tickets which, over two years, are fixed to cost no more than £150.00.
LATENESS/ABSENCE/DISCIPLINARY POLICY
• Actors must sign in at the stage door each morning before 9.30am at which point the signing in sheets will be removed.
• Failure to sign in the morning will result in you being excluded from the rehearsals for the day.
• Any Actors who is late whether in the morning, afternoon or evening session/rehearsal will be excluded from the rehearsals for the day and a formal warning will be issued.
• If there is a genuine reason for the lateness which can be evidenced in writing, then no formal warning will be issued.
• Phone calls for lateness or absences due to illness or other reason must be received before 9.30am on that day on the following number:
01322 629472.
• Appointments with doctors, dentists, etc. should normally be made outside of theatre hours. Unavoidable appointments must be discussed with your director and the Theatre Administrator prior to attending.
• Failure to bring the correct equipment/clothing to a session will result in the Actors being excluded from the rehearsals for the day.
• Holidays must not be booked in company time. Holidays taken without prior consent may have serious implications for your course.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Body/facial/tongue piercing’s are not acceptable.
• Personal hygiene must be maintained from day to day.
• You are expected at all times to conduct yourself in a manner so as not to damage the good name and reputation of the Miskin Theatre and the company's good practice. Any actors found to be compromising the good name and reputation of the Miskin Theatre by behaving in an unacceptable manner will be asked to leave the premises.
• It should be noted that the public bars at the Miskin Theatre are subject to national licensing laws, you should be prepared to present i.d. if asked to confirm your age. Note that it is illegal to purchase alchohol if you are under 18 and it is also illegal to purchase alchohol for anyone under eighteen
• You are directly responsible for the behavior of any guests that you invite to Miskin events.
POLICY ON PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE AND CASTING
The following are understood to be reasons for excluding an actor from a project.
• Persistent absence.
• Repeated lateness.
• Disruption to the work of your group and/or other groups.
• Deadlines for written work or other set tasks have not been met.
• Evident lack of commitment to the work.
• Failure to turn up for Front of House duties thus compromising the work of another company and the safety of the public
POLICY ON FRONT OF HOUSE
• It is every Actors responsibility to undertake Front of House Duties as required whilst training at the Miskin Theatre.
• Actors are expected to carry out their F.O.H duties with commitment and conduct themselves in a professional and hospitable manner.
• Actors are expected to dress appropriately and be of smart appearance.
• Failure to turn up for F.O.H duty seriously compromises the safety of the public and could compromise our theatre license. Any Actors found to be compromising the safety of the public at any time will be faced with disciplinary action.
MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF BUILDINGS POLICY
• It is every Actors duty, whilst undertaking a course at the Miskin theatre, to ensure that the rehearsal spaces, dressing rooms and all other spaces relating to the theatre and around the theatre are kept clean and in working order.
• Chewing gum, smoking, eating and drinking are not acceptable anywhere inside the theatre buildings with the exception of drinking water. Any Actors found to be consuming either food or drink inside the buildings will be excluded from the rehearsals and may face disciplinary action.
• Any Actors found to be vandalising/abusing the building in any way will be immediately issued with a formal warning and face permanent dismissal.
• Any Actors found to be stealing from the theatre or any related buildings will immediately be issued with a formal warning and face permanent dismissal.
• Attention to personal grooming must be conducted outside of the rehearsal spaces, please remember to wash all ‘Theatre Blacks’ on a regular basis to avoid bad hygiene.
MOBILE PHONES
• The use of mobile phones in the rehearsal spaces and theatre buildings without prior consent is strictly forbidden. All mobile phones must be turned off before entering the buildings.
• Any Actor whose phone rings during rehearsal will be immediately dismissed from the space.
PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS
• You are not to absent yourself from the performance venue without the explicit permission from the productions director or DSM.
• You are required to commit fully to each process, behave responsibly and carry out, to the best of your ability, all direction given. If you do not fulfil your role and carry out your work in a satisfactory manner, the theatre reserves the right to recast/replace or remove you from the process/production, in line with well founded industry practice.
• You are required to make yourself available for rehearsal/gigs/ workshops and F.O.H as required. Do not expect to be excused for other employment without prior consent.
DECLARATION
I the undersigned have read, understood and accepted the rules contained in this document.
Signed _____________________________________
Printed Name ________________________________
Course _____________________________________
Date _______________________________________
Parent or guardian (please sign below if the named Actor is under 18)
I have read, understood and support the above contract
Signed_______________________________________
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