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Freelance Sound Designer, Novo Theatre (formerly November Club)

  •  North East
  •  Under £10K
  •  Part time
  •  Closes December 9, 2025
  •  Louise Taylor-Asheg
  •  info@novotheatre.org.uk
  • #Theatre

Description

Job Summary

Novo Theatre are seeking an experienced North-East based freelance sound designer to work on a new theatrical installation opening in York in early February 2026.

Job Description

Novo Theatre are seeking an experienced North-East based freelance sound designer to work on a new theatrical installation opening in York in early February 2026.

The installation will be live in a museum space for 4 weeks, creating an immersive environment for live performance and audience exploration. The creative is still in development - at this stage we can confirm:

  • The piece will be based on the experience of visiting Victorian York with sound design elements helping to ground and set the scene
  • The installation is likely to include the voices of members of a community consultation group and/or actors voicing characters
  • Content is likely to include a combination of voices, sounds FX and potentially simple underscoring

We anticipate the following key deliverables:

  • Up to 3 soundscapes installed at different places in the museum
  • A vocal recording of key actor dialogue to play in place of actors in case of absence/contingency
  • A next-stage plan, to be developed with the Production Manager, for delivering sound as part of a potential next stage of the project (to include longer term installation)

The sound designer will work closely with Novo Theatre's Production Manager and our partner museum's technical team to ensure that the material they create can be installed with a combination of new and pre-existing technical equipment.

A fee of £2100 to represent 7 days at £300 (based on an 8 hour day) Hours will vary through the project. We anticipate this breaking down as:

  • 1 day total in pre-production meetings
  • 3.5 days of creative design and creation
  • 2 days on-site installation
  • 0.5 days post project write up/identifying next steps

This role is part of our Novo Talent Programme. In addition to the freelance contract the following development package will be available:

  • 8 hours of external mentoring
  • £400 personal CPD budget
  • Introductions to regional contacts, including 1 in-person facilitated meeting
  • Access to hot-desk space at the Novo Theatre office

Job Requirements

Your Skills and Experience

Minimum criteria:

  • Demonstrable experience of high-quality theatrical sound design in professional theatre or installation.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with artistic collaborators and commissioning partners.
  • Experience of working to tight creative briefs
  • Experience of working with live actors and recorded sound.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
  • An interest in site specific and immersive theatre and a desire to develop skills and experience in these areas.
  • Based in the North East of England or able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the region.

It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:

  • Experience of site specific and immersive theatre
  • Experience of working in museums or a heritage environment

Job Responsibilities

Key Deliverables

  • Attend regular meetings with Novo Theatre's Artistic Director.
  • Attend wider meetings relating to the project, including an on-site visit with the Artistic Director, Designer and Production Manager.
  • Work with the Production Manager and Museum Technical Manager to advise on the install of sound using new and existing equipment.
  • Provide the sound design for three moments/spaces.
  • Undertake vocal recordings of actors/participants as required.
  • Provide a 'next steps' plan for longer term installation of sound content to Novo Theatre and the museum no later than the end of March 2026. This will include ballpark costings to be agreed with Novo's Artistic Director & Production Manager.

Indicative working hours are:

  • 9am - 6pm pre-production
  • 9am - 9pm during production

Useful Links

How to Apply

You can apply in written, audio or video formats. Please provide:

Your CV in written format with relevant experience highlighted OR an audio/video file of up to two minutes highlighting relevant experience from your CV.

Two examples of your work, this can be links to content, reviews or website pages.

The details of two referees who can speak to the quality of your work

Please email these to [email protected] including SOUND DESIGNER in the subject line of your email.

Please provide any audio/video files via WeTransfer, Office 365 or Google Drive.

Timescales

Deadline for applications 9am Tuesday 9 December. We will acknowledge safe receipt of your application by email.
Invitations to interview emailed afternoon of Tuesday 9 December.

Deadline to respond to invitation to interview 12 noon Wednesday 10 December.

Interviews 10am – 4pm Thursday 11 December.

ALL applicants notified of outcome on Friday 12 December.

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