Current Opportunities:
Outreach Officer

Job description: 

Under the direction of Fio, the Outreach Officer would actively promote and engage with new diverse audiences with a particular focus on those with connections to Somalia for ‘The Orchard of Lost Souls’ Research and Development Project, in person and through online platforms. The following duties would also be expected: 

• To lead on developing 3 outreach  community exchange days exploring ‘The Orchard of Lost Souls’ ideas and story

• To provide administrative support and ideas in the implementation of the strategic planning for engaging a wide range of communities both online and in-person 

• Thinking about the longer term audience development opportunities for the planned UK tour

• Aligning planning, marketing and outreach engagement to target new relationships and develop new diverse audiences

• To lead on Fio’s involvement with external organisations and build on the contacts Fio has made (including schools, grassroot and community groups, theatres) through partnership working to reach a wider audience

• To support with project evaluation by collecting and analysing audience data to evaluate audience profile and identify areas for growth and improvement

• Actively support us to discover emerging talent, especially those currently not engaged with theatre or the arts 

• To support Fio as a whole and promote the company and ethos and values 

Personal Specification:  

• Ability to communicate Fio’s brand with various community groups

• A strong link with the local community in and surrounding Cardiff

• Confident in using Microsoft Office platforms, including Word, Excel, 

• Strong communicator, both online and in person  

• Knowledge or passion for working with local communities and social change

• Ability to work flexibly and take initiative where necessary 

• Ability to prioritise and balance workload 

• Creatively driven: comes up with new ideas

• Team player 

• Self-motivated

• Prepared to learn new skills 

Rate:

£1500 total at a daily rate of £80 (fixed term contract)

Commitment:

14 October - 14 December 2019 (9 weeks)

With the possibility of longer term employment to assist the needs of the UK tour of The Orchards of Lost Souls, taking place in 2020/2021. 

It is imagined the time commitment will be 2 days a week with some flexibility required to meet the demands of the project in busier periods i.e. during the facilitation of the community exchange events. In this way, this makes the role more flexible, as it will inevitably involve remote working, as well as office work. The schedule of work will be agreed upon confirmation of success of the applicant. 

If you meet the above criteria and would like to apply or find out more about the role, please email jasmine@wearefio.co.uk with your CV and cover letter outlining why this role is for you. 

Closing Date for Applications: Monday 30th September 2019

Interview Date: Monday 7th October 2019

Casting Call: Actresses

Fio is casting for the final phase R&D of our stage adaptation of Nadifa Mohammed’s ‘The Orchard of Lost Souls’. The first phase saw development take place at The Yard, London and The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and The Sherman in Cardiff. This final phase will take place between London (venue TBC) and Cardiff (Chapter Arts Centre) with the end goal of creating a full production, which tours across the UK in 2020 with the view to go to Edinburgh Fringe in 2021.

The novel tells the story of the Somali Civil War through the eyes of three female characters:

• ●  Deqo: a female orphan, playing age 9

• ●  Kawsar: an old widow, playing age 55-65

• ●  Filsan: a young female, soldier, playing age mid to late 20s

• 
  

  They will work with Fio’s Artistic Director Abdul Shayek, Ayesha Antione (writer), Sarah Wright (puppeteer), Andile Sotiya (movement director) and Jenny Sealey (access consultant).

  We are looking to engage four female performers for two weeks for the period of 25th November - 6th December 2019 (excluding weekends) culminating in two sharings/ performances at the end of each consecutive week in Cardiff and London respectively.

  
  

  This two week rehearsal period will be paid £500 per week, a total of £1000; we will also cover travel to Cardiff and accommodation in Cardiff.

  
  

  We are looking for 4 female performers with connections to East African heritage or Somali background or as near to it as possible. We want to work with actresses:

• who are comfortable with playing multiple roles

• good improvisers

• strong at devising

• ability to work under pressure

• happy to be quite physical

• are great storytellers

• are generous collaborators

• playful and fun loving

  
  

  Age is currently not relevant to this casting process. If you are quite inexperienced but interested in the project, please get in touch as we are keen to meet as many people as possible.

  
  

It isn’t necessary for the actresses to be able to speak other languages. However, they may need to learn and use various phrases, which will be learnt in the room.

If you are available and interested, please could you send your CV and showreel to nicole@wearefio.co.uk or an email of interest.

We will be holding workshop auditions in London early November (location and date TBC).

For performance opportunities casting@wearefio.co.uk

For other opportunities info@wearefio.co.uk

We are looking for volunteers to support us during our Fio:Futures Autumn Programme! Please get in touch at fiofutures@wearefio.co.uk

Are you an Academic who loves writing and researching? We are currently looking for an External Researcher to review our Fio:Futures programme! Please get in touch at hello@wearefio.co.uk