Work Placement Opportunities: Ar Waith, Ar Daith


Walk the Plank
Work Placement Opportunities


Project: Ar Waith, Ar Daith

On 12 September 2015 an audience of up to 10,000 gather outside the Wales
Millennium Centre as dusk falls. Processions and performers, stories and songs,
filmed vignettes and astonishing projections help us ravel and unravel a celebration
fit for this beautiful building, ten years after it was opened: an outdoor performance
that is rooted in, but different from, the inspiring work that takes place within. The
event will signal to the rest of the country that the Wales Millennium Centre is facing
outwards too…looking beyond Cardiff for connections with artists and communities
across Wales.



Work Placement Opportunities

The work placements offered for this project will be specific to the needs of the
individual they are attached to. The placement will be a maximum of 3 months /
minimum of 1 week duration but can be a defined number of days within this period.
These are very much a gateway opportunity – looking for individuals who have
graduated from a course and wishing to gain experience in a chosen field.

This is an opportunity to gain real experience and knowledge of both the process
and product on this vast and varied event production.

The placement will be assisting specific managers of the creative process, in a
supported learning environment.

You must be keen to learn, able to work under instruction as well as demonstrate
initiative. They must be enthusiastic, reliable and be able to work as part of a team.
Some roles will draw on specific skills – such as design computer programmes and
lighting board operation (as examples).

The Placements will need to comply too company Health & Safety practise and
regulations.

Placements will be recruited via an application process from advertised posts,
including being interviewed by their manager.
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Expenses – The Work placement will be based primarily in Cardiff or working
remotely with their manager.

Agreed travel and away from home expenses will be reimbursed as part of the
production expenses system.

After a successful Work placement Walk the Plank would offer an employment
reference.


Comments from previous Placements on Walk the Plank projects

It has given me a real boost in confidence for the creative processes in which I
engage in. Its also a good production to have added to my c.v. I made a lot of really
good friends during my time (on the project) and it’s good to know that these people
are folk that can be called upon for their creative opinions or skills, if needs ever be!

Support and encouragement from other artists throughout has been wonderful.
The confidence in our work expressed (by the project) has been particularly
motivating.
The opportunity to work in this environment has given us a great opportunity to
collaborate and take certain risks. The success of this creative relationship is
particularly exciting for the future.

This event has assured me that I would love a career in this kind of field as it opens
up so many different aspects where different skills are required as well as the
opportunity to meet so many different kinds of people from different walks of life and
I really enjoyed that as it makes for sociable and interesting work. I believe that this
experience has helped me to build a foundation of skills in which I can build upon in
my future career.

So much it's hard to summarise. Not only to apply what I've been taught to a different
environment then that which I'm used to, but I've gained so much knowledge of
things I knew so little about - crowd and traffic management, types of vehicle and
equipment hire and usage,... regulations, documentation and licensing.

I think the moments when the artists and volunteers got chance to work and chat
about what inspires them and their thought processes really helped to build up an
idea of where everyone came from in an art form. It felt like a little community of
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creativity and it would be great to have the workshop open all year round for people
like me who don't have a studio as such.

The overall experience was fantastic; it was great to work with your team as they are
very friendly creative and good at what they do!


Application Process
If one of the following posts interests you – please send a letter of application to
sarah.cole@walktheplank.co.uk by the 30 th April 2015. Interviews will be held during
May and successful candidates will be notified by the beginning of June.


Work Placement: Performance Director / Choreography Assistant

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work in a key role within the Artistic
team for Ar Waith Ar Daith, a large scale outdoor show to celebrate the 10 th
Anniversary of the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Duties will include:

  • Assisting with the rehearsal process and supporting the Performance Director and Choreographer 
  • Working as part of a team but also able to work on your own, take initiative and deal with problem solving on the ground 
  • Lead large groups in an assertive, confident but friendly manner 
  • Work with both professional performers and community participant performers to include everything from individuals, small groups and performing groups of 
  • over 100 people 
  • Support aerial performers who’s performance will take place from large telescopic cranes 
  • Working at height on roof tops 
  • The use of 2 way radios, wired and wireless comms in a clear and professional manner 


Essential attributes:

  • Previous experience of dance, movement, or performance techniques 
  • Previous experience of performance work 
  • To have a good working knowledge of H&S and confident to communicate best practice others in a working scenario
  • Friendly & approachable 
  • Assertive and confident 
  • Organised and thorough in their work 
  • Punctual 


Desired attributes:

  • Some knowledge of outdoor events and/or large cast productions 
  • Experience of performance 
  • Drivers licence and a vehicle 


Commitment required:
4 th – 12 th September inclusive – these dates may alter slightly
Days will at times be long
FYI:
Tech: Thursday 10 th September
Dress: Friday 11 th September
Show: Saturday 12 th September

We will provide:

  • Catering for Lunches and/or evening meal (1 or 2 meals dependent on the 
  • hours worked that day) throughout the Work placement duration 
  • An exciting, fun, challenging and unique experience 
  • References and access to some documentation post event 
  • Travel expenses, (to be agreed with your line manager) 


Please note: The show is outdoors and we will be working outdoors whatever the
weather to make and deliver the show. You are advised to have suitable waterproof
clothing and footwear so that you can carry out your job in rainy and windy
conditions.


___________________________________________________________________


Work Placement: Producer Assistant

This Work placement gives the successful applicant an opportunity to work closely
with the Producer and Associate Producer for Ar Waith Ar Daith, a large scale
outdoor show to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Wales Millennium Centre,
Cardiff, giving an insight into the role of the Producer on an event on this scale.

Ar Waith Ar Daith Producers:
John Wassell ‘Creative Producer’ for Ar Waith Ar Daith (Salford based)
Sarah Cole ‘Associate Producer’ for Ar Waith Ar Daith (Cardiff based)

Successful applicants would get the opportunity to join either John and /or Sarah on
some of their meetings, shadow them at select times, act as their PA and assist in
their workload if appropriate.

Producer’s Assistant duties will include:

  • Assist the Creative Producer and the Associate Producer on their daily tasks and roles 
  • Working as part of a team but also being able to take direction and work under your own steam on set tasks 
  • Liaise between departments on behalf of the Creative Producer and Associate Producer 
  • Attending meetings, writing the minutes and circulating post meeting 
  • Undertake admin tasks – photocopying, laminating, writing up minutes 



Essential attributes:
• Previous Production Assistant experience on outdoor events/ theatre/TV/Media type work
• Friendly, Approachable
• Assertive and confident
• Good telephone and ‘in person’ manner
• Computer literate
• Organised and thorough in their work
• Punctual

Desired attributes:
• Some knowledge of outdoor events and or large cast productions
• Have your own lap top that you are happy to use for work on AWAD
• Driver licence and a vehicle
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Commitment required:
Ad hoc meetings in June and July
August – part time commitment (Monday to Friday – there is the ability to work
around paid work you have)
1 st – 13 th September inclusive

Ideally the role would be based in Cardiff at the Wales Millennium Centre, supporting
John remotely and when he is in Cardiff

Days will at times be long
Tech: Thursday 10th September
Dress: Friday 11th September
Show: Saturday 12th September
Clear up: Sunday 13 th September

We will provide:
• Catering for lunches and/or evening meal (1 or 2 meals dependent on the
hours worked that day) throughout the Work placement duration
• An exciting, fun, challenging and unique experience
• References and access to some documentation post event
Travel expenses (to be agreed with your line manager)

___________________________________________________________________


Work Placement: Production/Site Assistant

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work in a key role within the
production team for Ar Waith Ar Daith, a large scale outdoor show to celebrate the
10th Anniversary of the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Production / Site Assistant duties will include:
• Assist the Production Manager and Site Manager on their daily tasks and
roles
• Working as part of a team but also being able to take direction and work
under your own steam on set tasks
• Assist with the day to day running of the site office which can include:
• Receiving and making phone calls, emails etc
• Meeting & greeting visitors and contractors to the site
• Booking, hiring and ordering items needed
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• Research online for items needed
• Filing, printing, laminating,
• Running errands
• Creating and/or managing spreadsheets
• Liaise between departments on behalf of the Production Manager and Site
Manager

Essential attributes:
• Previous Production Assistant experience on outdoor events/
theatre/TV/Media type work
• Friendly, Approachable
• Assertive and confident
• Good telephone and ‘in person’ manner
• Computer literate
• Organised and thorough in their work
• Punctual

Desired attributes:
• Some knowledge of outdoor events and or large cast productions
• Have your own lap top that you are happy to use for work on AWAD
• Driver licence and a vehicle

Commitment required:
4 th – 15 th September 2015
Days will at times be long
Tech: Thursday 10th September
Dress: Friday 11th September
Show: Saturday 12th September
Clear up: Sunday 13th – Wednesday 15 th September

We will provide:

  • Catering for lunches and/or evening meal (1 or 2 meals dependent on the 
  • hours worked that day) throughout the Work placement duration 
  • An exciting, fun, challenging and unique experience 
  • References and access to some documentation post event
  • Travel expenses (to be agreed with your line manager) 


Please note: The show is outdoors and we will be working outdoors whatever the
weather to make and deliver the show. You are advised to have suitable waterproof
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clothing and footwear so that you can carry out your job in rainy and windy
conditions.

___________________________________________________________________


Work Placement: Technical Assistant: Possible 3 posts

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work in a key role within the Artistic
Production team for Ar Waith Ar Daith, a large scale outdoor show to celebrate the
10th Anniversary of the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Technical Assistant duties will include:

  • Assist the Lighting, Sound and Projection Designers (each technical intern will 
  • be placed with one of the departments) 
  • Working as part of a team but also being able to take direction and work 
  • under your own steam on set tasks 
  • Assist with the technical installations on site 
  • Work as part of the technical crew 
  • Possible operation opportunities 


Essential attributes:
• Previous technical experience on outdoor events/ theatre/TV/Media type work
• Friendly, Approachable
• Assertive and confident
• Personable
• Computer literate
• Organised and thorough in their work
• Punctual

Desired attributes:
• Some knowledge of outdoor events and or large cast productions
• Driver licence and a vehicle

Commitment required:
7th – 13th September 2015
Days will at times be long
Tech: Thursday 10th September
Dress: Friday 11th September
Show: Saturday 12th September
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We will provide:
• Catering for lunches and/or evening meal (1 or 2 meals dependent on the
hours worked that day) throughout the Work placement duration
• An exciting, fun, challenging and unique experience
• References and access to some documentation post event
 Travel expenses(to be agreed with your line manager)

Please note: The show is outdoors and we will be working outdoors whatever the
weather to make and deliver the show. You are advised to have suitable waterproof
clothing and footwear so that you can carry out your job in rainy and windy
conditions.

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