Jobs – Clay and Paper Theatre

Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training funded positions

Candidates for this position must be First Nations, Métis or Inuit and reside within the GTA. Successful candidates must be registered or eligible to register with Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30.

Performer – Puppeteers (MB)
Artist Producer Intern (MB)

Canada Summer Jobs funded positions

Candidates for this position must be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period; be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment; and, have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Performer – Puppeteers (CSJ)
Stage Manager (CSJ)
Outreach and Accessibility Engager (CSJ)

Equity Statement

While remaining alert and sensitive to the issue of fair and equitable treatment for all, Clay and Paper Theatre has a special concern for the participation and advancement of members of designated groups that have traditionally been disadvantaged in employment. For this reason, we strongly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, those living with different abilities, plus new immigrants and refugees. If you would like to, please indicate if you self-identify as a member of any equity-seeking groups in your application.

Performer-Puppeteer (MB)

Number of Positions: 3
Funder: Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
Contract: May 30 – August 25, 2023
Wage: $18/hour (35 hours/week @ 13 weeks)
Application Due: March 31, 2023

About Your Role

We are seeking three young people to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You may be an emerging artist. You may be dedicated to activism and social justice. You may be inspired by community-engaged arts. You may be someone who wants to use art to explore the urgent issues of our day. This summer, you’ll get a chance to dive into all of these areas as a performer-puppeteer in Dufferin Grove Park in Tkaronto where we will offer performances, parades and pageantry using large puppets, masks, song, and movement. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.

Scheduling for this position is variable and includes performances in the evenings and on weekends.

About Your Responsibilities

You will become familiar with the company’s anti-harassment/discrimination policies, reporting procedures, and health and safety practices for the studio and park
Learn about the essentials of working as an artist in public space, creating an accessible arts experience and how to be a park host and an ambassador for Clay and Paper Theatre
Attend workshops & training in voice, movement, puppetry & mask
Assist with construction & maintenance of props, costumes, set pieces, masks & puppets
Assist in setup of community outdoor workshops & facilitation of puppet and/or mask building with participants under the lead and supervision of C&P staff artists
Attend rehearsals, learn lines, songs & stage blocking, develop techniques specific to outdoor performance in a public space
Set-up & strike of set & props, get into costume & make-up, complete vocal & physical warm-ups, welcome attendees, perform show
Become familiar with accessibility options for seniors and low-vision audience members, learn how to prepare for a touch tour and and assist with pre-show touch tours
Assist with outreach & promotion of the show, including hands-on promotional activities: put up posters, attend local events in Davenport with a parade or performing a small C&P show teaser, hand out leaflets, participate in photo and video shoots and after show Q&As

From left to right: 1) Image 1: Brendan Austin in Animal Nature, 2015; Image 2: Wasena Joyal-Sinclair in Pigeon Pie, 2019; Image 3: Kitsune Soleil in Our Last Best Hope, 2014

About You

You have theatre, dance, puppetry, and/or musical training or experience.
Production, construction and design skills are also assets.
Clay & Paper Theatre is a small but mighty OUTDOOR theatre company, so applicants must be comfortable and open to working in a non-traditional theatre setting and in public view.
You enjoy and highly value working in a collaborative and community environment.
You are mature, dependable, organized and a self-starter.

About Your Application

Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter explaining why you would like to join our motley crew to auditions.clayandpaper@gmail.com by March 31, 2023. You can also submit a short video and tell us about yourself that way.

Interviews and auditions will begin in mid-April. If you require any accessibility accommodations, let’s talk. We really want to meet you and help create a comfortable space for your interview/audition. PLEASE NOTE: Interview/audition dates may be subject to some adjustments. But we’ll try and keep people as up-to-date as possible.

If you have any questions or would like assistance please don’t hesitate to contact us at clayandpaper@gmail.com or 416-708-3222.

Artist Producer Intern (MB)

Number of Positions: 1
Funder: Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
Contract: May 1, 2023 – March 29, 2024
Wage: $21/hour (35 hours/week @ 48 weeks)
Application Due: March 31, 2023

About Your Role

We are seeking a Producer intern who will work closely with the Artistic and Managing Directors and support the theatre’s short and long-term planning while upholding the company’s mission, which supports artists (puppeteers-performers, builders, musicians, playwrights, directors, etc.), as they work in public space and engage deeply with stories of importance to local communities.

You are a curious person, with a love of art and theatre, and with an interest in supporting the artistic and administrative functions of Clay and Paper Theatre. You enjoy working in a fast-paced, artistically engaging, and collaborative work environment. You think working in parks is an amazing opportunity to explore and build community connections and arts access.

About Your Responsibilities

You will work closely with the C&P team to support the creative development of productions. This will include helping to plan, coordinate and manage C&P workshops, plays, festivals and other performances and events.
Support will include helping to build budgets, create rehearsal and production schedules, assist with contracts and city permits, manage production timelines, organize staff and volunteers, create and track invoices and artists’ payments.
You will also assist with creating marketing materials, planning communications and updating and maintaining the Clay & Paper Theatre website, social media accounts, newsletter, and information systems.
You will help with creating, launching and tracking our fundraising campaigns and donors using our CanadaHelps site and tools.
Manage and maintain all office supplies and equipment.
Where necessary, assist with workshops, rehearsals, and Front-of-House.

From left to right: 1) 2015/16 Miziwe Biik Production Manager Intern, Sandra Mannila 2) 2022/23 Miziwe Biik Artistic Director Intern, Jordan M.Burns 3) 2019/20 Miziwe Biik Producer and Studio Artist Intern, Jesse Wabegijig

About You

You have experience or training in an artistic, production or communications field
Creatively driven and enjoy working directly with artists and creators
Excellent written and oral communication skills
A familiarity, experience with budgeting and/or bookkeeping are assets
Exceptional organizational skills with keen attention to detail
Strong computer skills, including practical, working knowledge of design software and website maintenance are assets
Self-directed, able to work independently and as part of a team
Flexibility to adjust work schedule to evenings and/or weekends as required.
A Driver’s Licence is a major asset

About Your Application

Interviews will begin in mid-April. If you require any accessibility accommodations, let’s talk. We really want to meet you and help create a comfortable space for your interview/audition. PLEASE NOTE: Interview dates may be subject to some adjustments. But we’ll try and keep people as up-to-date as possible.

If you have any questions or would like assistance please don’t hesitate to contact us at clayandpaper@gmail.com or 416-708-3222.

Performer-Puppeteer (CSJ)

Number of Positions: 6
Funder: Canada Summer Jobs
Contract: May 30 – August 20, 2023
Wage: $18/hour (35 hours/week @ 12 weeks)
Application Due: March 31, 2023

About Your Role

We are seeking six young people to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You may be an emerging artist. You may be dedicated to activism and social justice. You may be inspired by community-engaged arts. You may be someone who wants to use art to explore the urgent issues of our day. This summer, you’ll get a chance to dive into all of these areas as a performer-puppeteer in Dufferin Grove Park in Tkaronto where we will offer performances, parades and pageantry using large puppets, masks, song, and movement. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.

Scheduling for this position is variable and includes performances in the evenings and on weekends.

About Your Responsibilities

You will become familiar with the company’s anti-harassment/discrimination policies, reporting procedures, and health and safety practices for the studio and park
Learn about the essentials of working as an artist in public space, creating an accessible arts experience and how to be a park host and an ambassador for Clay and Paper Theatre
Attend workshops & training in voice, movement, puppetry & mask
Assist with construction & maintenance of props, costumes, set pieces, masks & puppets
Assist in setup of community outdoor workshops & facilitation of puppet and/or mask building with participants under the lead and supervision of C&P staff artists
Attend rehearsals, learn lines, songs & stage blocking, develop techniques specific to outdoor performance in a public space
Set-up & strike of set & props, get into costume & make-up, complete vocal & physical warm-ups, welcome attendees, perform show
Become familiar with accessibility options for seniors and low-vision audience members, learn how to prepare for a touch tour and and assist with pre-show touch tours
Assist with outreach & promotion of the show, including hands-on promotional activities: put up posters, attend local events in Davenport with a parade or performing a small C&P show teaser, hand out leaflets, participate in photo and video shoots and after show Q&As

From left to right: 1) The Green Man at the Day of Delight Festival, 2015, Cameron Grant and Laura-Lee Lewis 2) Bee Line on the Green Line, 2017, in rehearsal: Rain Richardson, Kelly Seo, Nicholson Sampedro-Sillmann, Alexa MacDougall, Pesch Nepoose and Samuel Magnan; 3) From Pigeon Pie, 2019, Alicia Rosario

About You

You are between the ages of 18 and 30, as per Canada Summer Jobs requirements.
Theatre, dance, puppetry, and/or musical experience are assets.
Production, construction and design skills are also assets.
Clay & Paper Theatre is a small but mighty OUTDOOR theatre company, so applicants must be comfortable and open to working in a non-traditional theatre setting and in public view.
You enjoy and highly value working in a collaborative and community environment.
You are mature, dependable, organized and a self-starter.

About Your Application

Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter explaining why you would like to join our motley crew to auditions.clayandpaper@gmail.com by March 31, 2023. You can also submit a short video and tell us about yourself that way.

Stage Manager (CSJ)

Number of Positions: 1
Funder: Canada Summer Jobs
Contract: May 30 – August 20, 2023
Wage: $19/hour (35 hours/week @ 12 weeks)
Application Due: March 31, 2023

About Your Role

We are seeking one Stage Manager to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You’ll get a chance to work with a company of emerging artists as we explore the unique elements of theatre and community-engaged arts in a public park setting. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be possible opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.

Scheduling for this position is variable and includes performances in the evenings and on weekends.

About Your Responsibilities

You will become familiar with the company’s anti-harassment/discrimination policies, reporting procedures, and health and safety practices for the studio and park
Learn about the essentials of working as an artist in public space, creating an accessible arts experience and how to be a park host and an ambassador for Clay and Paper Theatre
Prepare/revise production schedules, distributing them to all staff via a shared Google Drive folder, write rehearsal reports, prepare a prompt script, and serve as a key communications conduit between all company and production staff.
Contribute to daily production meetings and show reports, with oral and written updates; take Artistic Director blocking notes; document audience feedback in the show report book.
Maintain and organize the Field House workshop, assist with monitoring health and safety practices with regards to workshop tools, and assist with implementation of Covid-19 protocols with staff and audiences (during performances).
Encourage teamwork by preparing and organizing the workshop, rehearsal and performance spaces with the assistance of performer-puppeteers, delegating the tasks of daily set-up and strike of props, set, costumes, puppets, signage, box office and front-of-house materials.
Source materials for and assist with the construction and maintenance of props, costumes, set pieces, masks and puppets.
After each performance, assist with giving notes to the performers.

From left to right: 1) Henrique Santsper, Puppeteer/Performer, 2022; Image 2: 2018 Sophie Bouey and Keely Krall, Puppeteer/Performers, 2; Image 3: Abi Stushnoff, Puppeteer/Performer, 2022

About You

You are between the ages of 18 and 30, as per Canada Summer Jobs requirements.
A Driver’s Licence is a major asset
You have theatre or theatre production training, or experience.
You are comfortable using construction/workshop tools.
Puppetry experience and/or prop building and painting skills and knowledge are all assets.
Clay & Paper Theatre is a small but mighty OUTDOOR theatre company, so applicants must be comfortable and open to working in a non-traditional theatre setting and in public view.
You enjoy and highly value working in a collaborative and community environment.
You are mature, dependable, extremely organized, a problem-solver and a self-starter.

About Your Application

Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter explaining why you would like to join our motley crew to auditions.clayandpaper@gmail.com by March 31, 2023. You can also submit a short video and tell us about yourself that way.

Interviews will begin in mid-April. If you require any accessibility accommodations, let’s talk. We really want to meet you and help create a comfortable space for your interview/audition. PLEASE NOTE: Interview/audition dates may be subject to some adjustments. But we’ll try and keep people as up-to-date as possible.

If you have any questions or would like assistance please don’t hesitate to contact us at clayandpaper@gmail.com or 416-708-3222.

Outreach and Accessibility Engager (CSJ)

Number of Positions: 1
Funder: Canada Summer Jobs
Contract: May 30 – August 20, 2023
Wage: $20/hour (35 hours/week @ 12 weeks)
Application Due: March 31, 2023

About Your Role

We are seeking one Outreach and Accessibility Engager to provide assistance and support for our summer performances, with a focus on developing and revising communications and accessibility tools and working in a community outreach role. Our main project will be our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction.

While a portion of this work will be in-person (research, interviews, photos, etc), communications and accessibility tools development and community outreach can take place independently and virtually, with the opportunity for daily and weekly online and in-person review, instruction and guidance with the C&P staff.

Scheduling for this position is variable and includes performances in the evenings and on weekends.

About Your Responsibilities

You will become familiar with the company’s anti-harassment/discrimination policies, reporting procedures, and health and safety practices for the studio and park
Become familiar with C&P’s particular brand of community-engaged, multi-disciplinary theatre, by speaking with the Artistic Directors, and attending and observing the performer/puppeteer training, production and rehearsal work onsite in Dufferin Grove Park.
Be a welcoming park host and an informed and friendly Clay and Paper Theatre ambassador with our main stakeholders – community members, park-users and audience members, especially when assisting with Front of House and leading audience accessibility opportunities like the Touch Tours.
Revise existing accessibility tools (Accessibility Guide) and develop new ones (Visual Guide and Touch Tour script) for this year’s production.
Coordinate, manage and conduct interviews with the artists, puppeteers and other project participants to assist with creating social media content.
Create promotional opportunities and content for different platforms such as social media, website, press releases and newsletters.
Gather community and audience feedback for grant reporting purposes and coordinating with the show puppeteers to gather their audience experiences, anecdotes and feedback.
Lead some outreach and community-engagement initiatives, building relationships with our stakeholders through emails and follow-up phone calls to invite communities to our workshops and performances.

From left to right: 1) Metcalf Artistic Director Intern, 2014, Michaud Garneau 2) Outreach & Accessibility Engager, Soka Lazara, 2022. 3) Communications & Marketing Assistant, Smita Misra, 2013

About You

You are between the ages of 18 and 30, as per Canada Summer Jobs requirements.
Knowledge of or experience in accessibility studies, or community-engaged arts, or journalism or digital arts (including photography +/design +/videography) are preferred.
Clay & Paper Theatre is a small but mighty OUTDOOR theatre company, so applicants must be comfortable and open to working in a non-traditional theatre setting.
You enjoy and highly value working in a collaborative and community environment.
You are a great communicator and listener, mature, dependable, organized and a self-starter.

About Your Application

Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter explaining why you would like to join our motley crew to auditions.clayandpaper@gmail.com by March 31, 2023. You can also submit a short video and tell us about yourself that way.