20 Stories High – Artistic Leadership Job pack Contents 1. Welcome 2. About Us 3. Our Work 4. The Role 5. Key Qualities 6. Terms and Conditions 7. How To Apply 8. Get in Touch This pack is available in a range of formats including dyslexia-friendly, large print, and screen reader compatible versions. If you have a more specific formatting requirement, please let us know by emailing recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk we will try our best to provide this for you. 1. Welcome 20 Stories High was founded by Julia Samuels and Keith Saha in 2006 as an organisation dedicated to making world-class, groundbreaking theatre with (and for) culturally diverse, working-class young people in many contexts and settings. We have gone through many changes over this time, adapting and evolving to meet the needs of audiences and participants in Liverpool and across the UK. But our mission has always remained the same: to collaborate with young people and communities to develop the stories they want to tell through the art forms they own and want to see. After 20 years of hard work and success, co-founder Keith Saha will be stepping down in 2026 to pursue making new kinds of theatre with and for adult audiences. 20 Stories High is now entering a new era and inviting fresh artistic leadership to help shape our next chapter. We are looking for artistic leadership to work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive Director that can drive the company forward with ambitious, excellent and equitable theatre and art for culturally diverse and working-class young people and young adults. We are focusing on hope, wellbeing and doing all we can to create the highest quality work and participatory opportunities. Exploring what our role is within the theatre sector, we will continuing to push ourselves creatively, redefining what it means to be an activist organisation, and continue to place wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. 2. About Us 20 Stories High believe that “everybody’s got a story to tell… and their own way of telling it.” We create bold, excellent theatre, music and art experiences with and for culturally diverse, working-class, disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, LGBTIQA+ young people and communities, emerging artists, and world-class professionals. We tell stories that bring joy, empower, and enable social change—inhabiting a wide variety of spaces: from theatres, community centres, and schools to digital platforms, living rooms, and bus stops. Our heart is in Liverpool, but our reach is universal. We are a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and have built a national reputation for co-creation, innovation, and activism. We champion Hip Hop, spoken word, music, and storytelling that reflects our communities. Our work is joyful, inclusive, political—and always rooted in the lived experiences of the people we make it with. Our Vision A world where culturally diverse, working-class, disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, LGBTIQA+ young people and communities are equally valued, seen and heard by the most diverse audience possible. Our Mission To make theatre and creative projects with and for underrepresented communities, emerging artists, and world-class professionals. To create bold, heartfelt, and unique experiences that enable social change. To collaborate with young people and communities to develop the stories they want to tell through the art forms they own and want to see. Our Strategic Aims 1. To offer excellent participatory experiences allowing access for all. 2. To train, develop and collaborate with the next generation of theatre makers and artists. 3. To produce and tour new theatre and shows, for diverse audiences – locally, nationally and internationally, in a variety of imaginative community spaces and venues. Our Values 20 Stories High value Equity, Wellbeing and Activism. 3. Our Work See some examples of our work: * High Times and Dirty Monsters (National Tour 2023 full show) * I told my Mum I was going on an RE Trip (BBC film adaptation 2018) * Black with a Capital B (film) * Black, Scouse & Proud (film) * Access Manifesto: A New Chapter in the arts 2025 (film) * State of Mind: wellbeing in everything we do 2022 (film) For more information about 20 Stories, including a snapshot of our organisational structure and current finances, please click here to view the ‘Additional background information’ document. The Role To artistically lead 20 Stories High and to curate a programme that is high quality, inclusive and accessible. Working with the Co-CEO/Executive Director to ensure the company thrives and is sustainable. With Co-founder Keith Saha stepping down in 2026, we are now entering a new era and inviting fresh artistic leadership to help shape our next chapter. We are looking for artistic leadership to work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive Director that can drive the company forward with ambitious, excellent and equitable theatre and art for culturally diverse and working-class young people and communities. We’re not prescribing a job title or specific structure for the role. Instead, we are sharing the personal and professional key essentials for the job and inviting you to bring your own vision of artistic leadership to the table. You might apply as one of the following: * Co-CEO/Artistic Director * Artistic Director – with an aim to develop into Co-CEO/AD * Job share between two – splitting the role part-time across two people What matters most is that you are aligned with our values, committed to co-creation with young people and communities, and ready to lead with creativity, integrity, and care. Our current programme takes us into 2026, and beyond that this role will be critical in shaping the future plans and programme. There are lots of opportunities to ask questions, meet the team and explore further what this could look like. If you’ve got a vision for what 20 Stories High could be, or you want to discuss it before applying—we want to hear from you. a. Future Plans We’re entering an exciting phase of reflection and experimentation as we turn 20 this coming year. We are giving so much collaborative thought to the programme for 2026 and beyond, exploring how we can continue to evolve our practice to serve our communities in the best ways possible. Our future plans include: * Growing our co-creation practice with young people and communities * Experimenting with theatre and live performance in a variety of community settings and digital spaces * Creatively developing our film/digital and wraparound activities offer * Continuing to prioritise wellbeing and mental health in all areas of our work * Advancing our anti-racism, allyship, equity and inclusion commitments * Strengthening partnerships across the Liverpool City Region and beyond * Empowering the next generation of artists and leaders * Marking our 20th birthday with a year-long creative celebration * Continuing to develop our partnerships and investors for our future programme of shows, participatory activities and projects b. Our 2026 Programme Below is the list of current programme commitments and plans for 2026. Key areas of the programme will be artistically led by our Associate Director. Some elements are funding-dependent. Youth & Community Engagement * Youth Theatre – A creative home for young people aged 13-18 to co-create bold new performances, with a focus on urban art forms * Community Company – A collective of adults (18+) creating a new piece of theatre to be performed this February at LIPA * Outreach Projects – Engaging young people across Liverpool City Region through workshops, residencies, and participatory projects * Windsor Street Primary School Partnership – collaboration bringing arts into the heart of the school through an after-school arts club * A new Trans-led creative project, led by Artist Felix Mufti, bringing trans experiences to life through theatre, music, poetry, film, and dance. * Films and creative workshops – launching an offer of wraparound activities to explore our short and long-form films * Changemakers – Development programme for Young Leaders and Activists Professional Development Programme * Writers Lab – Supporting six emerging writers to create work for young adult audiences, showcasing work in January * Professional Development programme for local creatives – building on Actors and Writers LAB Shows, Live performances & R&D (research and development) * Half Rice, Half Chips – A new show co-created with Paisleigh Bi to take place in Chinese chippies in the North-West, exploring Black Chinese heritage in Liverpool, with a music participation project * Mini Gigs & music projects– Music-led performances in unexpected settings (secure units, youth clubs, children’s homes), bringing live music, stories, spoken word, and Hip-Hop Theatre to those who don’t usually access it. * Research and Development on a new show for young audiences in 2027 Organisational Commitments * Anti-Racism, Allyship, and Inclusion – A long-term commitment embedded across all we do, including wellbeing and social events and gatherings * Power Up – Our EDIA Programme – A dedicated strand advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and activism * Hybrid and Digital Innovation – Piloting new approaches beyond traditional theatre * State of Mind – Prioritising wellbeing, mental health, and co-creation within our team and processes * Access Manifesto – Embedding inclusive practices in all our work with and for Disabled artists and collaborators * 20th Birthday Celebrations – A year of reflection, creativity, and community celebration in 2026 * Creative community – commitment to engage with and develop creatives within Liverpool City Region c. Inclusion and Representation It is important to us that the lived experience of our team accurately and fairly represents our participants, audiences and communities we serve. We want to ensure our staff are able to understand, connect and whole-heartedly collaborate with our young people and communities, leading with compassion and empathy in order to make positive social change and high-quality art. We strongly believe in having a diverse team, and we specifically welcome applications from the following groups, which we know are under-represented in the cultural sector and beyond. Welcoming candidates who are: * Of African or Caribbean, South Asian, East or Southeast Asian, or mixed heritage, or other people of the Global Majority* * Deaf, disabled or/and neurodivergent * Working-class * LGBTQIA+ * This includes but is not exclusive to people of Middle Eastern, Arab, Latinx, Jewish, Romany and Irish Traveller heritage. d. Safeguarding 20 Stories High are committed to working together for the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our process, 20SH will seek to understand applicants' suitability to work with children, young people and adults at risk. Successful applicants will undergo formal checks for their suitability of work and will receive a thorough safeguarding induction, including key contacts for the reporting of abuse. To see our latest safeguarding policy, please click HERE. Key Qualities We know leadership comes in many forms, so we are not fixed on a specific or conventional job description and person specification. Instead, we have listed key personal and professional qualities. We are not expecting anyone to be an expert in every bullet point below, but to have a desire and commitment to developing where gaining that experience has not yet been possible. On appointment, we will create a detailed job description that matches the role and the qualities and experience. We will create a development plan together to ensure we are investing and supporting any development needed. This could include mentoring or coaching, shadowing others, paid training or research time. Key Artistic Practice experience * Passion for creative innovation, experimentation and pushing creative boundaries * Creating professional theatre with and for young people * Co-creating with communities, new actors or professional actors in high quality professional shows with artistic teams for diverse audiences * A track record of high-quality artistic work * Leading and collaborating with creative teams and producers * Creating shows for audiences in any of the following settings: theatre venues, community spaces, outdoor/public settings, or digital environments – and at different scales * Making work accessible and inclusive * Developing young creatives and creating talent pathways * Practice that centres the wellbeing and the safeguarding of teams, young people and audiences Key Leadership and Strategy experience * Leading artistic teams or programmes * Ability to work strategically and collaboratively * Experience of working with funders and partners * Contributing to the development of financial, fundraising and budget plans * Commitment to values-led practice * Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion - building teams and programmes that are accessible, inclusive and representative of communities and lived experience * Budgeting and scheduling skills Additional experience We would also be really interested to hear about your experience in any of the following areas: * Organisation management/co-running a small organisation * Leading/co-leading income generation and investment strategies * Line management * Commitment to developing the sector, for example sharing and exchanging processes * Working with a voluntary Board of Directors If you would find it useful to view our current Co-CEO/Artistic Directors job description as a reference point, please click here. Terms & Conditions We will shape the role around the right candidate. Indicative terms: * Contract type: Open to discussion (full-time, part-time, job share) * Salary range: £37,500 – £42,500 FTE (depending on experience and role design, top of the pay scale will include Co-CEO responsibilities) * Location: Our offices are situated within the community venue Toxteth TV, in the heart of our L8 neighbourhood in Liverpool * Working hours: 37.5 hours per week. We aim to work from the office as a team, but there is flexibility to work from home for a smaller percentage of time. Some evening and weekend work will be required with time off in lieu available. * Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus public holidays * Start date: Early 2026 – with opportunities to connect with the team and shows/events before starting * Responsible for: Initially Associate Director and creative freelance teams * Responsible to: Chair of the Board (or Co-CEO depending on initial level of responsibility) We will offer support to relocate, so please do get in touch if you have any questions about this. 20 Stories High offers a package of benefits including flexible working hours, hybrid office/home working, time off between Christmas and New Year and a staff wellbeing package including occupational health and wellbeing support. For more information about the benefits of working at 20 Stories High please do get in touch. 20 Stories High is an ITC Fair Work Approved manager, a Disability Confident Employer and a Living Wage Employer. How to apply We want this to be a conversation—not just a job application. There are a number of stages to this process to ensure there are many opportunities to connect, ask questions and get to know each other. Step 1 OPTIONAL: Let’s connect (Monday 22nd September 2025 – Friday 31st October 2025) Before applying, feel free to get in touch for a short informal chat. We are offering optional opportunities to: * Schedule an individual chat with a member of the team online, in person, phone call or of course you can email any questions. * Join a group online session to find out more about the role on Tuesday 30th September at 5pm. Or come in to meet some of the team on Monday 29th September between 1pm-3pm. If neither of these dates work for you, please do contact Amy and we will look to schedule another time. Step 2: Application (Deadline Monday 3rd November 2025, 9am) Our application process will ask questions to find out more about: * Who you are and your background * What work you have created to date, asking for three examples * How you align with the key personal and professional qualities * Your leadership vision and why you would like the job You can share this information in a number of ways: application form, or by answering the questions by video or audio recordings. Step 3: Day with the team (Thursday 13th or Friday 14th November 2025 in Liverpool) Selected candidates will join us for a day exploring leadership ideas with our team, Trustees and young people. This day will include the following elements, and an invite to lunch with the team: 1. Interview (45 minutes): an opportunity to share your vision and your ideas and experience. Interview questions will be shared in advance. 1. Workshop (60 minutes): lead a one-hour workshop for a group of our youth theatre and creative community members. Workshop brief will be shared in advance. 1. Future of 20 Stories High – Share Your Creative Vision (1 hour 45 mins) We would really like to hear your ideas about the creative and strategic future of 20 Stories High. We will ask candidates to share ideas in the following three ways: a). Creative Presentation (15 mins for presentation, 15 mins for questions) Present your creative vision for 20 Stories High for the next 3 years (from 2027-2030), including new show ideas, and broader strategic thinking on participation and engagement and professional development. Brief will be shared in advance. b). Written pitch for a specific funder (45 minutes) You’ll be invited to write a short pitch for a specific funder, based on one of the creative ideas or strategies within your presentation. This task explores how you might articulate and advocate for your work in a fundraising context. No advance planning needed. c). Team Feedback Session (30 minutes) Join a collaborative discussion with members of the 20 Stories High team to develop your ideas further. We’ll reflect on the ideas together and explore its potential impact and direction. No advance planning needed. These activities are designed to help us understand: * Your creative ideas and leadership style * Your ability to think strategically around participation and how it connects to a show * How you communicate your vision to different stakeholders * Your collaborative approach to developing ideas Step 4: Final Interview (Friday 21st November 2025) Invited candidates will have a final discussion with our Co-CEO/Executive Director and possibly other team members. All stages of recruitment will be assessed by a diverse representation of Staff and Trustees, with members of our youth theatre and community company members input at Stage 3. We aim to get back to any to applicants in a respectful and timely manner, offering feedback to everyone who requests it, using their preferred method of communication, from Stage 3 onwards. Any appointments to the role will be offered following satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check. There is a probationary period of 6 months then a review by both parties will be held. All information that you provide throughout the process will be treated in line with GDPR and our Data Protection Policy. Applicant data will only be used for recruitment purposes and will be stored securely. Any equalities monitoring data that we gather is only used to assess the performance of our recruitment campaign, is stored and processed separately from the rest of your application, and is not seen by anyone involved in the selection or interview process. Access and wellbeing Access and wellbeing are at the heart of our company. We are committed to inclusive working practices and ensuring equal access and are constantly exploring any learning around how we can do better. Please do chat to us about any questions or requirements you have around access for any stage of this process. This could include BSL interpreters in sessions, wheelchair and step free access spaces, additional breaks, dimmed lights, specific seating, access workers available in sessions. Access riders are welcome at any stage throughout the process. Alternatively please feel free to complete and share our access questionnaire HERE. We can offer any support in terms of Access to Work claims or any access cost barrier. We are committed to making our recruitment and workplace environment as family and carer-friendly as possible. This pack, the application pack and the additional information document are all available in a range of alternative formats. We will ensure any further information is also available in other formats. We can cover any travel expenses in line with our expense policy. If you have any queries around this, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Get in Touch We are here to help and answer any questions throughout the process. For practical advice and to book onto our sessions please contact David (General Manager) or Amy (Administrator) on: recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk 0151 708 9728 Visit www.20storieshigh.org.uk to explore our work.