Board Trustee Recruitment

We are currently seeking Trustees to join the Ensemble ‘84 Board. Working closely with the Executive team and Chair, our Board of independent Trustees offer specialist expertise and ensure that we deliver on our mission, aims and objectives.

The Basics

Location: Horden, Co Durham, with meetings across the County and online

Key Relationships: Chair, Executive Producer, CEO

Salary: Voluntary. Expenses provided for travel and accommodation

Term: 3 years, with the option to renew for 2 terms

Hours: Quarterly Board Meetings plus some ad hoc meetings/conversations

Start Date: March 2026

About us - Ensemble ‘84

We are Ensemble ‘84 - a Theatre Company based in Horden, County Durham. Formed with the pioneering and transformation model of co-creation from Cape Town’s Isango Ensemble, Ensemble ‘84 will work exclusively with County Durham communities to form bold new theatre works for national audiences. From its home in Horden, Ensemble ‘84 will offer a core programme of skills development, training and mentoring, and above all a platform for hope, expression and positive change, amplifying unheard voices and harnessing untapped potential within our communities. Ensemble ‘84 is part of the Into the Light programme– with the support of Arts Council England. It is developed in partnership with Redhills CIO and Durham County Council. 

Our Governance

Ensemble 84 is a registered charity. Our Board of Trusees ensure that we deliver on our mission, aims and objectives. Board members are independent external voices with specialist expertise. Our Board is led by an independent Chair. We currently have 2 other Trustees.

Our Board has responsibility for reviewing and approving our funding applications and monitoring documents including submissions to the Charity Commission. The Board approves our annual budgets, our audited financial statements, and risk register. Our Board sets the priorities for the organisation, the direction we move in, and they represent Without Walls at sector and other events.

Personal Specification

For this Board recruitment, we are specifically looking for exceptional people with the following experiences or skills:

• Professional Finance – Senior financial expertise within charities, not-for-profit, or arts organisations, particularly audit, accountancy, and financial oversight (e.g. qualified accountant, auditor, finance manager).

• Legal Expertise – Professional experience in property, commercial law, charity law, or intellectual property.

• Fundraising – Strategic experience in income generation, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, or individual giving.

• Theatre Sector Knowledge – Strong understanding of the theatre and wider performing arts landscape.

• Marketing & Communications – Experience in branding, audience development, digital communications, or public profile building.

• Local Knowledge & Influence – Connections within the local community and the ability to act as an ambassador.

• Advocacy – Confidence and networks to champion the organisation regionally or nationally.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. 

Essential Criteria

In addition to the specific skills and experiences outlined above, we expect all of our Directors to have the following:

• A belief in the potential for arts and culture  to transform lives and communities.

• Some experience and understanding of governance roles, the responsibilities of Board members and a desire to help lead an organisation.

• A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti racism, and an understanding of, or a willingness to learn, how these are applied in the arts.

• Understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, arts funding, in particular from Arts Council England, and the reporting requirements around this.

• A willingness to listen and learn from fellow Board members and other colleagues and work collectively for the benefit of a wider organisation.

How to Apply

Our Trustees are appointed by the Board for a three year term with the possibility of extension for a further three years. All of our Board members are registered as Directors at Companies House, and are governed by our Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct.

To apply, please send us:

●  A CV - which should detail your key skills, employment or voluntary experience relevant to this role, including responsibilities held and relevant education or vocational training.

●  A cover letter (2 pages of A4 max) - telling us why you feel that you meet the outlined criteria and would be a valuable addition to the Board.

We will also accept applications as audio or video files that contain the information described above*. These should be no more than 10 minutes in length.

Please send your completed application to info@ensemble84.com.

*For emailing large files such as a film, please use We Transfer or Hightail.

Timeline

We are holding an open appointment for trustees - with no fixed timeline for appointments. If you have any queries please email info@ensemble84.com.

Privacy
The information you supply as part of your application will be kept securely and will remain confidential. We will not retain this or any other personal information beyond the duration of the application process.