Engagement

Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th January 2025, London 

GARY CLARKE COMPANY requires a versatile and highly skilled female identifying dancer who is also part of the LGBT+ community to join the company for the world premiere and 2025 UK Spring / Autumn tour of the company’s new mid-scale dance theatre show DETENTION.

DETENTION is the eagerly anticipated new touring show from renowned choreographer Gary Clarke and is the final part of a trilogy of theatrical dance works following the multi-award-winning production COAL (Winner of a UK Theatre Award and a Critics Circle National Dance Award) and the critically acclaimed production WASTELAND. 

DETENTION explores the controversial Section 28 of the 1988 UK Local Government Act and the direct impact it had on LGBT+ communities nationwide. 

Section 28 or Clause 28 was a legislative designation for a series of laws across Britain that prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities. Introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government, it was in effect from 1988 to 2000 in Scotland and from 1988 to 2003 in England and Wales.

Using real life stories and testimonies, this thrilling yet deeply touching new production brings together a cast of 5 exceptional dancers, a community cast of local LGBT+ people, spoken word, film and a strong light, costume and sound design. 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR ||

• A compassionate, personable and mature performer to join the company for this next ambitious work.
• Applications from individuals who identify as female and LGBT+ and who have a lived experience of issues surrounding the subject matter.
• Applications from all ages, abilities, races, cultures, religions and backgrounds.
• Applications from recent graduates.
• Applications from individuals that have previously applied and / or auditioned. 

JOB ROLE ||

• To successfully learn the repertoire from DETENTION from an existing role.
• To perform DETENTION in a range of mid-scale theatres venues across the UK * 
• To perform certain sections of DETENTION in non-theatrical spaces. 
• To perform with and along-side a community cast of LGBT+ people, local to each venue 
• To deliver education and outreach workshops to schools / colleges / universities / community groups.
• To contribute to post show discussions. 

APPLICANTS SHOULD DEMONSTRATE || 

• A very strong contemporary dance technique
• Strong physical theatre skills
• Strong floor work skills
• A good fitness level
• Experience in highly physical work
• Strong contact and partnering skills
• Good improvisation and creative skills
• Good musicality
• Confidence in text work
• The ability to collaborate and work well as part of a diverse team
• The ability to connect with emotionally driven work
• The ability to learn and retain material quickly
• The ability to work well under pressure
• A positive and hardworking attitude
• A good sense of humour
• The ability to be open and accepting of other people views and opinions
• Comfortable with discussing issues of a sensitive and personal nature
• A willingness and openness to work with the community / non-dancers
• Good teaching skills
• A sound knowledge of touring

PROJECT DATES & LOCATIONS: 

SPRING 2025 | APRIL TO JUNE 2025

Rehearsals: 

• 5th April – Fri 2 May 2025 ( 3 weeks)*

*18th April  – 27th April is a non-contracted rehearsal period 

*The 5^th April will be off-set by not working Fri 18^th April.

LOCATION: Rehearsals will take place in Yorkshire ( 2 weeks in Leeds and 3^rd week tbc) 

TOURING | Premiere & UK Tour ONE 

5th May – 7th June 2025* | 4 touring weeks (4 UK venues) 

*25th May – 30th May is a non- contracted touring week

AUTUMN 2025 | SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2025*

*Final dates for DETENTION’S Rehearsals and UK TOUR TWO are currently being finalised for September to November 2025. Anticipated contract for a further 6 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants should state in their application if there are any issues with any of the dates or details listed, as the company can be flexible depending on individual circumstances. 

FEE & FREELANCE CONTRACT ||

£620 per week x 7 weeks* (*Spring 2025) PLUS holiday pay, travel, accommodation and per diems (touring) 

GARY CLARKE COMPANY contracts performers in line with ITC / Equity Agreements for best practice.

*This is a freelance based contract for an initial total of 7 weeks (Spring 2025) engagement with a possible further contact to be issued for Autumn 2025 UK touring. 

Please Note – Performers must be eligible to work in the UK. 

AUDITION WORKSHOP DETAILS ||

Audition Workshop 1: Saturday 11th January 2025

The Place, 17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY

9.30am – 6pm 

Successful applicants from Audition Workshop 1 will be asked to attend a recall audition.

Recall Audition Workshop: Sunday 12th January 2025

The Place, 17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY

10.30am – 6pm 

AUDITION WORKSHOP CONTENT || 

GARY CLARKE COMPANY understand how daunting and intimidating audition environments can be, therefore we aim to create an open, safe and welcoming space and encourage all individuals to be mindful of this when attending the audition workshop. 

The audition workshop will be led by Artistic Director Gary Clarke and members of 

GARY CLARKE COMPANY and will consist of: 

• Introductions, welcome and project details 
• Professional level technique class
• Learning repertoire from DETENTION 
• Partnering work
• Improvisation
• Cool down and reflections

Note: Although the work explores some challenging themes, the audition workshop will aim to focus on physical, technical, aesthetic and attitudinal skills and at no point will individuals be asked to diverge personal matters or experiences. 

HOW TO APPLY ||

This is an invite audition only.

Interested applicants should submit: 

• A cover letter outlining why you are interested in this touring project
• A current CV (maximum of 2 pages of A4) 
• A recent head shot 
• A showreel or link to video footage of relevant movement material 

Note: Please ensure that footage is good quality, relevant to the specific requirements of the job and is 

NO longer than 3 minutes in length. If sending footage of ensemble work, please highlight clearly who you are. 

Please notify us of any access needs for applying or attending the audition and we will endeavour to accommodate these to the best of our ability. 

Please send all documents to jobs@garyclarkecompany.com with the title D10 AUDITION 2025 

APPLICATION DEADLINE ||

• Deadline for application is Friday 13th December 2024 at 6pm
• GARY CLARKE COMPANY will notify every applicant of an outcome by 6pm on Friday 20th December 2024. 
• Unfortunately, we are unable to provide detailed feedback for applicants who are not invited to the audition. 
• Successful applicants will receive an additional follow up e-mail with further details. 

THE COMPANY ||

GARY CLARKE COMPANY is an award-winning dance theatre company based in South Yorkshire renowned for creating high quality, high impact contemporary dance theatre that marks, reflects and comments on significant events in working-class history, politics and people. The company involve and engage people from diverse communities in the research, development and performance of touring shows, local projects and digital works.