ACTING OUT DRAMA SCHOOL
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT
This Agreement is between Acting Out Drama School Limited (“AODS”) and the individual signing below (“the Assistant Director”).
1. Nature of the Role
The Assistant Director role is a voluntary, unpaid position intended to provide practical experience and support to the Director and production team.
The role is not intended to create an employment relationship, worker relationship, partnership or agency relationship between the Assistant Director and AODS.
The Assistant Director understands that there is no entitlement to wages, salary or other remuneration for undertaking this role. Any expenses or other payments will only be provided where specifically agreed in writing with AODS in advance.
The role may be undertaken alongside the Assistant Director's studies with AODS and does not replace or alter their status, rights or responsibilities as an AODS student.
2. Purpose of the Role
The Assistant Director will support the Director and production team and gain practical experience of the rehearsal, production and performance process.
The Assistant Director is expected to have a good understanding of AODS's role as a training and performing arts school, and to support its commitment to creating positive, professional and enjoyable learning and performance experiences for students.
The Assistant Director should demonstrate enthusiasm for theatre, performance and the development of students and performers.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Director, the Assistant Director may be asked to:
Provide general assistance to the Director throughout the production process.
Perform reasonable production-related tasks agreed with the Director which inform, support or benefit the production.
Observe rehearsals, take notes and be available to contribute to relevant discussions and production meetings.
Undertake research or other reasonable tasks requested by the Director in relation to the production.
Assist with the organisation and smooth running of rehearsals, technical rehearsals and other agreed production activities.
Support the Director and company during rehearsal and technical weeks.
Attend and participate appropriately in post-show discussions with students, directors and/or members of the production team.
Assist with taking photographs and short video footage of rehearsals, performances and the educational process where requested by AODS.
Assist with documenting the production and students' learning and development for educational, evaluation, archival and marketing purposes.
Support the school and Director in other reasonable ways that are within the scope of the role and agreed with the Director.
The Assistant Director is not expected to undertake tasks outside the reasonable scope of the role or to accept unlimited availability.
4. Attendance and Availability
The Assistant Director will agree their availability with the Director in advance.
Where reasonably possible, the Assistant Director should be available to attend relevant rehearsals, production meetings, technical rehearsals and the agreed performance/run dates.
For the production covered by this Agreement, the Assistant Director will be expected to attend and observe the agreed performance and, where requested, make notes regarding the performance for discussion with the Director.
The Assistant Director's attendance requirements will be agreed in advance and may take account of their existing studies, employment and other commitments.
5. Working Under the Director
The Assistant Director will work under the guidance and direction of the Director.
The Director may provide instructions, feedback, research tasks or other reasonable production-related responsibilities as the production develops.
The Assistant Director is expected to use appropriate judgement and to raise any questions, concerns or issues with the Director rather than making significant production decisions independently.
The Assistant Director does not have authority to make commitments, representations or decisions on behalf of AODS unless expressly authorised to do so.
6. Student Welfare and Professional Conduct
Because the Assistant Director may work closely with AODS students, they must conduct themselves appropriately and professionally at all times.
The Assistant Director agrees to:
Treat students, staff, directors, coaches and other members of the company with respect.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.
Follow AODS's safeguarding procedures, policies and reasonable instructions.
Report any safeguarding, welfare or other serious concern to the appropriate AODS staff member or Director.
Avoid behaviour that could reasonably be considered inappropriate, discriminatory, intimidating, abusive or otherwise harmful to students or members of the company.
Not use their position to establish inappropriate personal relationships with students or otherwise misuse the access or trust provided by the role.
The Assistant Director acknowledges that AODS is a training school and that student welfare takes priority over the production process.
7. Photography, Video and Social Media
As part of the role, the Assistant Director may be asked to assist AODS with taking photographs, short videos and other content documenting rehearsals, performances and the student learning process.
Any such activity must follow AODS's instructions regarding what may and may not be photographed or recorded.
Content may include short-form videos, including approximately 10–30 second reels, which may be transferred to the AODS digital marketing team using services such as WeTransfer, Dropbox or another method specified by AODS.
The Assistant Director must not independently publish, upload, share or distribute photographs, videos, rehearsal footage, scripts or other production material involving AODS, its students or production without prior authorisation from AODS.
In particular, the Assistant Director must not post student or production content to their own social media accounts unless AODS has expressly authorised this.
The Assistant Director agrees to follow any instructions given by AODS regarding student consent, privacy, safeguarding, copyright and appropriate use of photographs and video.
8. Rights in Photographs, Video and Materials Created
Where the Assistant Director creates photographs, video footage, notes, documents or other material specifically as part of their role for AODS, they agree that AODS may use such material for legitimate educational, promotional, marketing, archival, evaluation and social-media purposes, subject to any applicable permissions and legal requirements.
This may include use on AODS websites, social media channels, advertising, promotional materials, presentations, internal educational materials and other AODS communications.
The Assistant Director will not knowingly include third-party copyrighted material in content created for AODS without permission.
Where appropriate, AODS may identify the Assistant Director by name or role in connection with production or marketing material.
9. Confidentiality
During the course of the role, the Assistant Director may become aware of confidential information relating to AODS, its students, staff, directors or productions.
The Assistant Director agrees not to disclose or share confidential information with anyone who is not authorised to receive it.
Confidential information may include, but is not limited to:
Student personal information or welfare matters.
Casting decisions and discussions.
Production discussions which have not yet been made public.
Scripts, rehearsal materials and unpublished production information.
Internal discussions involving students, staff, coaches or directors.
Business, marketing or operational information belonging to AODS.
This obligation continues after the Assistant Director's role has ended.
Nothing in this clause prevents the Assistant Director from raising a genuine safeguarding, welfare or legal concern with an appropriate person or authority.
10. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, intellectual property created specifically for AODS as part of the Assistant Director role may be used by AODS for the purposes of the production and AODS's educational, promotional, marketing and archival activities.
The Assistant Director agrees not to reproduce, commercially exploit or distribute AODS-owned production materials, documents or content without permission.
Nothing in this Agreement transfers ownership of intellectual property that the Assistant Director independently created before undertaking the role.
11. AODS Policies and Instructions
The Assistant Director agrees to comply with relevant AODS policies, procedures and reasonable instructions while undertaking the role.
AODS may update its policies and procedures from time to time, and the Assistant Director agrees to familiarise themselves with any policies relevant to their role.
The Assistant Director must promptly raise any concern about their ability to carry out a task safely or appropriately with the Director.
12. No Payment or Guaranteed Work
This is a voluntary role and does not guarantee any minimum number of rehearsals, hours, performances or future opportunities.
No payment will be made for the role unless AODS expressly agrees otherwise in writing.
Any expenses must be agreed with AODS in advance and AODS is not responsible for expenses which have not been authorised beforehand.
13. Ending the Arrangement
Either AODS or the Assistant Director may end this voluntary arrangement at any time.
Where reasonably possible, the parties should provide notice to the other so that appropriate arrangements can be made for the production.
AODS may end the arrangement immediately where there are concerns relating to safeguarding, confidentiality, conduct, inappropriate use of student information or content, or other serious matters.
Ending the arrangement does not remove any continuing obligations relating to confidentiality, student welfare, intellectual property or the appropriate use of photographs, video and other content.
14. Acknowledgement
By signing this Agreement, the Assistant Director confirms that they:
Understand the voluntary and unpaid nature of the role.
Understand that the role does not create an employment relationship with AODS.
Agree to undertake the role responsibly and under the direction of the Director.
Agree to comply with AODS's reasonable policies and instructions.
Understand their responsibilities regarding students, confidentiality, photography, video and social media.
Understand that their position as an Assistant Director does not replace or alter their responsibilities as an AODS student.
