Walking Tour Director/Dramaturg, The Ruins of Earth

leo&hyde are a Manchester-based musical theatre company. We're a small and friendly team, who get excitable about new music, theatre and technology.

The Ruins of Earth is a theatrical twist on a walking-tour. The audience experience it as a typical walking tour - groups of up to 15, led by a tour guide around a city. But there’s a twist. The audience are asked to imagine themselves as futuristic being visiting the remnants of human civilisation. They meet a tour guide, X2-729, who gives them human bodies to wear and shows them through a virtual reconstruction of a human city, as they try to discover what humans were, why they lived in cities - and why they are now in ruins. During the tour. they get shown key human places - an apartment block, a supermarket, a park, a traffic light - as these beings try to make sense of what humans were, why they lived in cities - and how their civilisation got destroyed. The narration is written by AI, curated by Leo, and spans comedic observations with relatable critiques of urban life.

The Ruins of Earth is commissioned by Manchester Independents, a development scheme brought together by cultural organisations across Greater Manchester, to support and connect independent talent in the region.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

More than anything, we’re looking for a close creative collaborator to work with Leo on developing a memorable, original variation on a walking tour. We’re looking for someone with:

  • Walking tour experience - we want someone who knows the behind-the-scenes of how walking tours work, and who can bring that to bear here - and how to prepare a tour-guide to be well-equipped

  • Comedy / sci-fi - You’’ll probably have an instinct for comedy and a love for sci-fi.

The role will consist of:

  • Dramaturgy - Work with Leo as the script develops, and to find the best way to present a walking-tour script.

  • Directing - Work with an actor / tour-guide in the room to give an outside eye on their delivery.

  • Mapping - Work with the actor to map out an accessible route in different locations, first in Manchester City Centre (starting at The Factory), and later when we take it to other boroughs Bury, Oldham and Rochdale

DEADLINE: 13th July.

PRACTICALITIES

  • There is a flat fee of £750, to cover 6 days in late July / early August:

    • 1 days dramaturg

    • 4 days director

    • 1 day opening day

  • The only date that is currently a must is Saturday August 5.

We’re also looking for a production manager to be the tour guide’s main point of contact on tour days, where this are 2-3 tours a day. If you’re interested let us know - this would be an additional £100/day for days.

To apply

To apply, please submit the following to lucy@leoandhyde with the subject "Collaborator // Ruins of Earth " and:

  • CV detailing relevant experience and any images of previous work

  • Cover letter (max 1 page), outlining your interest

  • A note on where you're currently based

We will be holding Zoom-interviews on the week beginning 16th July.

L&H Musicals