Programming Manager

Programming Manager

Contract Type This is a full time (37.5 hours per week) permanent role, with some evening and weekend work required

Salary: £36,375

About Us

Norwich Theatre is one of the leading arts organisations in the UK and the largest in the East of England, encompassing the historic Theatre Royal, the creative hub Stage Two, and the intimate mid-scale Playhouse. We present, produce and co-create a vibrant programme of live performance and creative engagement activities to entertain, enrich and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and we work with national and international partners to ensure we bring the very best theatre to our region.

We are an independent not-for-profit charity with no regular public funding, and rely on a share of ticket sales, one-off grants, fundraising/membership schemes and other commercial activities to deliver the work we do both on stage and in communities.

About the role

The Programming Manager works closely with the Head of Programming & Producing to plan, deliver and manage a balanced, ambitious and commercially sustainable programme of performances and events across our venues and beyond.

This is a key senior role which is busy and varied, overseeing the full lifecycle of programmed work from initial booking through to delivery and final settlement. The role works across multiple artforms and platforms, including stage-based, non-traditional, site-specific and digital programming.

The Programming Manager supports the development and delivery of Norwich Theatre’s Artistic Strategy, contributing to programming decisions across Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse, Stage Two, Beyond Stage and other platforms. The role ensures that programming processes are clear, efficient and collaborative, maintaining momentum and accountability across teams.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the Programming Manager negotiates contracts, oversee budgets and settlements, manages scheduling and availability, and supports audience development, access provision and engagement activity within the programme. The role line manages the Programming Coordinator and plays a vital part in ensuring visiting companies are welcomed and supported throughout their engagement.

About you

You will have significant experience in theatre programming together with strong commercial and financial understanding. Excellent communication and negotiation skills, and a passion for live performance and audience development are essential for this role

We offer

A good salary, 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, plus your birthday off, together with an inclusive culture focussed on wellbeing and happiness. We have a commitment to personal and professional development, discounts on a range of on food, drink and theatre tickets and access to My Discounts, employee discount scheme, offering savings on retail, gyms, travel, utilities and more.

Closing Date 25 January 2026

Interviews are planned for w/c 2 February 2026