The Assistant will work with the designer to support and deliver the set design for the show, which will be performed on the Peacock Stage from 10 April – 9 May 2026.

The role is an opportunity for an emerging Set Designer who has recently graduated or is in the early stages of their career, to gain further understanding of the process of creating and realising designs for theatre.

The Assistant will have the opportunity to support and assist Alyson, whilst engaging with the various in-house departments of the Abbey Theatre. The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting the design, technical rehearsal and preview process.

This position aims to create a development pathway for a designer, who is in the early stages of their career, to gain experience through working as an assistant to an established designer on an Abbey Theatre production.

The full creative team are:

Playwright: Frank McGuinness
Director: Sarah Baxter
Set and Costume Designer: Alyson Cummins
Lighting Designer: Sinéad McKenna
Composer: Tom Lane
Sound Designer: Martha Knight

The Position 

The position starts at the beginning of February and conclude on 17 April 2026.

Across a three-month period, the Assistant Set Designer will work with Alyson Cummins on the production and learn how she interacts and communicates with technical departments and the creative team to achieve her design.

The position begins with occasional interactions with Alyson, and with the Abbey personnel, in February and March, during early rehearsals and during the set building stage. The majority of the work will take place between 30 March and 16 April, when the assistant is expected to be fully available to participate in the technical rehearsal and preview process at the Abbey Theatre.

The successful candidate will have the following 

• Must be fully available 30 March – 16 April 2026
• Experience as a Set Designer on productions inside and outside of an academic setting, and a strong motivation to develop their craft
• The ability to communicate reliably and thoughtfully with the designer (remotely and in person) and with the team at the Abbey Theatre, both in conversation and through design paperwork, answering emails promptly and communicating clearly about schedules
• Experience of working in a rehearsal environment, the ability to work courteously and clearly with all members of the in-house departments, and the ability to deal with challenging situations in a professional manner
• An interest and enthusiasm for solving design problems and the desire to be mentored in the development of craft and communication skills by both the designer and the in-house team

Application details 

• To apply, complete this form before 5pm on 12 January 2026
• Please provide your portfolio as part of your application – this can be shared via the below application (for larger files this can be facilitated by link via sharing platforms such as WeTransfer, Google Docs, or other)
• Please include contact details for two professional referees in your application
• Interviews will take place the week of 19 January 2026
• This is a paid role with a remuneration of €3,000 and payments will be made in two instalments, via invoice
• If you have any issues with the form or uploading items, please contact: aoife.mccollum@abbeytheatre.ie