Working with English Touring Opera
Freelance Associate Policies and Resources
Anti bullying and discrimination policy
ETO is committed to providing a working environment free from harassment and bullying and ensuring all staff are treated, and treat others, with dignity and respect.
Associates Complaints Procedure
During your time with us, should any issues arise, it is important that you know the steps to take to find resolution.
We encourage the first port of call to be resolution by constructive conversation with the individual/s concerned or with the Company Stage Manager, then advice from our Producer if necessary.
If a resolution or course of action still cannot be found, ETO offers a grievance procedure in line with the one available to full time employees, which you can read by clicking on the links above.
Safeguarding Policy
Environmental Policy
ETO strives to reduce its environmental footprint and we would ask you to help us by:
- Washing up mugs rather than use disposable cups
- Making use of recycling stations where available
- Viewing schedules and information in e-format rather than printing copies where possible
- Using public transport or cycle to get to rehearsals, wherever possible
- Liaising with other company members to arrange car-shares whilst on tour, or travel by train
Health and Safety Policy
ETO is committed to protecting the Health and Safety of all involved in our work
Further Information about working with English Touring Opera
Rehearsals & Schedules
Rehearsal Schedules
Weekly schedules will be sent by the CSM via email by the end of the previous week. These are subject to change and are superseded by any daily updates so please keep yourself available unless you have an N/A. Please read them carefully and respond with any questions.
Rehearsal sessions at LPS will usually be Monday – Friday, 10.30 – 17.30 & Saturday 10.30 - 13.30. There may be occasional variances, but these are more likely to be the odd half hour here and there or shifting the lunch break to accommodate a studio run rather than additional sessions. Company members are welcome to arrive for the day from 10.00.
Absence from Rehearsals
If you are unable to attend rehearsals due to illness, please contact our CSM, as soon as possible via the contact number provided. Please call in the first instance and if you are unable to get through, then follow up with a WhatsApp or text.
Cover Rehearsals
Covers are required to attend any rehearsals when the role they are covering is called on the weekly schedules, when they are not called elsewhere. Please keep an eye on the schedules and be ready to participate on the rehearsal room floor. In addition to music coachings, there will also be cover production calls on Saturday mornings and during the technical rehearsals period. Please keep yourself free unless you have a confirmed NA.
NAs
In this very busy season, ETO are unlikely to be able to grant further scheduled NA requests during the rehearsal period at this stage. We can certainly consider NAs for external engagements during the tour on days when there is no ETO activity for which permission will not be unreasonably withheld. All post contractual requests should be made in writing to the Artistic Administrator who will liaise with the relevant creative teams.
All NAs will be confirmed in writing and an NA slip issued. An NA should not be considered granted until the artist or agent is in receipt of the slip.
Touring
Arrival at venues
To view our tour venues on Google Maps, please click HERE
For venues outside the M25, artists are required to arrive in the venue town/city by 2.00pm on the day of the performance, however we would encourage you to take advantage of the ‘Night Before Payment’ where available and arrive the night before when it requires a journey of more than 2 hours on the day.
Please contact the Company Stage Manager by 2.00pm on the first day at each performance venue to confirm that you have arrived, WhatsApp message preferred. If we haven’t heard from you by 2.00pm, you will be chased!
There will be a balance call at each venue, usually around 2 hours and 30 mins prior to the performance curtain up time.
Absence from performance
All artists: Please ensure that you check in with the CSM no later than 11am on performance days to confirm that you are fit and well and able to perform. A WhatsApp message in the morning to check in will suffice.
If you are unable to perform at a dress rehearsal or performance, please notify the CSM as soon as possible by calling 07534 431346, and no later than 11am. If you are unable to get through immediately, please send a WhatsApp message and the CSM will contact you as soon as possible. Please speak directly to the CSM. If you have a cover, do not contact your cover yourself. You must make the call personally, unless you are physically unable to do so. If the CSM has not heard from you by 11am, they will contact you to confirm that all is well before standing down your cover.
Covers: If a cover is required to go on, or needs to be on standby, they will be contacted as soon as possible. If all is well, covers will be stood down by 12noon, or sooner where possible. If additional rehearsals are required on the day of a performance, you will be given as much notice as possible. Your flexibility and understanding in these circumstances will be greatly appreciated.
L&P Artists: If you are unable to perform, please contact the L&P Stage Manager by 4.00pm on the evening before you are due to perform.
Financial
Bank Forms, Fees & Pay Advice
You should have already received and returned a registration form which asks for your bank details. We cannot pay you unless you have completed and returned this form. Fees are paid on the dates specified on the pay schedule document. Pay advice (payslips) will be emailed to you on the Friday pay date by our Associate Producer Jo Corrigan.
Accommodation and Subsistence
Company members are responsible for booking their own tour accommodation and are entitled to £95.00 per night subsistence for each performance night and these will be paid automatically.
Company members can request an additional subsistence payment of £95 to cover the night before at any venue. Night before payments MUST be requested through this form
(https://forms.gle/CK3NTnSEdNWJ2X2XA), so you can indicate which venue towns/cities you require them for and to ensure you are paid the correct amount in a timely manner. The earlier you complete this form the better, as this helps us pay you on time.
All night befores must be followed up with a receipt for accommodation (this can be for any amount). This should be sent to the Associate Producer no later than Friday 13th November 2026.
If we have not received a receipt from you for all your night before payments by this date then this money will be deducted from your remaining pay.
Subsistence is paid approximately three months in advance. You must respond to the Night Before form byMonday 12th October at the latest please, or night before payments will not be paid.
Travel
Company members are responsible for booking their own travel and will receive payments for each mainstage performing venue, according to the new Travel Hub system. These rates can be found on your contract however if you need further clarification on the rates, please contact ETO's Producer and they'll be happy to help.
Payment dates are listed on the pay schedule and are paid approximately three months in advance to enable you to take advantage of advance rail fares which we strongly encourage you do as soon as you can.
We strongly encourage feedback, especially in the end of tour survey, so we can monitor the impact of both travel and subsistence.
Further Information
Scores
Scores remain the property of ETO and must be returned at the end of the engagement in good condition. Please do not mark scores in ink or highlighters. You may not copy or photocopy any part of the scores. Failure to return your score will incur a financial penalty.
Make-up
Singers are required to provide their own basic make-up. Please remember to bring this with you for the first stage rehearsal. Any special effect, ageing or unique colours will be provided by the company.
Complimentary Tickets
Mainstage Performances
Each member of the touring company can request up to two complimentary tickets over the tour from the allocation provided to ETO by the venue (excluding Sheffield Lyceum and Hackney Empire). Complimentary tickets are allocated strictly on a first-come-first-served basis – as they are available at the venue’s discretion, ETO cannot guarantee availability. Requests for complimentary tickets should be submitted in writing to the Company Stage Manager as soon as possible.
There will also be company reduced-rate tickets at all venues (subject to availability), and you will be sent codes for these about 2 weeks prior to the date so you can book tickets yourself online. It’s often a very generous discount (up to 50%).
L&P Performances
L&P Artists, you are welcome to invite guests including ETO colleagues to school performances. Please contact the L&P Producer with at least seven days notice with the guest’s name, venue and date. The guest will need to bring a form of ID with them and a DBS certificate (if they have one). Comp tickets for public performances are limited and cannot be guaranteed.
Marketing and Press
You may be asked to give interviews (normally over the telephone) or take part in content capture opportunities e.g. photoshoots, video content, Instagram takeovers as part of ETO’s press and marketing activities. Company members’ participation is vital in the success of our campaigns which help to fill houses and enhance the visibility of all parties. Members of ETO’s marketing team, William Vignoles – Head of Marketing & Communications, Mia Linehan – Marketing & Communications Officer and Alexa Sorensen – Senior Digital Marketing Officer, may visit rehearsals from time to time to collect footage for promotional purposes.
Learning & Participation
ETO’s Learning & Participation work is integral to our mission and culture, and our productions are joyous, busy and varied! Bringing opera to primary, secondary and specialist schools across England means that no two performances are the same but all are governed by the same inclusive and welcoming ethos.
Mimi and the Golden Touch is a sensory opera created for learning disabled audiences and enjoyable for all with integrated Makaton used throughout the performances. We use guidance from Soundabout to inform the language we use, you can read more about this here.
Our performances are relaxed and sensory friendly. This means that we perform in environments where audiences are able to move, tick, stim, talk, interact, take a break from the performance and come back. Audiences are supported with social stories, provided in advance, as well as introductory videos of the cast, so they know who to expect to see on the day. If you are not involved in Mimi and would like to join us at a schools’ performance on tour, do speak to our L&P Producers Maddy and Carys to arrange this.
We also have our ETO Perform programme running which partners with secondary schools and local organisations to provide workshops exploring opera within the community, in this season based on Orpheus & Eurydice. Each school participating has the opportunity to attend a backstage tour and see the opera so you might see them in audience.
Support
First Aid
Qualified First Aiders in the Company are Ryan Watson (Head of Production), Gemma Morsley (Artistic Administrator), Jo Corrigan (Associate Producer) and Paul Barnes (L&P Stage Manager). The Stage Management team have first aid kits, ice packs and an accident book. On tour these will be kept near the stage and each venue will also have a named First Aider. Please note that ETO is not permitted to dispense drugs of any kind.
Mental Health First Aiders are Gemma Morsley (Artistic Administrator), Jo Corrigan (Associate Producer), Ryan Watson (Head of Production), Bonnie Poole (Company Stage Manager) and Ruth Ross (Orchestra Manager). A Mental Health First Aider can help a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.
Grief First Aiders are Ryan Watson and Ruth Ross. A Grief First Aider can provide initial support and guidance to those experiencing bereavement.
Allergies & Medical Info
The information submitted via the Company Registration Form is being held securely by the Company Stage Manager, Artistic Administrator and Deputy Stage Manager. If since completing this form you have developed a new medical condition or allergies, please inform the Company Stage Manager. If there is anything else you would like to tell us to help in the event of you being taken ill, such as medication you take, if you are diabetic, etc, please let the Company Stage Manager know. Information will be kept confidential.
Breastfeeding
English Touring Opera is a breast feeding-friendly company, and we will support nursing mothers throughout the duration of their contract and ask all other company members to do so too.
If you will be nursing during your time with us, please let our Company Stage Manager know as soon as possible, and we will make sure the production team is aware. You will of course be welcome to feed wherever you like, but a sectioned off ‘den’ will also be available within the Green Room near an adjacent kitchen. The sooner we know this is needed, the more likely we are able to make suitable provision. A confidential risk assessment may be conducted by the Head of Production.
Safeguarding
English Touring Opera believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or vulnerable adult to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility and duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
The Company is committed to ensuring its safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice. Regardless of whether you are involved in the L&P production, please familiarise yourself with our policy HERE