Changing the face of theatre in the UK
RTYDS is the UK’s foremost programme of paid professional development for theatre directors. We offer bespoke training opportunities to artists from the earliest stages of a career right up to leadership development.
RTYDS programmes for Directors and Theatres
Introduction to Directing
Intensive practical training to discover if directing might be a future career. Aimed at under-represented adults who live locally to participating theatres, have a specific interest in directing and limited access to arts, training and employment. Read more
Three-Month Placements
Participating theatres host a paid work placement for an exciting emerging director from an under-represented background at the start of their professional career. Read more
18-Month Residencies
RTYDS places talented emerging directors in theatres as paid Resident Assistant Directors where they develop their skills and learn what it takes to run a regional theatre. At the end of the residency they direct their own show. Read more
Associate Artistic Director
A full time, paid opportunity for directors with a strong professional track record of making work and a desire to learn about leadership and to make significant work on the mid-scale. Read more
We work in partnership with theatres around the country, enabling talented artists to build their craft and develop their leadership skills. We are particularly focused on directors who live outside London and are from communities presently under-represented in theatre.
Founded in 1960, the scheme has helped launch the careers of many of Britain’s leading Artistic Directors and freelance directors including Rupert Goold (Almeida), Lorne Campbell (Northern Stage), Elizabeth Newman (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Vicky Featherstone (Royal Court), Natalie Ibu (tiata fahodzi) Matthew Xia (Actors Touring Company); freelance directors include John Tiffany, Christopher Haydon and Rebecca Frecknall.
Photo: © Robert Day
“RTYDS changed my life – it’s the best scheme of its kind”
Rupert Goold
Artistic Director, Almeida Theatre
Latest from RTYDS
Class and Coronavirus
Over the past several weeks as the Coronavirus Crisis has unfolded it has become clear that those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds have been hit the hardest. From those working in front line jobs to the inequality of the lockdown experience, people from working class communities are more likely to be affected by the virus. The magnitude and weight of this pandemic only magnifies the physical, emotional, social and financial barriers working-class artists will face in theatre moving forwards - although there’s no reason it should be this way. Directors Stef O’Driscoll and Caitriona Shoobridge set up the Class and Coronavirus [...]
