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
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); freelance directors include John Tiffany, Matthew Xia 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
Announcing five new regional projects which will support, nurture and develop early career theatre directors
Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) Introduction to Directing and Three-Month Placement projects are designed to support directors from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in theatre as a result of barriers arising from social, gender, financial, ethnic, cultural, geographic or educational disadvantage or disability. “We create pathways that affect who can lead in theatre; if you change the directors, you change the work that gets made, the actors they work with and the stories they tell. We believe it’s hugely important to see everyone represented in theatre and at every level and in every area.” - Sue Emmas, Artistic Director, [...]
