Craft and Career Development

In our Craft and Career Development strand of work, we work in partnership with theatre companies and experienced freelancers, providing ongoing skills development and career support for directors and theatre makers at all stages of their careers.

These include creative workshops, career advice sessions, networking events and peer support. Two key projects, New Directions (place-based learning project) and Satellite Groups (online, national peer learning network), create communities of artists with access to broader national networks, which in turn ensures artists have more agency in their career pathways.

This strand of our work quickly developed over the Covid-19 pandemic, when all activity moved online and peer support groups were needed more than ever in the industry. We have continued to build on this work and we now have a number of ongoing projects. Read on to find out more about RTYDS Craft and Career Development projects since 2020.

Wellbeing in Making Theatre with Rachel Bagshaw

Wellbeing in Making Theatre was a short programme of work led by director Rachel Bagshaw that was specifically aimed at Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent directors and theatre makers. The sessions were responsive to what the group needed and has since evolved into a monthly Satellite Group, still led by Rachel, as well as an ongoing network of support for the participants who take part.

Read our guest blog post Access is Easy by Harri Marshall, who continues to take part in the Wellbeing in Making Theatre network.

Satellite Groups

Together with the Young Vic, RTYDS set up a series of monthly Satellite Groups during the Covid-19 lockdowns. These Groups brought together an experienced director and a small group of early career directors and theatre makers to meet online once a month, with the focus of the session very much steered by the interests of the group. The purpose was to engender conversation, provide ongoing artistic engagement and development, and to create a mutually supportive network so we could stay positive about creativity throughout a difficult time for many.

New Directions North & New Directions South West

New Directions was designed to help artists build networks with peers and theatre companies within their specified geographical area.

New Directions North partnered with Royal Exchange, Theatre by the Lake, Leeds Playhouse and Northern Stage, who each nominated five participants to take part in the project. The group of 20 directors first met online for two days of Q&As with the host theatres’ Artistic Directors and workshops led by Jack McNamara (Artistic Director of Live Theatre in Newcastle), Anthony Lau (Associate Artistic Director of RTYDS and Sheffield Theatres) and Pauline Mayers (theatre maker, writer and choreographer).

The groups then they split off into their smaller groups to continue their learning with their host theatre.

New Directions South West, partnered with Tobacco Factory Theatres, Beyond Face, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Hall for Cornwall and imPOSSIBLE Producing, was a hybrid of online and in-person workshops for 20 early career creatives living and making work in the South West. Workshops were led by Evie Manning (co-Artistic Director of Commonwealth), Nancy Medina (Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic) and Jesse Jones (co-Founder of The Wardrobe Theatre), Helen Tiplady (Deputy Creative Director of Hall for Cornwall) and Jay Zorenti-Nakhid (Associate Director at Tobacco Factory Theatres).

Read more about participant Phoebe Rhodes’ experience of the New Directions South West project.

The Chair at Royal Exchange Theatre

We recognise that it can be difficult to get access to rehearsal rooms and see another director’s process. The Chair gives an opportunity to early career directors based near the North West to observe one day of rehearsals of a mid-scale production at Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. It is a chance to observe, ask questions and where possible, extend the experience to include attending a tech or dress rehearsal.

So far, we have had participants for The Chair observe on productions of Nora: A Doll’s House and Let the Right One In, both directed by Bryony Shanahan (co-Artistic Director/CEO of Royal Exchange Theatre).

Three-Month Placement Workshops

Our Three-Month Placement partners have led exclusive online and in-person opportunities for RTYDS’ networks, such as post-show Q&As, one-off workshops and invites to watched streamed performances.

So far these have included:

• A workshop led by Laura Keefe (Wise Children) about Assistant and Associate Directing at The Lowry in Salford during their 2022 tour of Wuthering Heights.
• An online session facilitated by Oliver O’Shea (Pilot Theatre) about Co-creation.
• A Creative Audio Description workshop by Mind the Gap.
• A Q&A chaired by Alex Chisolm (Freedom Studios) around their hybrid production of Aaliyah (After Antigone), alongside Mian Rahman (RTYDS Assistant Director) and Imran Ali (Creative Technologist).

Top Ten Tips Series

We have an online series of workshops where we ask experienced directors about their Top Ten Tips for directors and theatre makers.

For this series, we’ve been joined by Maddi Kludje (Associate Director, Birmingham Rep), Roy Alexander Weise (Co-Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Theatre) and Anthony Lau (RTYDS Associate Artistic Director, Sheffield Theatres).

Watch the Top Ten Tips videos here.

How to Get Involved

We advertise our Craft and Career Development opportunities to those who have signed up to RTYDS’ network. Join our mailing list to hear about what we have to offer and also to receive our newsletter.

If you would like to suggest workshops, discussions or networking events please email us at rtyds@rtyds.co.uk.