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, RTYDS
In September 2019, Introduction to Directing projects will be hosted by Eclipse Theatre Company: Slate network (at HOME in Manchester) and Sheffield based Third Angel Theatre Company, supporting up to twenty new theatre directors at the start of their professional careers.
“We are very excited to be part of the RTYDS this year, and it is a pleasure to be working with such a well-respected organisation. It’s a great opportunity to extend our existing mentoring work with other artists, to provide more opportunities to theatre directors from diverse backgrounds.” – Rachael Walton, Co-Artistic Director, Third Angel
Three-Month Placements will take place at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, Talking Birds Theatre Company, Birmingham, and Strictly Arts Theatre Company based in Coventry with emerging directors Michelle Payne, Lucy Hayward and Kimisha Lewis respectively.
“The RTYDS Three-Month Placement is an incredible opportunity where I will be able to focus on my skills as a director. Being placed with Talking Birds Theatre Company means that I will have the support of a company who already understands the needs of a parent and the access I will need as an artist who is blind. This placement will build my confidence working with an experienced designer and talented team who produce exciting, original and accessible site-specific work.” – Lucy Hayward, Three-Month Placement