We have announced a brand-new pilot scheme in which five freelance directors and theatre-makers will work alongside us for seven months as Connect Artists.

The five RTYDS Connect Artists are Alistair Wilkinson, Caroline Wilkes, Donna Briscoe-Greene, Hannah Treadaway and Omar Khan.

They are based in various places around England and, during their seven months in post, they will make connections and kick-start conversations to support their development, and the development of new and early career creatives. Each of the five artists have identified a group of artists in the theatre industry that they are committed to supporting.

The idea for RTYDS Connect Artists developed following conversations and interactions with small groups of freelance artists throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and was also informed by the work of groups including Freelance Task Force, Freelancers Make Theatre Work, Scene Change and Class and Coronavirus. Freelancers with a previous connection to RTYDS were also invited to join focus groups to discuss how we as an organisation could specifically champion and support freelance artists who were just stepping into the industry and who don’t currently see themselves represented as directors or theatre makers.

Connect Artists marks the continued growth of RTYDS’ programme of paid professional development for directors and theatre makers which focusses on artists who live outside London and are from communities presently under-represented in theatre.

Artistic Director of RTYDS, Sue Emmas commented “It was clear that because of their knowledge, skills, creativity and lived experience, freelance artists should sit at the heart of the change we are trying to make. We wanted to pilot a scheme that was not prescriptive and focused largely on what could sustain and energise the participating artists.”

The Connect Artists will have time and freedom to develop themselves and their work. They might use these days as a chance to read, reflect, think, write, attend workshops, run discussion groups or advice sessions. They will also spend a smaller proportion of their time contributing to RTYDS’ work and informing our planning for the future.

Find out more about each of the RTYDS Connect Artists here.