Today, RTYDS announces the first RTYDS Assistant Director opportunities with three partner theatre companies; Freedom Studios and Mind the Gap in Bradford and Bristol-based company Wise Children.
The Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) Assistant Director bursaries provide directors and theatre makers with the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge working as an assistant on a live, digital or hybrid production. The projects are designed to support early career 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.
RTYDS has created this opportunity in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic, providing more assistantships across a year, with most of them advertised to make opportunities accessible.
Freedom Studios will recruit an Assistant Director for Aaliyah (After Antigone) by Kamal Kaan, directed by Freedom Studios Co-Artistic Director Alex Chisholm.
Mind the Gap in Bradford will recruit an Assistant Director for Leave the Light on For Me, a new piece of outdoor theatre for festivals by Nickie Miles-Wildin and Mind the Gap. Devised and performed by learning-disabled performers, the show uses soundscape, physical performance, and evocative imagery that highlights the devastating impact of excluding people from climate change conversations. Both opportunities will be advertised, inviting people to express an interest over the summer.
Amelia Thornber will assist Emma Rice on the Wise Children and Old Vic co-production of Bagdad Café, by Percy and Eleonore Adlon, adapted by Emma Rice.
RTYDS Artistic Director, Sue Emmas commented;
“we are delighted to be announcing the first of ten RTYDS Assistant Director opportunities taking place in 2021/22. These projects continue the work RTYDS has been doing throughout the pandemic to provide as much support and opportunity for freelance directors as possible and we’re looking forward to announcing further projects later in the year.”
RTYDS will open a further round of recruitment for theatres to apply for RTYDS Assistant Director bursaries in the autumn.
Early career directors / theatre makers interested in the opportunities with Mind the Gap and Freedom Studios can join the RTYDS newsletter or social media accounts to receive information about how to apply.