RTYDS, one of the leaders in the field of promoting talented directors to forge a career in theatre and artistic leadership, has named the three emerging directors who will receive paid 18-Month Residencies as Resident Assistant Directors, starting late summer this year.

The residencies will take place at three major UK theatres where recipients will receive exceptional work-based training in a producing house, and the opportunity to direct their own show. They have been awarded to:

  • Maddie Kludje – Birmingham Repertory Theatre
  • Nickie Miles-Wildin – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
  • Taio Lawson – Sheffield Theatres

“RTYDS is passionate about giving opportunities to exceptional theatre directors to develop as artists and leaders – these 18 month residencies at Birmingham REP, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and Sheffield Theatres each offer a director access to the highest quality of theatre producing in the heart of a theatre of national importance. The directors have the chance to develop their craft, learn about how a theatre building operates and direct their own production. By nurturing and supporting these three exciting and talented directors we are enhancing the strength and quality of the future artistic leadership of this country.” Sue Emmas, Artistic Director RTYDS

Maddie Kludje

Maddie Kludje at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Recent work includes directing a devised piece for the new entrance opening of the Victoria and Albert Museum with young people from Emergency Exit Arts, Check The Label by Eno Mfon for Talawa First, Fable by Luke Barnes in London, New York and Cape Town. Work at the Young Vic includes the Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Director for The Web, The Scottsboro Boys with the Young Vic’s under 18 participants and Little Red Riding Hood at Theatre Royal Stratford East. She is a drama facilitator working predominantly with Talawa Theatre Company, Young Vic, Old Vic and EEA.

Nickie Miles-Wildin

Nickie Miles-Wildin at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Nicola co-founded TwoCan, Gloucestershire’s first professional disabled-led theatre company and is an Associate Artist for Kazzum and GDance. Her directing credits include Bingo Lingo with Wild N Beets, Disability Sex Archives, Two Can Toucan for TwoCan, Nana’s Jumble for Kazzum, Mosquitoes at the National Theatre, and Ramps on the Moon’s Tommy. Assistant Director work includes The House of Bernarda Alba for Graeae/Manchester Royal Exchange, Lost and Found with GDance, Blood Wedding for Graeae/Dundee Rep/Derby Theatre, Waiting Game for Kazzum, and Wheels on Broadway for Graeae.

Taio Lawson

Taio Lawson at Sheffield Theatres. Taio Lawson was born and raised in South London. After co-founding Metal Mouth Theatre as a teenager and making shows in fringe venues in the South of England and internationally, Taio worked on Sizwe Banzi is Dead and Life of Galileo at the Young Vic as the Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Director and Jerwood Assistant Director. He was a Resident Director at the Almeida Theatre assisting on They Drink it in the Congo and Oil. He has also directed plays and rehearsed-readings at the Cockpit, Rhoda McGaw Theatre and Bush Theatre.