Previous RTYDS Programmes
RTYDS has worked in partnership with theatres around the country, enabling talented artists to build their craft – from the earliest stages of their careers right up to developing their leadership skills.
RTYDS has a particular focus on directors who live and work outside London and who are from marginalised backgrounds. The past participants of our scheme forms an impressive list – many of the directors are now, or have been, artistic directors of some of the UK’s leading theatres.
Our programmes have included:
This was an opportunity for an experienced director with a strong professional track-record to develop their craft as a director while learning about the role of an artistic director in cultural leadership.
The RTYDS Associate Artistic Director spent 18-months in residency at a building-based theatre company outside of London.
They were part of the senior management team and over the course of the residency had the opportunity to develop knowledge, experience and skills in:
- Artistic leadership; building internal and external relationships as a senior manager
- Making work on a scale they haven’t previously
- Programming; creating dialogue with audiences
- Fundraising
- Public funding, stakeholders, financial planning
- Governance
- Artist development/commissioning of work
- Creative learning/outreach
The Associate Artistic Director will be a full-time equivalent role, split between the host theatre and RTYDS. The ratio of working time was 70% with the host theatre and 30% with RTYDS, where they deepened their understanding of the ecology of the UK theatre industry.
There are few opportunities for directors to learn about the challenges and demands of the role of artistic director. This strand of RTYDS’s work reflected our strong commitment to the development of artistic directors as cultural leaders. There continues to be a significant lack of diversity in those who lead organisations and there is a pressing need to provide progression routes for talented people from backgrounds that continue to be marginalised in the arts.
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This was a paid opportunity for an early career director or theatre maker to work, train and learn for 18-months at one of England’s leading mid-scale producing theatre companies and direct a piece of work.
The 18-Month Residency director was mentored by the Artistic Director of the host theatre and gained a wide range of experience, which included assisting on productions, as well as programming, script reading and artist development. They were given experience in all the theatre’s functions and learned about strategic planning, finance, fundraising, producing, press and marketing, administration etc. As part of the opportunity to make work, they might direct rehearsed readings, research and development projects, or a piece of work with young people/community group and direct a full production.
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This was a paid placement that allowed theatre companies to host a marginalised director or theatre maker at the very start of their professional career, either for three months full-time or six months part-time.
The placement might involve attending design meetings, observing or assisting in rehearsals, supporting participation work, shadowing members of staff, and learning about the director’s role in the leadership and operation of the company.
We encouraged each company to design a placement that best suited the director or theatre maker’s needs.
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Introduction to Making offered intensive practical training for people interested in finding out whether or not a career as a director or theatre maker was for them.
Each host theatre, company or consortium created a programme of at least five full days which included a mix of hands-on practical work, observation, discussion with experienced practitioners and an introduction to further opportunities.
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In 2021-22, we piloted a new scheme in which five Connect Artists worked part-time alongside RTYDS for seven months.
This was an idea borne during the pandemic through focus groups and conversations with freelancers. The Connect Artists developed their craft, making connections, and kick-starting conversations. There weren’t any prescribed outcomes, but the Connect Artists challenged and honed our thinking, specifically around establishing pathways for new directors and theatre makers that challenge traditional structures.
The five Connect Artists were Alistair Wilkinson, Caroline Wilkes, Donna Briscoe-Greene, Hannah Treadaway and Omar Khan.
We worked in partnership with theatre companies and experienced freelancers to provide skills development and career support for directors and theatre makers at all stages of their careers.
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.
Craft and Career Development opportunities have included creative workshops, career advice sessions, networking events and peer support.
Two key projects were New Directions (a place-based learning project both online and in-person) and Satellite Groups (an online, national peer learning network). Both projects created communities of artists, giving them access to broader national networks and ensuring artists have more agency in their career pathways.
Some of our partners for New Directions were: Leeds Playhouse, Royal Exchange Theatre, Northern Stage, Theatre by the Lake, Beyond Face, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Hall for Cornwall and imPOSSIBLE Producing.
The facilitators who led our online Satellite Groups were: Rebecca Frecknall, Jesse Jones, Matthew Xia, Kirsty Housley, Rachel Bagshaw and John R Wilkinson.
Transforming Leadership with Access All Areas
Transforming Leadership is a two-year placement and coaching programme led by Access All Areas, specifically aimed to develop new learning disabled and autistic leaders in the arts.
RTYDS partnered with Access All Areas to deliver an Introduction to Making residency in Nottingham, in which seven learning disabled creatives took part in three days of workshops and a Go-See at Nottingham Playhouse.
Artistic Directors of the Future – Think Tank: Agents of Change
Our Programme Producer spent six months project managing Artistic Directors of the Future’s final project, Think Tank: Agents of Change. Seven Global Majority theatre professionals were paid for their time to explore and research individual projects. Each of their ideas aimed to create equal opportunities and leadership pathways for Global Majority arts professionals.
The seven Agents of Change were: Amina Atiq, Grace Ng, Harris Albar, Maya Wilson, Natalie Chan, Nick Ishmael Perkins and Sara Dos Santos.
New Earth Academy Plus
New Earth Academy Plus is a new development programme for East Asian and South East Asian (ESEA) theatre makers based in Greater Manchester and Salford.
Led by New Earth Theatre and produced by RTYDS, fifteen ESEA theatre-makers took part in an eight-month programme which included monthly Masterclasses, Go-See opportunities, and the chance to develop work.
The Lowry was the strategic lead for the New Earth Academy Plus, with RTYDS producing and additional support from partners at HOME, Factory International, Z-Arts and Royal Exchange Theatre.