Regular Opportunities for Directors and Theatre Makers

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Young Vic Creators Program

For over ten years, the Young Vic has run a Creators Program, the only scheme of its kind, providing positive and proactive support for directors. It is open to young professional directors at the early stages of their career (young is defined in terms of directing experience rather than age) and offers a range of opportunities to help them develop their craft.

These include skills workshops, peer-led projects, paid assistant directing roles, Go-See Funds through their Reach Out initiative, and an online network, the Genesis Directors Network.

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Jerwood Assistant Director Programme

A paid opportunity to assist on a Young Vic production or co-production.

Learning from experienced artists by assisting is a vital chance to develop skills and understanding. Equally, having the chance to spend time in a theatre and understand how the various departments work together is also an important aspect of an artist’s knowledge.

Each year the Young Vic provide five assistantships which include a residency and an attachment to a production. Each assistant will receive a fee to cover their placement and assistantship on a production.

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Genesis Future Directors Award with Young Vic

A paid opportunity to direct a fully supported production in the Clare Theatre.

The Award is aimed at emerging directors who have demonstrated a talent for, and commitment to, directing but have had limited opportunity to make work.

The recipient of the Award will have the opportunity to rehearse for four weeks on a play of their choice. The director can work with up to three actors and a full creative team. The production is part of the Young Vic’s programme and is fully supported by the Young Vic’s creative, administrative and production teams.

The project concludes with 12 performances to a paying audience in the Clare Theatre.

There are two Awards per year and these opportunities are advertised through the Genesis Network.

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Sheffield Theatres – The Bank

The Bank represents Sheffield Theatres expanding commitment to local theatre makers as well as the company’s existing Making Room network of artists and activities.

Each year, The Bank recruits a 13-strong cohort of writers, directors, producers and creatives of other disciplines who are supported and mentored over 9 months in a programme culminating in industry showcases, seed funding for projects and opportunities to work on Sheffield Theatres’ productions.

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Leeds Playhouse – Furnace

Furnace is Leeds Playhouse’s development engine. It’s where they develop audacious artistic voices and vital new theatre for the stage.

The Playhouse’s creative ecology is made up of three main parts: their programme of produced and visiting work; their creative engagement activity and their Furnace programme of artistic development.

They use the word Furnace to describe all of the work they do to generate and create new performance work and support and nourish their local creative community.

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The JMK Director’s Award

Every year, the JMK Award offers one young director the opportunity to direct a full-scale professional play. Since 2019, the JMK Award has been in partnership with the Orange Tree Theatre and the winner’s production forms a core part of the theatre’s annual programming.

The JMK Award constitutes an Award of £25,000 plus space at the Orange Tree Theatre. The winning director will receive a fee for their work as director on the production. Runner up prizes may also be awarded.

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Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) Sir Peter Hall Director Award Scheme

Each year, the Scheme provides a career-transformative opportunity for the Award-winning director to originate and direct a fully-funded, full-scale production of a play as part of a main season of productions at a mid-scale British regional theatre chosen by the RTST, and where feasible, to take that production on a regional tour to other mid-scale theatres.

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NT New Work Department – Generate

Generate is a support programme run by the National Theatre’s New Work Department which allocates R&D workshop space and resources to theatres, artists and ideas destined for stages outside the capital.

Generate is for:

• Theatre companies and artists making work that have a track record of reaching a range of audiences across the UK
• Projects which have a route to the stage established with, for instance, presenting partners attached
• Teams who are looking to create something ambitious within their context
• Exploring theatre ideas that need the use of a studio space and workshop time
• Creative teams who reflect the diversity of the UK
• The next generation of theatre makers

They are keen to support:

• Projects which aim to develop new audiences
• Theatre which is not text based
• Ideas and approaches which could be described as pioneering
• Shows which might be more challenging to produce – for example – a cross collaboration or concepts that rest on the success of a particular technical element

If you would like to talk to NT about a project you’re developing or for general enquiries please write to Rachel Twigg, Head of Studio at generate@nationaltheatre.org.uk

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The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award

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OTHER BRILLIANT RESOURCES

RTYDS: Navigating Your Finances

If you’re a self-employed creative from a low socio-economic background, experiencing financial hardship, or in receipt of benefits and you’re looking for clear, accessible advice and support – we’re partnering Turn2us (a leading charity supporting people experiencing financial hardship) to create resources to help navigate your finances and benefits.

RTYDS: Useful Resources for Freelancers

This page was originally developed during the Covid-19 pandemic as a place for freelancers to find resources, advice and financial support. However, there are still some useful links for freelancers, including guidance on tax, Universal Credit, and resources for other queries around self-employment

Routes In: A Guide to Getting New Work Programmed in the North of England

This comprehensive guide includes advice for artists setting out to get their work programmed as well as a directory of Northern venues who programme new work. It is published by Venues North and updated once a year.

The Uncultured: Resources

The Uncultured are arts independents working collaboratively to produce, curate, facilitate and advocate. They are champions for better, more equitable working conditions in the arts and support others to speak up too.

Part of their work includes providing free-to-use resources for freelancers working in the creative and cultural industries. This includes Arts Council England templates, financial planners and Programmer relationship trackers.

UK Theatre Producing, Presenting and Touring Handbook

On 5 June 2019 UK Theatre and SOLT published the Producing, Presenting and Touring Handbook as a result of conversations with Presenting and Producing contributors from across the theatre and performing arts sector. Forums were held to understand each other’s operating context, discuss wider issues effecting touring and to suggest resources to improve the situation. They also talked with colleagues across the sector including the UK Arts Councils, ITC and the League of Independent Producers.