The New Vic has joined forces with the country’s leading training scheme for aspiring directors – the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) – to launch a free Introduction to Directing programme.
The ‘Introduction to Directing’ programme, which runs from February to April, will see aspiring new directors given the opportunity to engage with the work of the New Vic through workshops and work shadowing and mentoring.
Participants will be given the chance to learn what directing entails and work with and observe professional directors, designers, theatre-makers and playwrights to find out what is needed to take a play from page-to-stage.
Established in 1960, RTYDS works with theatres to provide high quality training and work experience to talented artists and enable them to build a professional career as a theatre director. The work of RTYDS is focused in towns and cities outside London where provision for those with ambition to develop a career in directing for the theatre is scarce or non-existent.
RTYDS helped launched the careers of the New Vic’s own Artistic Director, Theresa Heskins, as well as names such as Ken Loach, John Tiffany, Vicky Featherstone and Rupert Goold and James Dacre among others.
Who is it aimed at?
RTYDS work to support people from under-represented backgrounds to pursue careers in the arts. This course is specifically aimed at people with an interest in a career in theatre who identify as working class and/or have experienced social and financial barriers. You will need to be 18+ and based in the Stoke-on-Trent area to apply. The course is free of charge, food will be provided during workshops, and reasonable travel expenses will be offered.
When is it?
The course starts on Wednesday 13 February and finishes on Wednesday 10 April. Sessions will run on selected weekday evenings and selected weekends. We also offer the opportunity to observe rehearsals on weekdays, but we understand that this may clash with work commitments. All dates and times can be found in the application pack.
How do I apply?
To apply, click here to download the Intro to Directing pack and click here to download the Equal Opportunities Form.
You can apply with a written, video or audio application. Please answer all of the questions listed in the application pack. Each answer in the written application must not exceed 300 words, and the video or audio file should not exceed 4minutes. Please send any audio or video files as a MP3 or MP4. You can send this to us by using free file transfer platform www.wetransfer.com, which can be downloaded as an app on either apple or android phones. Please also send this to recruitment@newvictheatre.org.uk.
The Equal Opportunities form must be sent as a written document.
When’s the deadline?
The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 11 January.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to meet with Resident Assistant Director Anna Poole and Associate Director Zoe Waterman on Thursday 17 January between 6:30pm and 9:30pm at the New Vic Theatre.