Four people will be paid to spend 18 months in a UK theatre as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme 2015-16.
Daniel Bailey will work at Birmingham REP, Rebecca Frecknall is off to Northern Stage in Newcastle, Jesse Jones will be resident at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate and Jo Newman will go to Salisbury Playhouse.
Funded by Arts Council England and the Arts Patrons Fund, the residency gives the directors the opportunity to mount their own production as part of each theatre’s programme. It will also allow the directors to develop their understanding of the artistic and operational workings of a theatre.
The Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme has received £450,000 from Arts Council England to deliver an expanded programme over the next three years, offering emerging theatre directors the opportunity to become artistic leaders of the future.
Past alumni include Trevor Nunn, Ken Loach and Adrian Noble as well as artistic directors of some of the UK’s leading theatres: Michael Boyd (formerly at the RSC), Vicky Featherstone (Royal Court), Rupert Goold (Almeida Theatre), Dominic Hill (Glasgow Citizens Theatre) and Nikolai Foster (Curve, Leicester).
Daniel Bailey was director in residence at the National Theatre Studio. He has developed work with theatre companies including Talawa, Paddington Arts and the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Roxana Silbert, Birmingham REP’s artistic director, said, “we’re looking forward immensely to hosting Daniel for the next 18 months. This brilliant scheme has a unique legacy, discovering some of the UK's most brilliant directors, and I’m sure Daniel will follow in their footsteps.”
Rebecca Frecknall received the National Theatre Studio’s resident director bursary and was awarded a Jerwood assistant director bursary at the Young Vic. She has directed work at Southwark Playhouse, Greenwich Theatre and the New Diorama.
Lorne Campbell, artistic director of Northern Stage, added, “Northern Stage is delighted to be welcoming Rebecca. I’m sure she’ll be a dynamic, creative and exciting person to have in our organisation over the next 18 months.
“Having started my own career on the RTYDS scheme, I understand what a great opportunity this is for an emerging director not only to develop their craft but also to get to grips with all areas of a theatre’s operations.
“This is a very exciting creative time in the north east and I’m sure Rebecca will bring fresh energy and perspective to Northern Stage and the region during her time with us.”
Jesse Jones is the co-artistic director of the Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol which he founded in 2011. In 2013 he was assistant director to Bijan Sheibani on the National Theatre production of Emil and the Detectives.
James Dacre, artistic director of Northampton’s Royal and Derngate, commented, “it’s been incredibly inspiring to meet so many emerging directors with a passion for working in regional theatre. The RYTDS offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop as a director and engenders an understanding and passion in all who receive it for making connections between theatres and their communities.
“It offers a young director a unique opportunity to engage with the wide variety of activities—both on and off stage—that encompass what regional theatres do. We greatly look forward to welcoming Jesse here next year.”
Jo Newman is co-artistic director of Birmingham-based Tin Box Theatre Company and has developed work at theatres including Birmingham REP, Battersea Arts Centre and the New Diorama. She was a member of the REP Foundry, Birmingham REP’s artists development programme.
Gareth Machin, Salisbury Playhouse artistic director, said, “emerging directors crave the space and time to develop their craft. RTYDS makes it happen—brilliantly. Salisbury Playhouse is delighted to be participating in the scheme once more and will look forward to welcoming Jo to Wiltshire in 2015.”