The Royal Theatrical Support Trust and the Octagon Theatre Bolton in partnership with Mercury Theatre and Rose Theatre are inviting entries for the Sir Peter Hall Director Award 2024, now in its eighth year, which offers the winner the opportunity to direct a mid-scale production in a British regional theatre and to take it on tour.
The 2024 winner will create a new production for the main stage at the Octagon Theatre Bolton in a co-production with Mercury Theatre in Colchester and Rose Theatre in Kingston opening in September 2025 as part of the Octagon’s autumn season and touring to the co-producing theatres. The RTST will make a grant of £50,000 to support the costs of the production.
The winner will be chosen by a panel chaired by Lotte Wakeham (Artistic Director, Octagon Theatre Bolton) and comprising Ailin Conant (director representing Mercury Theatre, Artistic Director, New Earth Theatre), Christopher Haydon (Artistic Director, Rose Theatre), Alex Jennings (actor), Iqbal Khan (director), Emily Lim (Director of Public Acts, National Theatre) and Tom Littler (Artistic Director, Orange Tree Theatre).
Wakeham said that the award, “provides a vital and transformative opportunity for an emerging director. Transitioning from smaller-scale work to main-stage, midscale regional work is a really significant milestone in any director’s career, and we’re delighted to be able to support the creation of a thrilling new production here in Bolton, which will then tour to our friends in Colchester and Kingston. I can’t wait to get to know the cohort of directors who will apply for the prize, and I strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to give it a go.”
The winner of the 2023 award was Jack Bradfield, who is to direct Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh in September 2024 at Northern Stage in Newcastle, touring to Mercury Theatre, Grand Theatre, Blackpool and Rose Theatre, Kingston.
The closing date for entries is 6PM on Monday 2 September 2024.