The Theatre Arts Admin Collective is calling for applications for the 2016 Theatre Arts Admin Collective Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary – in partnership with the Baxter Theatre Centre and the Distell Foundation and supported by nearly 60 wonderful individuals from South Africa, the UK and the USA who contributed through our Thundafund campaign, supported by the Department of Arts and Culture.
This year, we are offering 4 bursaries (supported in partnership with the Baxter Theatre Centre and Distell)
The Bursary offers an emerging theatre director a mentor, a small budget, a month’s rehearsal space and a week of performance at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. It is recommended that directors work with already existing scripts as the month-long period has proved insufficient for devised work.
Previous winners of this bursary include Amy Jephta, Tara Louise Notcutt, Asanda Phewa, Leopold Senekal, Pusetso Thibedi, Kim Kerfoot, Tsepo wa-Mamatu, Thando Doni, Nicola Elliott, Lidija Marelic, Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Alan Parker, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Thenjiwe Stemela and Bulelani Mabutyana.
Previous winners have more than proven themselves over the years; Phala went on to win the Standard Bank Silver Ovation at the NAF 2015 for Kapka’s Ape. Alan Parker won an Ovation Award for Detritus. Nicola Elliott went on to win the Young Standard Bank Award for Dance and Dom Gumede won the Naledi New Voice award and his work Crepuscule went on to the Market Theatre.
“The Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young/emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable,” said Kim Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners. “It is a wonderful environment in which to find yourself, full of people that want you and your work to succeed, and are willing to do everything within their power to make that happen,” he added.
The 2016 bursaries will run over four periods:
Bursary 1 – 2 May – 4 June (performances from 31 May – 4 June)
Bursary 2 – 18 July – 20 Aug (performances from 16 – 20 Aug)
Bursary 3 – 22 August – 24 Sept (performances from 20 – 24 Sept)
Bursary 4 – 24 Oct – 27 November (performances from 22 – 27 November)
The Bursary is specifically designed for emerging theatre directors who have had some experience in directing and whose passion is to have a career as a theatre director.
If you are an emerging director and would like to grab this opportunity please submit: a 1-page creative proposal, your CV (including 2 references with contact details), and an indication of your preferred date to artsadmin@mweb.co.za by Friday 19 February 2016. The bursaries will be announced on Tuesday 1 March 2016. For enquiries call 021 447 3683.
