The Yard’s Live Lab will support six artists from a wide range of performance practices to develop as directors, strengthen their artistic style, and work on a new idea for a show over four months, with financial support. The programme is dedicated to the memory of the late Howard Davies CBE.

The programme kicks off with 3 weeks of teaching from world renowned director Katie Mitchell, followed by weekly masterclasses from some of the UK’s most brilliant theatre practitioners, leaders and artists including Bijan Sheibani, Natalie Ibu, Nickie Miles-Wildin, Omar Elerian, Rachael Young, Richard Eyre, Tarik Elmoutawakil and The Yard’s Artistic Director, Jay Miller with more to be announced. In addition, artists will receive one on one mentorship and support from The Yard’s Associate Directors Anthony Simpson-Pike and Cheryl Gallacher and The Yard team including producers, the technical team, and The Yard’s Artistic Director.

Each artist will receive a bursary of £1200 to support them taking part in the programme. They will also receive a £500 fee for a week of research and development in April, alongside free rehearsal space, a budget of £1000 for collaborators, and the opportunity to share their ideas on The Yard’s stage.

They’re seeking six artists who want to strengthen their voice, vision and style while broadening and honing their skills in leading a team. Six artists who want to stretch, challenge and enrich their current creative practice while coexisting within a support system of other artists to learn new skills and approaches to making new work. Six artists who will be supported to make exceptional work that is unmistakably theirs.

Calling yourself a director is not necessarily essential, but a passion for leading a team to create exciting new work and a desire to develop your existing practice is.

They’ve held at least three places on the course for those who are of Black African, African Carribean, South Asian, East Asian, South West Asian, North African, Arab or Latinx heritage, or those artists from communities who are marginalised for their race. Additionally, at least one place will be given to an artist who identifies as d/Deaf or disabled, as these artists have historically been underrepresented in directorial roles at The Yard and elsewhere.

Deadline

Monday 30 November, 10am

Applicants will be notified about the outcome of their application by 23 December

Programme Begins: 6 January, 2021

Welcome meeting 6 January, 6-7.30pm

Teaching from Katie Mitchell

• Thursday 7th & Friday 8th January, 10am – 6pm
• Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th January, 10am – 6pm
• Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th January, 10am – 6pm

Weekly Masterclass sessions every Tuesday, 4-7pm, between Tuesday, 26 January – Tuesday, 6 April

Research and Development weeks: From April 2021

https://theyardtheatre.co.uk/live-lab/