Do you have a passion for theatre?
Do you have a learning disability?
Do you want to learn about being a theatre director in a supported and fun environment?
Then this course is for you!
What is a Theatre Director?
A Theatre Director brings a play or a story to life on the stage; they guide and oversee the creative vision of the project. The Director leads rehearsals and directs the actors to tell the story as clearly as possible. They work with set designers, lighting designers and sound designers to create the world of the play.
The course is being run in partnership with Mind the Gap and Daniel Foulds for his project Hidden History which is being funded by Arts Council England.
Daniel Foulds is an independent learning-disabled director and writer, and Mind the Gap artist.
Mind the Gap is one of Europe’s leading learning disability theatre companies creating bold, cutting-edge work for UK and international audiences. The company is dedicated to creating equal opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the arts sector.
If you would like to talk about the information in this pack, or have any questions, please phone Deborah: 01274 487390 or email deborah@mind-the-gap.org.uk
Information about the Course
What You Will Learn
• Practical skills to start a career as a Director
• About the rehearsal process
• Knowledge and understanding of the work of a Theatre Director
• An understanding of how theatre productions are made
• How to create theatre and tell a story
• Understand the roles of other theatre professionals involved in creating theatre productions
• Confidence in a theatre environment
What You Will Need
The course will be adapted to the skills of the successful applicants. We are open to applications from people with learning disabilities and any other access needs. Appropriate support and equipment will be provided as needed.
To apply for this opportunity, you must have the essential skills listed below.
• An interest and enthusiasm for theatre
• Ability to work well in a team
• Have a positive and helpful attitude
• Ability to listen and observe carefully
• Good communication skills
• Good time-keeping and commitment
Dates: 18th & 19th February 2020
Tuesday 18th February
Start Time: 11am
Finish Time: 5pm
Wednesday 19th February
Start Time: 10am
Finish Time: 4pm
Base: Mind the Gap Studios, Silk Warehouse, Patent Street, Bradford BD9 4SA
Access: The building is fully accessible. Your full access needs will be discussed and agreed before you start the course.
The three Directors running the course are:
Joyce Lee
Joyce is Resident Director at Mind the Gap where she has been working for the past 8 years making shows for the company. She came up with the idea for making the three performances in the Daughters of Fortune series and directed two of them. ZARA featured a giant 24 foot high baby, projections and a cast of over a hundred people. It was performed in two outdoor venues one in Halifax and the other in London in 2019. Joyce’s training includes an MA in Theatre Making in 2008 and the National Theatre’s Directing Programme in 2019.
Richard Hayhow
Richard has been working as a theatre director with learning-disabled artists since 1985. He ran The Shysters Theatre Company and he now runs Open Theatre Company. Richard also mentors BecauseWeCanCanCan, a company formed in November 2015 as a partnership between Open Theatre Company and Birmingham Hippodrome to develop the learning, professional skills and career aspirations of artists with learning disabilities. The company is made up of young people aged 18-25.
Madeleine O’Reilly
Madeleine is a freelance director and project manager. She trained on the MFA in Theatre Directing at Birkbeck College with placements at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and West Yorkshire Playhouse. She has directed a range of projects from new writing and community projects to opera and pantomime, at theatres including Hull Truck Theatre and The Lyceum in Edinburgh. In 2017 she directed Our Street Our Stage a promenade piece on the high street and in 2019 she led a project on the 1975 referendum, directed Die Fledermaus and Cinderella at Cast, Doncaster.
To apply for the Introduction to Directing Course, you should be over the age of 18 on 1 January 2020.
Deadline for Applications: Monday 20th January 2020 by 5pm
Interviews: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th January 2020 by Skype, conference call or in person
What is Provided for the course:
-Travel costs to Mind the Gap
-Overnight accommodation in Bradford as required
-Support worker costs as required
-Other Access support costs as required
How to apply:
If you would like to apply for the course, please send us the following information:
1. 500 words about your experience in theatre
2. 500 words why you would like to attend the Introduction to Directing course
You can answer the questions in different ways:
1. In writing – you can write a Document
2. By making a short video recorded on a mobile phone – you can record up to 5 minutes
3. By recording an audio file on a mobile phone – you can record up to 5 minutes
Send your application back with the Document or with a link to the video or audio file either by email to deborah@mind-the-gap.org.uk or by post to: Mind the Gap, Silk Warehouse, Patent Street, Bradford BD9 4SA.
The deadline for applications is 20th January 2020 by 5pm.
We look forward to hearing from you.
What happens next?
When we have received your application, we will contact you to let you know that we have received it. Your application will be reviewed by a panel of three people, who will select a short-list of candidates for interview.
If you are short-listed, you will be invited to interview either in person, by Skype or conference call on 23rd or 24th January 2020.
We will send you all the information you need to prepare and ask you if you have any access needs.
You can bring someone with you to the interview if you like.
We will let you know if you have not been selected for interview.