Calling all young directors
MANY a theatre practitioner would argue that this country is not short of art talent in general and theatre talent in particular, especially when it comes to acting.
However, where there seems to be a teething problem is the grooming of young directors of substance.
Now those who would like to sharpen their skills in directing have an opportunity to do so through the annual Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary programme hosted by The Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts, the Theatre Arts Admin Collective and the Baxter Theatre Centre.
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.
This programme has proved to be popular in the past with a number of emerging theatre talent benefiting immensely from it.
For example, previous winners of this bursary include Amy Jephta, Tara Louise Notcutt, Asanda Phewa, Leopold Senekal, Pusetso Thibedi, Kim Kerfoot and Tsepo wa-Mamatu, who are currently making names for themselves in theatre .
"The Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young or emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable," Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners, said.
"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 said.
"For me this was a way in, a chance to let the South African theatre industry know that, even though you may not know who we are, we are out there working, creating magical stories for the people that are willing to lend their ears and eyes, even if it is just for a single moment of escape," Pusetso Thibedi, another 2011 winner, said.
The bursary is specifically designed for emerging theatre directors who have had some experience in directing and whose passion is to become a theatre director.
The Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary is part of the GIPCA Directors and Directing programme and requires both awardees to participate in the three-day colloquium that takes place towards the end of July.
GIPCA is running a host of colloquiums throughout this year that cover a range of themes: race, identity, representation, culture, dance and climate change. If your proposal fits into one of these themes, please indicate. It must be noted that this will not give your proposal preference.
If you are an emerging director and would like to grab this opportunity please submit: a one-page creative proposal; your CV including two references with contact details and an indication of your preferred date to artsadmin@mweb.co.za by Friday February 17. The results of the bursary applications will be announced on Friday March 2.
