Each year the JMK Trust provides up to 20 talented young directors with awards, guidance and development opportunities. We present the annual The James Menzies-Kitchin Young Director Award (The JMK Award) to one outstanding candidate, supported in 2010 by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.
The JMK Award is the single most sought-after prize for outstanding young theatre directors. Great directors acknowledge that you learn to direct by directing – but opportunities to do so are extremely scarce. The JMK Award allows participants to do exactly that. For many, winning this award is the breakthrough moment in their directing career. Increasingly, simply taking part in the Trust’s unique selection process has itself given a powerful impetus to the best theatre practitioners of the future.
For the 2010 JMK Award we asked renowned theatre director, Katie Mitchell, to select the 25 ‘classic’ plays which she would most like to see produced. Applicants must select one play from our four playlists for the purposes of their application. The JMK Award constitutes a production budget of £12,000 plus space at BAC.
The JMK Award winner for 2009 is Caroline Steinbeis, her winning production of Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill was produced at BAC in July 2009. Caroline Steinbeis, winner of this year’s JMK Award, has set herself a difficult task with Mad Forest; here she triumphs – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian**** A most ably acted play [...]
Direct Access open days are free, professional workshop opportunities to learn about the craft of theatre making from the country’s finest directors at partner theatres throughout the UK. Supported by Arts Council England, Direct Access takes the work and ethos of the JMK Trust into the regions for the very first time inspiring the next generation of theatre makers. Our first series [...]
At the JMK Trust we are committed to developing the potential of up to 20 talented young directors each year. We run regular Development Weeks for existing and recent finalists, contributing to their ongoing learning. Our latest runner up award – a Designer/Director Development Week for all current finalists – took place at BAC in July [...]
