The JMK Trust

The JMK Trust provides talented young directors with awards, guidance and development opportunities

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JMK Award winner 2023

April 21, 2023 by Rowan Riley

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the JMK Award 2023 is Kalungi Ssebandeke with his production of Meetings by Mustapha Matura, presented in partnership with the Orange Tree Theatre. Kalungi will work with designer Olivia Jamieson on the production.

The production forms part of Artistic Director Tom Littler’s inaugural season at the venue this Autumn.

As well as the JMK Award, the Trust gives one runner-up in the process a Development Award. This £2,000 finances the ongoing professional development of a deserving director and designer pairing. This year, director Tash Hyman and their designer Anna Orton, who worked together on their ideas for Midsummer by David Greig & Gordon McIntyre, will benefit from this support.

As a director, Kalungi’s credits include: Attempts on Her Life by Martin Crimp for the newly formed drama school Bristol School of Acting founded by Stuart Wood with co-artistic director Nancy Medina the incoming Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Prior to that, he worked as Director in Residence at Tonbridge School, a leading Independent School whilst also directing NT Connections play Remote by Stef Smith for White City Youth Theatre at Lyric Hammersmith.

As a writer, his debut play Assata Taught Me premiered at The Gate Theatre in 2017 starring Adjoa Andoh and Kenneth Omole directed by BAFTA Nominated Artistic Director of The Bush Theatre Lynette Linton. Kalungi has also written Prodigal a short play for The Orange Tree’s INSIDE/OUTSIDE series. Both plays are published by Bloomsbury and Nick Hern Books respectively. And Kalungi’s acting credits include Columbite Tantalite directed by Oscar Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dr Who for BBC, Offie nominated role in Blood Knot directed by Matthew Xia at The Orange Tree and most recently playing Othello in the critically acclaimed production of Othello at The Watermill Theatre.

“Winning the JMK is one of the major highlights of my creative career. Meetings by Mustapha Matura is such a funny, and deliciously thought-provoking play and I can’t wait for audiences to get another taste of Mustapha’s writing. Getting the chance to return to the Orange Tree, this time as a director rather than performer, is a dream come true.

“Thank you to the JMK team for giving me this wonderful life changing opportunity and to everyone that has helped my directing journey take shape.” – Kalungi Ssebandeke

Tickets for Meetings, running at the Orange Tree from 18th Oct – 11th November, are now available: MEETINGS | What’s On | Orange Tree Theatre

You can read more about our finalists for this year’s award, here.
The JMK Award has been made possible by the Martin Bowley Charitable Trust, the Katie Bradford Arts Trust, the Patricia Routledge Foundation, the Orange Tree Theatre and all our individual donors.

Filed Under: News

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Alumni

Diane Page Tristian Fynn-Aiduenu Winner 2017 - Josh Roche Winner 2016 - Roy Alexander Weise Winner 2015 - Liz Stevenson Kate Hewitt - winner 2014 Winner 2013 - Alex Brown Winner 2012 - Sam Pritchard Winner 2011 - Cathal Cleary Winner 2010 - Matthew Evans Winner 2009 - Caroline Steinbeis Winner 2008 - Michael Oakley Winner 2007 - Polly Findlay Winner 2006 - Jamie Harper Winner 2005 - Natalie Abrahami Winner 2004 - Anne Tipton Winner 2003 - Bijan Sheibani Winner 2002 - Joe Hill Gibbins Winner 2001 - Orla O'Loughlin Winner 2000 - Thea Sharrock Winner 1999 - Mark Rosenblatt Winner 1998 - Tassos Stevens

Click here to view all JMK alumni »

Patrons: Dame Judi Dench, Baroness Howe, Sir Ian McKellen, Clare Menzies-Kitchin MBE and Tom Morris OBE (Founding Chair).  

The JMK Trust is kindly supported by The Martin Bowley Charitable Trust, Arts Council England, The Katie Bradford Arts Trust, The Leche Trust, Scops Arts Trust, The Garrick Charitable Trust, The Victoria Wood Foundation, The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust, The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund, The Patricia Routledge Foundation, The Hollick Family Foundation and all our individual donors.

Registered address: Talton Farm Cottage, Newbold on Stour, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8UB.

Registered Charity: No. 295080

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The JMK Trust
  • Home
  • About
  • The JMK Award
    • About the JMK Award
    • Application process 2023
    • Information for Designers
  • National Programme
    • About the JMK National Programme
      • JMK Birmingham
      • JMK Bristol
      • JMK Edinburgh
      • JMK Manchester
      • JMK Newcastle
      • JMK Northampton
      • JMK Nottingham
      • JMK Reading
      • JMK Salisbury
      • JMK Stoke-on-Trent
      • JMK Yorkshire
    • #JMKSpace
    • JMK Director Practitioners
  • Assistant Director Bursaries
    • Apply: Birmingham Rep Bob Carlton Assistant Director Bursary
    • Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursary – Leeds Playhouse
      • Apply: Leeds Playhouse Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursary
    • Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursary – Royal Exchange Manchester
      • Apply: Royal Exchange Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursary
    • JMK Assistant Director Bursary Recipients
    • JMK Bob Carlton Bursary
  • Support us
    • How you can help
    • Support for Free with Online Shopping
    • Legacies
    • JMK Gift Membership & Awards Circle
    • ShareGift
    • Thanks to our supporters
  • Blog
  • More information
    • Learn about directing
    • Archive Playlists
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact