The JMK Trust

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

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Laura Ryder is the recipient of Bob Carlton Assistant Director Bursary

November 9, 2023 by Rowan Riley

We are delighted that through the generous funding provided by the family of the late Bob Carlton, Laura Ryder is the recipient of a JMK Assistant Director Bursary and will be joining the team of Little Red Riding Hood at Birmingham Rep.

Laura is a theatre maker, director and facilitator. Her work centres around collaborative making processes; movement; access; narrative-based theatre; working with young people; and community participation projects. Laura is Lead Artist with B Team and leads two of Derby Theatre’s Youth Theatres. She has worked with Birmingham REP; Hubbub Theatre Company; Omar Khan and Plus One at Derby Theatre.

 

These bursary awards give emerging directors engaged in with JMK Trust’s National Programme their first step to practical and paid experience by assisting on a production at their local venue. They are unique opportunities which are funded on a case by case basis. The work is designed to prevent talented artists from disengaging with the arts and create a sense of community in a profession which can feel isolating.

Little Red Riding Hood builds on the success of the Rep’s Jack and the Magic Beanstalk (Christmas 2022) and is written by Katherine Chandler and directed by Associate Artist of the Rep, Caroline Wilkes.

Caroline was herself a JMK bursary recipient in 2014, and is a fabulous example of how the early career support that the JMK Trust offers feeds into the continuing contribution it provides for the next generation of theatre-makers.

Caroline has said: “I am delighted that Laura Ryder will be joining me as the JMK assistant director on Little Red Riding Hood at Birmingham Rep followed by a community tour. A decade ago I was very fortunate to be given a JMK assistant director post myself working with Tessa Walker at Birmingham Rep on the main house production of The Mother.  The JMK bursary was instrumental in my development as a director and it provided a significant stepping stone for me, opening up many other opportunities.”

Laura will be assisting on the children’s classic fairy tale, which is a Rep Original production and is being created especially for children aged 3 to 6 years old. The show takes place in The Rep’s most intimate performance space, The Door, offering a perfect introduction to theatre and a special experience for young audiences. The production will work with actor-musicians, integrated Makaton and other storytelling techniques to engage and delight our youngest audiences. The production is being made as a Green Book show (baseline standard) in line with the Rep’s sustainability commitments.

Little Red Riding Hood is playing at The Rep from Thursday 7th December 2023 to Saturday 6th January 2024: Little Red Riding Hood | Birmingham Rep (birmingham-rep.co.uk)

Filed Under: Blog

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Alumni

Adam Karim Kalungi Ssebandeke 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 Cockayne Foundation, The London Community Foundation, 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 TrustLogo Header Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • The JMK Award
    • About the JMK Award
    • Application process 2024
    • 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
    • JMK Assistant Director Bursary Recipients
  • 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