The JMK Trust

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

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Winner 2007

Polly Findlay

Production: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Polly trained at LAMDA and at the National Theatre Studio, where she was the recipient of the Bulldog Prinseps Bursary for Young Directors in 2006. Polly was the joint winner (with Derren Brown) of the 2012 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for Derren Brown: Svengali.  

Productions in 2019 include Caryl Churchill’s A Number at the Bridge Theatre, starring Roger Allam and Colin Morgan.

Directing credits also include Rutherford and Son (National Theatre); The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Donmar Warehouse), Macbeth (RSC), Beginning (National Theatre and West End); Limehouse (Donmar Warehouse); Ghosts (HOME, Manchester); The Alchemist (RSC, Barbican); As You Like It (National Theatre); The Merchant of Venice (RSC); Treasure Island (National Theatre); Krapp’s Last Tape (Sheffield Crucible); Arden of Faversham (Royal Shakespeare Company); Protest Song (The Shed, National Theatre); War Horse (National Theatre/ Theater des Westens, Berlin); A Taste of Honey (Sheffield Crucible); The Country Wife (Royal Exchange, Manchester, 2012); Antigone (National Theatre); Good (Royal Exchange Theatre); The Swan and Nightwatchman (Double Feature – National Theatre, Paintframe); Derren Brown: Svengali (Shaftesbury Theatre/UK Tour); Twisted Tales (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith); Honest (Royal & Derngate and Milnes Bar, Edinburgh); Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Thyestes (Arcola Theatre, 2010 and 2009 respectively); Eigengrau (Bush Theatre, 2010)

The JMK Award provides the most incredible opportunity for a young director at the beginning of their career. I am very grateful indeed for all the support, advice and encouragement of the Trust, which made directing my production an invaluably useful learning experience – Polly Findlay

romeo1Findlay directs with astonishing nimbleness and fluency to produce a gripping, desolate, blood-freezing tragedy – Claire Allfree in METRO

r&j2A significant feature of Findlay’s skills is her ability to select a cast, some of them just out of drama school, and make them a cohesive group suggesting long involvement in the murderous feuds of Verona – Jeremy Kingston in The Times

In 2007 the shortlisted directors were Alastair Evans, Harun Morrison, Sophie Fletcher, Michael Oakley, Daniel Goldman, Fiona Morrell and Dan Ayling. All seven received a week of intensive workshops supported by The Ian Ritchie Foundation and using the resources and facilities of BAC. They chose a selection of directors and theatre practitioners who inspired them to run a week of bespoke activities and training to develop their potential. Guest practitioners included Greg Hicks, Sasha Wares, David Farr, James MacDonald, Tom Morris and Edward Hall.

Production photos by Emma Hodson.

Latest News

  • JMK Trust announces new recipients of 2023 Victoria Wood Bursaries March 14, 2023
  • The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022 November 29, 2022
  • JMK announce Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursaries with Leeds Playhouse and Royal Exchange Manchester November 16, 2022

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
    • 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
  • Exploring the relationship between Director and Movement Director with Vicki Manderson
  • JMK Workshop – GROUPWORK – OUR DEVISING AND REHEARSAL PROCESS