The JMK Trust

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

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The JMK Award Returns to the Young Vic in 2026

May 14, 2025 by Stephen Fewell

The JMK Trust is delighted to announce that the next JMK Award for theatre directors will include a production in the Maria theatre at the Young Vic. Young Vic artistic director Nadia Fall will provide a list of titles from which applicants choose a play and submit a proposed production. The winning production will be […]

Filed Under: Blog

Clare Menzies Kitchin MBE

May 15, 2024 by Stephen Fewell

‘It’s with great sadness that I pass on the news that our former Trustee, patron and mother to James, Clare Menzies Kitchin MBE has died. Clare’s support was a prerequisite when we set up the JMK Trust in 1996. She and her husband Graham lent their weight to the charity, initially at a distance, but […]

Filed Under: Blog

Adam Karim wins 2024 JMK Award

April 19, 2024 by Stephen Fewell

Today we’re delighted to announce that Adam Karim wins this year’s JMK Award with his production of Guards at the Taj by Rajiv Joseph. The JMK Award offers Adam the opportunity to stage his own full-scale professional show with designer Roisin Jenner.  Hosted by the Orange Tree Theatre, Guards at the Taj will form part […]

Filed Under: Blog

JMK Shortlist 2024 announced

April 5, 2024 by Stephen Fewell

 JMK TRUST ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR 2024 JMK AWARD   The JMK Trust today announces the eight shortlisted theatre directors, and the designers they partnered with, in the running for the 2024 JMK Award – Dipo Baruwa-Etti, Adam Karim, Zoe Murtagh, Josh Parr, Joanna Pidcock, Zoë Templeman-Young, Amelia Thornber and Sam Woof. The recipient will be […]

Filed Under: Blog

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 […]

Filed Under: Blog

2023 JMK Award winning production

October 19, 2023 by Rowan Riley

The 2023 JMK Award winner, Kalungi Ssebandeke, opened his show at the Orange Tree Theatre last night, and it’s not to be missed! “Every aspect of Meetings benefits from director Kalungi Ssebandeke’s ingenuity… Meetings earns its status as one of the best plays to see in 2023.” *****  Loretta Monaco, TheatreLondon1 “Kalungi Ssebandeke, winner of the […]

Filed Under: Blog

JMK and Birmingham Rep launch new Assistant Director opportunity

August 3, 2023 by Rowan Riley

The JMK Trust is delighted to once again be supporting an Assistant Director post at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to offer an Assistant Director position. About the role at The Rep: At the heart of this placement is the opportunity to be the Assistant Director on a children’s Christmas production in The Door, followed by community […]

Filed Under: Blog

JMK Award 2023 Shortlist

March 23, 2023 by Suzie Brewis

The JMK Trust are pleased to announce the eight shortlisted candidates for the 2023 JMK Director Award in partnership with the Orange Tree Theatre. The winner will be announced on Friday 21st April at an industry event and the production takes place this Autumn. Each year, we received well over a hundred applications for this […]

Filed Under: News

JMK Trust announces new recipients of 2023 Victoria Wood Bursaries

March 14, 2023 by Suzie Brewis

We are delighted to announce, through the generous funding of the Victoria Wood Foundation, this year’s recipients of the bursary awards specifically for the North of England.  As part of JMK Trust’s National Programme, Laura May Brunk and Zoe Lack have joined the teams to Royal Exchange Manchester and Leeds Playhouse. Zoe Lack will assist Amy […]

Filed Under: News

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022

November 29, 2022 by Suzie Brewis

We are participating in The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge22 to raise at least £4,000 towards our programme of work in 2023. As we approach our 25th year of activity, we are seeking your support to continue providing opportunity to the next generation of theatre directors across the UK. The funds will go towards our National Programme […]

Filed Under: News

JMK announce Victoria Wood Assistant Director Bursaries with Leeds Playhouse and Royal Exchange Manchester

November 16, 2022 by Suzie Brewis

The JMK Trust are delighted to be partnering with Leeds Playhouse and Royal Exchange Manchester, with support from the Victoria Wood Foundation, to offer two Assistant Director bursaries to early career directors in the North of England.          For the first bursary we are looking for a West Yorkshire-based early career director […]

Filed Under: News

#JMK Space: Support Our Work in 2022

November 30, 2020 by Stephen Fewell

Theatre relies on its ability to attract a stream of promising new talent, prepared to work with commitment for very modest wages on a freelance basis, creating the sort of shows that often achieve international success after beginning life in small theatres like The Orange Tree and The Young Vic. This year, continued theatre closure […]

Filed Under: Blog

#JMKSpace events this January

January 5, 2024 by Stephen Fewell

Thinking of applying for this year’s JMK Award? We’re running two events online this January to offer guidance and advice if you have things that you’d like to ask. Monday 15th January via Zoom Last year’s JMK Award winner, Kalungi Ssebandeke is hosting an informal #JMKSpace session on Monday 15th December at 7:00pm for those thinking of […]

Filed Under: Blog

JMK Assistant Director blog – Laura Ryder

December 27, 2023 by Rowan Riley

In our latest blog, JMK Assistant Director bursary recipient, Laura Ryder reflects on her experience of working on Little Red Riding Hood, a Birmingham Repertory Theatre Christmas production directed by Caroline Wilkes. Why did you apply for the JMK Trust Assistant Director bursary? It is brilliant to have a paid assistant director opportunity, these roles are […]

Filed Under: Assistant Director Blog, Blog

BIG GIVE #ChristmasChallenge target met!

December 5, 2023 by Rowan Riley

We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to all those that supported this  years BIG GIVE Christmas Challenge. We are delighted to tell you that we met our target, and this will now be doubled by the very generous Big Give campaign champions, The Reed Foundation. We know you’ll understand, in these financially challenging […]

Filed Under: Blog

The BIG GIVE Christmas Challenge 2023

November 27, 2023 by Rowan Riley

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 We are participating in The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge23 to raise at least £4,000 towards our programme of work in 2024.  As we complete our 25th year of activity, we are seeking your support to continue providing opportunity to the next generation of theatre directors across the UK.  The funds […]

Filed Under: Blog

Next Page »

Latest News

  • The JMK Award Returns to the Young Vic in 2026 May 14, 2025
  • Clare Menzies Kitchin MBE May 15, 2024
  • Adam Karim wins 2024 JMK Award April 19, 2024

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