The JMK Trust

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

  • 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

JMK Victoria Wood Bursary Northern Stage

 

JMK Victoria Wood Bursary and Associate Director Opportunity

Applications for this opportunity are now closed. For more information on future opportunities, sign up to our mailing list.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Northern Stage

Northern Stage is the largest producing theatre in the North East of England, with three performance spaces at its city centre venue in Newcastle.

https://www.northernstage.co.uk/

Northern Stage and JMK are looking for an Associate Director to work on Northern Stage’s upcoming family Christmas production of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a brand new adaptation by Laura Lindow (The Snow Queen and The Emperor’s New Clothes). The Associate Director will be the recipient of a JMK Victoria Wood Bursary, generously supported by the Victoria Wood Foundation, and will work alongside the show’s Director Maria Crocker, as well as the wider creative team and staff at Northern Stage.

THE ROLE

The Associate Director will work closely with the Director to support the creation of the show. There will be a 2-day R&D in August 2021, ahead of a 4-week rehearsal block in October 2021 going into tech and previews in November 2021 before a 6-week run in our ‘Epic’ main house space across November & December 2021 (key dates are outlined below).

It is anticipated that duties will involve:

  • Read and study the play; discuss the interpretation and production concept with the Director.
  • Understand the vision and intention of the production and identify opportunities to enrich it as the production is made.
  • Assist the Director in planning the rehearsal process and work with the DSM and Director to create rehearsal calls.
  • Attend all production meetings.
  • Assist the Director as needed. Attend all rehearsals, taking notes and actively watching and listening, representing the audience in the room. Communicate regularly with the Director regarding the progress of the production.
  • Run special rehearsals such as line-throughs, speed-throughs, etc. if the Director requests it.
  • Attend movement, music and dialect calls in place of the Director, representing the vision in the room.
  • Make notes for the Director as instructed during rehearsals and tech.  Share these notes with the Director who may communicate them to the cast and/or crew.
  • Host staff and visiting artists during the open rehearsal sessions and open tech sessions.
  • Support the well-being and morale of the acting company and share any concerns directly with the director as they arise.
  • Support talent development activity around the production.
  • Attend one performance a week, reporting back to the Director and, where appropriate, give notes to the acting and technical company – TBC.
  • Document their experience for NS blog, social media and NS development activity.

You must be available for the following dates:

R&D Weds 25th & Thurs 26th August 10am – 6pm in Stage 3
Rehearsals w/c 25th Oct x 4 weeks (Raby St)
Get In w/c 15th November 2021
Tech w/c 22nd November 2021
Performances 27th November – 31st December 2021
Previews 27th Nov – 1st December 2021
Press Night 2nd December 2021

 

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

  • An experienced Assistant Director, with two previous assisting credits on professional productions, who is looking to develop mid-scale experience and grow their involvement and responsibility on a production.
  • A keen interest and/or experience of working with music in a theatre setting.
  • A keen interest and/or experience of creating work for families would be desirable.
  • Someone who is organised, confident, flexible, calm and approachable.
  • A good team player who is willing to work collaboratively with the team around the show (creatives, actors, stage managers and staff at Northern Stage).
  • Someone who embodies Northern Stage’s core values and beliefs.
  • Someone who is living in or originally from the north east with a commitment to making work in the region.
  • We particularly welcome applications from Black and ethnically diverse people and those who identify as living with a disability.

Access Provisions:

Northern Stage are committed to making their work fully accessible. They will endeavour to make sure that all activity takes place in wheelchair accessible spaces. Please let us know in your application if you have any specific requirements, such as:

  • A BSL Interpreter
  • Closed captioning for Zoom sessions (planning meetings etc.)
  • Correspondence in a particular format and provided ahead of time
  • A visit to the venue ahead of your session to familiarise yourself with the space
  • Access to a quiet space during the session

Northern Stage is always looking for ways to improve their accessibility across the organisation so please don’t hesitate to let us know of any other specific requirements that would make your visit as comfortable as possible and we will do our best to meet them.

In order to ensure a broad range of voices are part of these conversations, and in particular those who are underrepresented or otherwise disadvantaged in our sector, we will be monitoring the diversity of backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender, age, ethnicity and disability as part of the selection process. This information will be treated confidentially and will only be seen by our selection team and support team, and is to help us ensure that we are as inclusive as possible. If you ever change your mind, and want something taken off your record, you can ask us at any time by email, data@northernstage.co.uk or suzie@jmktrust.org

ABOUT THE SHOW

 

 

 

 

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Written by Laura Lindow

Directed by Maria Crocker

Grab your magical marching mop and join us in this enchanting new production.

Harrietta Rabbit was just a normal girl from a normal family (well, as normal as families get). That is until a job offer arrives for Harrietta, in the form of a letter slid underneath the door on a cold winter’s night, she is to become the Sorcerer’s Apprentice…

A truly magical treat for the whole family that’s not to be missed this Christmas!

https://www.northernstage.co.uk/Event/the-sorcerers-apprentice

  • 6 actors.
  • ‘Epic Space’ at Northern Stage (Stage 1 and 2 combined)
  • 4-week rehearsal period and 6-week performance run.
  • Live streamed performance, with further streamed performances available for the rest of the run – TBC.
  • Opportunity to collaborate with an extensive creative team (Director, Set & Costume Designer, Composer & Musical Director, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, Movement Director, Illusionist, and Puppet Maker & Director) as well as core staff at Northern Stage.
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is part of Northern Stage’s Housewarming season – the first programme to re-open the venue after closure due to Covid-19 restrictions.
  • Opportunity to lead, support and create wrap around activity as the Housewarming theme extends beyond the work on stage to include talent development and audience engagement strands.
  • We are in a transition year in terms of our talent development programme. Current activity is comprised of lots of deep listening, consultation and delivery of a short term response programme (Recover). Our intention in the future is to focus on deeper and more transformative opportunities for directors, designers, community embedded artists, production and technicians. We see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice as having an important role in seeding that commitment and intention.

FEE

  • The successful candidate will receive a bursary of £2,350 from JMK, and a fee of £1,250 from Northern Stage (£3,600 total which equates to a weekly fee of £600 per week for the duration of the engagement).
  • Weekly show watches and note taking will be paid at a separate day fee if needed/applicable.
  • You will be contracted as self-employed and be responsible for paying your own tax and National Insurance contributions.

TO APPLY

How to apply

Please send a CV and covering letter to suzie@jmktrust.org by 12 noon on Friday 2nd July.

Please detail:

  • Why you are interested in working with Maria Crocker on this production of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
  • Your relevant experience and what you can bring to the role
  • How this associate opportunity will contribute to your professional development
  • Your commitment to living and making theatre in the North East.

Alternatively you can send a sound recording or video detailing the same information.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview with Maria Crocker and a representative of JMK on Thursday 15th July

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

Copyright © 2025 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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