The JMK Trust

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

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The JMK Award

The James Menzies-Kitchin Young Director Award

The JMK Award was established in memory of James Menzies-Kitchin, a young theatre director who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 28, to encourage others to fulfil their potential as he had promised to do.

The JMK Trust was founded to give opportunities to young theatre directors of similar ability and vision.  The Award enables one outstanding applicant each year to create their own production of their choice of classic text. For many, winning the JMK Award is the breakthrough moment in their directing career.

Increasingly simply taking part in the Trust’s unique, intensive development and selection process has itself given powerful impetus to the best theatre practitioners of the future.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without winning the Award. The only way to become a director is to direct. There is no three-year drama school course to go on after which you can be a qualified director. This Award provides the opportunity to direct by giving the two things a young director doesn’t have – a space and money.” Thea Sharrock

“The Award is extraordinary because its unique existence fulfills every young director’s wish: to choose a play and then receive the financial support to stage it.  It was an amazing privilege to have this wish fulfilled.” Natalie Abrahami

The JMK Young Director Award 2020

We are delighted that the JMK Award is continuing its partnership with the Orange Tree Theatre, with the winner’s production forming a core part of the theatre’s annual programming. The JMK Award 2020 will offer one director the opportunity to direct a full-scale Orange Tree show with the production values and nurturing guidance the building is famous for.

Applications for the JMK Award 2020 are now closed.

The JMK Award is supported by Phillip Hooker, The Martin Bowley Charitable Trust, Backstage Trust, The Leche Trust, Fidelio Charitable Trust, the Directors Charitable Foundation and all our individual donors.

Latest News

  • #JMKSpace: Directing a one-person show with Rachel Bagshaw February 26, 2021
  • #JMKSpace: Using Circus in Theatre-Making with Gwen Hales February 11, 2021
  • #JMKSpace: What’s the audience for with Chris Thorpe February 11, 2021

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Alumni

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 and Tom Morris OBE (Founding Chair).  

The JMK Trust is kindly supported by Philip Hooker, The Martin Bowley Charitable Trust, Arts Council England, the Orange Tree Theatre, The Noël Coward Foundation, Didymus,
The Thistle Trust, The Chapman Trust, The Golsoncott Foundation, The Unity Theatre Trust 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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