Bursaries available for young, emerging directors
The 2012 Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary offers an emerging theatre director a mentor, a small budget, a month's rehearsal space and a week of performance at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. It is recommended that directors work with already existing scripts as the month-long period has proved insufficient for devised work.
"The Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young or emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable," said Kim Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners. "It is a wonderful environment in which to find yourself, full of people that want you and your work to succeed, and are willing to do everything within their power to make that happen."
"For me this was a way in, a chance to let the South African theatre industry know that, even though you may not know who we are, we are out there working, creating magical stories for the people that are willing to lend their ears and eyes, even if it is just for a single moment of escape," said Pusetso Thibedi, another 2011 winner.
Designed for young directors with some experience
The two 2012 bursaries will run from 11 April to 19 May, and from 20 June to 27 July. The bursaries are specifically designed for emerging theatre directors who have had some experience in directing and whose passion is to have a career as a theatre director. The Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary is part of the GIPCA Directors and Directing programme and requires both awardees to participate in the three-day colloquium that takes place towards the end of July.
GIPCA is running a host of colloquiums throughout 2012 that cover a range of themes such as race, identity, representation, culture, dance and climate-change. Emerging directors who are interested must submit a one-page creative proposal, a CV with two references, contact details and preferred date to az.oc.bewm@nimdastra by Friday, 17 February 2012.
