JERWOOD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PROGRAMME

The Young Vic is committed to providing opportunities for directors and theatre makers to develop their craft and to expand their knowledge and practice. Learning from experienced directors by assisting is a vital chance to develop skills and understanding. Equally, having the chance to spend time in a theatre and understand how the departments work together to produce work is also an important aspect of a director and theatre maker’s knowledge.  Each year the Jerwood Assistant Director Program, supported by Jerwood Arts will aim to provide up to five assistant directorships, which include a placement at the Young Vic in addition to an attachment to a production. 

THE PROGRAMME

The program provides each assistant director:

• An assistantship on a Young Vic production or co-production
• A two-week placement observing day to day running of the theatre, attending planning and management meetings and spending time in departments such as marketing, production and development 
• The opportunity to direct a short piece of work as part of Five Plays, in The Clare Theatre or online, to be presented alongside the work of other Jerwood Assistant Directors
• The opportunity to devise and lead two peer-led projects for the Genesis Network.
• A chance to work with the Taking Part department on delivering a programme of work for schools and colleges inspired by the show they have assisted on
• A small pot of money to see shows

Each assistant will receive a fee to cover the assistantship on a production, placement and the direction of a short piece.    

ASSISTANTSHIP ON A YOUNG VIC PRODUCTION

At present we are looking for an assistant on Hamlet by William Shakespeare directed by Greg Hersov with Cush Jumbo as Hamlet.

Dates

Rehearsals from:                      9th August 2021                                      

Technical Rehearsals:               week commencing 20th September 2021

First Preview:                            week commencing 20th September 2021

Press Performances:                 week commencing 4th October 2021                  

Final Performance:                    13th November 2021                                            

FEES

There is a fee of £4,500 to cover the period from 9th August – 13th November 2021.  The director will be required to undertake some research and attend meetings prior to the rehearsal period.   You will be working full-time up to the press week and then part-time during the run to support the show.

Two-week placement payment of £450 per week (mutually agreed with Young Vic and assistant director)

There is a fee and small budget to support the direction of a short piece in the Clare Theatre as part of the Five Plays project and a small budget towards seeing shows. 

We are looking for an assistant director who:

• Has assistant directed on at least two productions (full productions not rehearsed readings or runs of less than three weeks)
• Has directed at least one professional production (with professional* actors not student actors)
• Enthusiasm for Shakespeare is more important than experience of working as a director or assistant on a production
• Has specific interest in the craft of the actor and can demonstrate their sensitivity to actors and their ability to support their process
• Experience of using movement and voice work in their productions
• Experience of scheduling within a complex rehearsal and performance schedule
• Experience of working with and supporting supernumeraries or community choruses
• Experience of pre-production factual and visual research
• Can provide a clear analysis of why this opportunity would provide an invaluable step in their own artistic evolution (as opposed to career development)
• Is capable of devising and running workshops for schools and colleges and has an interest in contributing to resource materials for teachers (no previous experience is necessary)

* We would define professional, as: the team who created and realised the production have or hope to have theatre as their main career focus and source of income.    

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply please send a CV (no more than one A4 page) and a letter, video file or audio file telling us:

• What the opportunity will mean in terms of your artistic evolution.
• Your relevant experience and why you are interested in working Greg Hersov
• Please confirm that you are fully available for the relevant dates.

Please also complete an equal opportunities monitoring form below. Filling in the form will help us to be as representative as possible, in the makeup of our creative teams. Our aim is to embrace diversity, ambition and excellence. To achieve this, it is useful for us to know a certain amount about who you are. 

We welcome applications in writing as well as video and voice notes. The video and audio file should be no more than five minutes and be submitted via we transfer to opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org

Please confirm that you are free for a majority of the dates outlined above.  If you know you have any prior commitments during the rehearsal period outlined above, please let us know and we will try to accommodate these as much as we can. 

Please address and send your application to Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director at opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org

Please add your name, telephone number and email address to every page you submit.

If you are Deaf, disabled, experiencing mental health issues or are neuro divergent please let us know adjustments we need to make to the application and interview process.

SELECTION PROCESS

The deadline for applications is noon on 14 June 2021.  Depending on the volume of applications there may be a number of stages in the selection process. We will contact everyone who expresses an interest.   

ELIGIBILITY

Director’s applying for the award must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK resident at point of application
• Be available for the appropriate dates. If you have prior commitments please let us know in your application letter.
• You do not have to be a member of the Young Vic’s Genesis Network but we would encourage you to join so you can continue to find out about events, workshops and opportunities.   You can sign up HERE    

CLOSING DATE

Closing date for applications is noon 14 June 2021.

We will get back in touch with everyone who applies but please bear with us as this make take some time. If your availability changes please contact Tia Begum tiabegum@youngvic.org  so we can withdraw your expression of interest.