Genesis Future Directors Award 2020

A paid opportunity to direct a fully supported production in the Clare Theatre

Young vic
Director Paid

Deadline:

Greater London

The close relationship between the Genesis Foundation and the Young Vic dates back over nearly twenty years.  The generous support we have received has been crucial to establishing and maintaining our work with directors, which is at the heart of everything we do. 

The Genesis Future Directors Award enables us to identify, support and nurture a director to explore their craft and stage a production in the Clare Theatre. The Award is aimed at young and /or emerging directors who have demonstrated a talent for and commitment to directing, but who have had limited opportunity to make work. 

THE AWARD

The director will have the opportunity to work for four weeks on a play for the Clare Theatre.  The production will be part of the Young Vic’s program and will be fully supported by the Young Vic’s creative, administrative and production teams.  The award will conclude with 12 performances to a paying audience. The director will receive a fee and will be supported by a full producing and creative team including designer, lighting designer, sound designer and stage management team, as well as a casting director. The actors will be paid a Young Vic company wage. 

The dates for this Genesis Future Directors Award in 2020 will be in June/July 2020 (these dates are not flexible due to our other programming commitments).

We are looking for directors who:

  • Have already demonstrated a talent for and a commitment to directing
  • Have directed at least one professional production but are at an early stage of their    development as a director
  • Have demonstrated a commitment to originality and a desire to expand their understanding of theatre practice
  • Are fascinated by the actor’s process and the director’s role in it
  • Are able to rehearse the production from 29 June 2020; the show will run for two weeks from the week of 27 July
  • Are resident in the UK at point of application

You do not have to be a member of the Young Vic Genesis Directors Network to apply but we encourage you to join. For more information about the benefits of joining visit the Genesis Network page.

HOW TO APPLY

STAGE ONE

For first stage of the application please send in:

  • Single A4 page on your initial ideas for a production/play
  • CV
  • A Lightning Talk

Deadline for submitting all three is noon on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

 

Single A4 page on your initial ideas for a production/play

We would like to hear about a production/play you are already thinking about and that you would like to create/direct in the next one to two years. This production will provide a structure for the application process and will not be the play you direct for the Genesis Future Directors Award. We are using this process to select the director.  The final play choice will be decided through discussions with the Young Vic.

Please provide a single A4 page that covers all of the following: 

  • Your initial ideas for the production
  • Your ideal creative team and how they would help deliver your vision 
  • Availability in July/August 2020

Please also send your CV (see below for format).

If you have any availability issues, please let us know at this stage and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please make sure each document sent to us has your full name and email address visible on each page.

The play does not have to be an existing text with a production history. It can be a new play, an adaptation or a play that needs dramaturgical work.  You would need to achieve your production with a maximum of five actors.  It should not require supernumeraries, a community chorus or equivalent. 

We are most interested in your initial ideas for the production – please feel free to express your

ideas in notes, bullet points, diagrams, stream of consciousness or in any other medium you prefer.

We encourage you to use whichever form best suits your ideas and approach.  We want to find out about you, the work you want to make and this production/play should give us a sense of who you are as a theatre maker / director.  It is the starting point of a conversation and you do not need to have all the answers at this stage.  

This play/project will provide a structure for the application process and will not be the play you direct for the Genesis Future Directors Award. We are using this process to select the director and the final play choice will be decided through discussions with the Young Vic.  The play that is mutually agreed to be directed by the GFDA recipient will require no more than three actors and not require supernumeraries, a community chorus or equivalent.  

 

A Lightning Talk

All directors will be invited to present a Lightning Talk; this is a presentation that gives each director 10 powerpoint slides for 15 seconds each with accompanying commentary. 

The Lightning Talk should give a flavour of:

  • Your past work  
  • Your response to, and initial ideas for the production
  • If you could go back and direct one piece of work again, what you would do differently

 

Please make sure that you save your Lightning Talk presentation as your full name.

If you are D/deaf or disabled and a Lightning Talk is not a format that will best communicate your ideas please let us know and we will discuss with you the most effective way for us to find out about your proposed play. 

Also let us know if there are adjustments we should consider making. This might include: hearing loop, BSL interpreter, quiet environment, longer presentation time, for example.

 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for submitting your A4 page on the production/play, your CV and Lightning Talk is noon on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

These should be sent to opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org with the subject line GENESIS FUTURE DIRECTORS AWARD.

 

STAGE TWO

All directors will be invited to present a Lightning Talk between 9am and 6pm on 23 January 2020.

We will confirm time slots for the Lightning Talks by end of Monday 13 January 2020.

If you have any specific availability issues please let us know in your initial expression of interest.

 

STAGE THREE

Following the Lightning Talks, a small group of directors will be invited to meet with Kwame Kwei-Armah, Sue Emmas, other members of the Young Vic team and a representative of the Genesis Foundation the week commencing of 3 or 10 February 2020 (date to be confirmed).  

If you have any questions or queries please email opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org  

If you would like these guidelines in a different format please let us know.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Guidelines for Applications

 

CV

Please ensure your CV is no longer than one A4 page and follows the following format.

Directing

Show               Theatre/Venue            Writer              Length of run                           Year

Assistant Directing

Show               Theatre/Venue            Director           Length of run                           Year

Work with Young People/Community

Show/Project Theatre/Company       Age range       Nature of Project                       Year

Education / Training

Establishment                                     Course            Any Qualification                      Year

Other

Please briefly list any work you have done in areas such as dramaturgy, literary management, writing, movement directing, producing etc.

 

Professional Production

A professional production is defined as a show which involves professional actors (paid or unpaid), and runs for at least one week. It does not include shows at university or drama school.

 

Lightning Talks

The Lightning Talks should have no moving image embedded within them. They should be still images only. If you choose to use sound in your Lightning Talk please let us know so we can check for technical errors.

If you are unable to make the day of the Lighting Talks on 23 January 2020 you can record an audio file that accompanies your Lightning Talk. The panel will then watch and listen to your Lighting Talk in your absence.  

If you are D/deaf or disabled and a Lightning Talk is not a format that will best communicate your ideas please let us know and we will discuss with you the most effective way for us to find out about your proposed play. 

 

Key Dates

Deadline for application and Lightning Talks          Wednesday 8 January 2020, Noon

LX Time slots confirmed                                             Monday 13 January 2020

The Lightning Talks                                                      Thursday 23 January 2020, between 9am and 6pm 

Interviews                                                                       Weeks commencing 3 or 10 February 2020 (tbc)  

Production dates                                                           Start of rehearsals: Monday 29 June 2020 start of rehearsals. Show run from Monday 27 July 2020