Deadline:
Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Director Scheme
The Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Director Scheme provides an opportunity for a director / theatre maker to gain experience working on a Young Vic show. The directors / theatre makers should have limited experience of time in a rehearsal room but be able to demonstrate a commitment to directing or theatre making.
The opportunity to support the director in rehearsals, previews and run of a show will provide the trainee assistant director experience of the etiquette of the rehearsal room, the relationships between the creative team, the craft of the actor etc. They will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a supported environment working alongside a director on a professional production.
The chance to assist a director in the rehearsal and production process of a show will give the trainee the where-with-all to apply for assistant director roles, either at the Young Vic or elsewhere, with confidence and with an informed understanding of the skills and expertise they need to demonstrate to a company or director.
At present we are looking for a trainee assistant director to work on Sundown Kiki – a Taking Part Participation project. Sundown Kiki sits under Taking Part’s guiding theme for 2021 – Freedom of Expression.
Young Vic’s Participation strand will work with Voguer and Ballroom House Father Jay Jay Revlon, director Tristan Fynn Aiduenu and sound designer XANA to create a piece of theatre rooted in ballroom culture.
The participants (actors) will be people aged between 18 and 25 years old, who live or study in Southwark or Lambeth, are Queer and Black or from the Global Majority.
The participants will take part in an exploratory r&d process, which will inform the shape and content of the script before entering into a rehearsal process.
We are looking for a trainee assistant director who will work closely with the creative director (Jay Jay Revlon) and lead director (Tristan Fynn Aiduenu) to generate themes and stories with the young performers, and develop and hone their performance skills.
The r&d and rehearsal period will culminate in performances over a two-week run in the Maria Theatre at Young Vic in November 2021.
The project runs from the 19th June 2021 to 12th November 2021 and you will need to be available for key dates. As the project is over such a time span there will be some flexibility in terms of availability. The start date for involvement of the trainee assistant director will be from 7th August.
IMPORTANT DATES
Rehearsals
· 7th August, 10.30am - 4pm R&D session 1 at the Young Vic
· 14th August, 10.30am – 4pm R&D session 2 at the Young Vic
· 21st August, 10.30 - 4pm R&D session 3 at the Young Vic
· 8th - 29th September one rehearsal per week at the Young Vic (5.30-9pm, Wednesday evenings)
· w/c 4th Oct – w/c 18th Oct two rehearsals per week at the Young Vic (5.30-9pm on Weds and 11am – 4pm on Saturdays)
· w/c 25th October intensive rehearsal week (Monday – Friday, 3pm - 9pm)
(w/c = week commencing)
Tech and Dress rehearsals
· 1st – 4th November midday - 9pm daily
Performances
· Friday 5th November called from 5pm – 9pm
· Saturday 6th November called from 1pm - 9pm
· Wednesday 10th November called from 6pm - 9pm
· Thursday 11th November called from 6pm - 9pm
· Friday 12th November called from 6pm - 9pm
Role:
Supporting participants in the room during workshops, rehearsals and performances.
Assisting the creative director and lead director in the Sundown Kiki workshops, rehearsals and production.
Contributing towards dramaturgical notes during the creation of the play.
Fee: £2,000
Who this is for
This opportunity is aimed at new, early career directors / theatre makers who fit the following criteria:
Essential
· Have knowledge or interest in community and/or young people’s theatre
· Can demonstrate a commitment to a career as a director / theatre maker
· Have knowledge of, or interest in making Queer work
· Be resident in the UK at point of application
· Have less than two years’ experience of working professionally in theatre as a director or theatre maker
· Have not assisted at a theatre equivalent to the scale and reputation of the Young Vic
· Have not studied to MA level or above in a theatre related subject
· Hold a current DBS certificate or be willing to be DBS checked
Desirable
· Have seen work at the Young Vic
· Be under 26 years of age
· Have knowledge of, or interest in Ballroom culture
You do not have to be a member of the Young Vic’s Genesis Network for directors and theatre makers but we would encourage you to join so you can continue to find out about events, workshops and opportunities. You can sign up HERE
We are particularly keen to hear from people who identify as Black and Global Majority, Deaf or disabled, neuro-divergent or LGBTQIA+ and also those who are experiencing mental health issues, and directors / theatre makers who have not studied to degree level.
If you would like to apply please send the following information:
· A CV (no more than one A4 page)
· Up to 200 words on three things you would specifically like to learn from assisting on this production
· Up to 200 words on why you believe community theatre is important to you
· An indication of which recruitment workshop you would like to attend (please see below for more information)
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. We will work with the appointed trainee director to create a schedule that works with their interests and other commitments. 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.
If you are Deaf, disabled, neuro-divergent please let us know your access requirements and we can put provision in place when you are invited to the recruitment workshop and meeting. This might include, hearing loop, BSL interpreter, quiet environment, longer meeting time etc.
Recruitment process
We would like everyone that applies to have an opportunity to develop skills in working with non-professional performers and participants. In order to do that, we will invite all applicants to a practical workshop at the Young Vic. The workshop will be run by lead director Tristan Fynn Aiduenu, and will introduce you to some of the key principles of working with non-professional performers and participants. We hope it is a chance for us to get to know you a bit, you to find out about the project and even to have some fun.
Please indicate which one of the following workshops you would like to attend:
Thursday 22nd July 6 - 8pm, or
Friday 23rd July 11am – 1pm
Following the workshops, we will invite a small group of directors / theatre makers to have an informal meeting with Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director and Tristan Fynn Aiduenu, project director.
If you are unable to attend either of the workshops please let us know. We will work hard to accommodate meeting you either through Zoom or over the phone.
Please address and send your application to Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director at Opportunitiesdirectorsprogram@youngvic.org
Deadline for applications is 10am Monday 14th June
Please add your name, telephone number and email address to every page you submit.
Please also complete the equal opportunities 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 will get back in touch with everyone who applies but please bear with us as this may take some time. If your availability changes please contact Tia Begum tiabegum@youngvic.org so we can withdraw your expression of interest.