Recipients of the Second Year of MGCfutures Bursaries Announced

Michael Grandage today announced the recipients of the second annual MGCfutures Bursaries awarded across a range of theatrical disciplines including directing, writing, producing, video design, choreography and performance makers. Offering both financial and ongoing mentoring support from the MGCfutures team, the recipients come from across the UK.

The recipients of this year's bursaries are Samuel Bailey - Writer, Poonam Brah - Director, Oliver Dawe - Director, Ellie Dubois - Performance Maker, Rebecca Durbin - Producer, Sophie Gunn - BSL Advisor, Debbie Hannan - Director, Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small - Project O - Choreographers and Performance Makers, Polina Kalinina - Director, Lanre Malaolu - Choreographer, Eve Nicol - Director, Margaret Perry - Writer, Danny Prosser - Massive Owl Theatre Company, Frances Rafferty - Mercury Theatre, Colchester - Assistant Director, Oscar Toeman - Director, Alex Turner - Producer, Daniel Turner - Theatre Technician, and Ash J Woodward - Video Designer.

This year, for the first time, the charity partnered with The Mercury Theatre, Colchester. Frances Rafferty, the recipient of this (£5,000) bursary, will work as Assistant Director on two Made in Colchester productions.

Artistic Director Michael Grandage said today, "We received more than double the number of applications for this year's MGCfutures bursaries - from a range of disciplines across all areas of the theatre world. It's testament to the health and vibrancy of the emerging talent in our industry, and of that we should be very proud. Supporting and nurturing this talent is central to the work of MGCfutures, and we're genuinely thrilled to be able to award these bursaries to such an incredible group of people and we look forward to collaborating with them and supporting them in the coming years.

"We are also delighted to partner this year with Mercury Theatre, Colchester in offering a Trainee Director role at their theatre. It was at this theatre I began my own directing career, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity."

Michael Grandage founded MGCfutures in 2013 - a charity designed to encourage and support the next generation of theatre makers and theatregoers. The bursaries programme was launched in 2016, and reaches out across the UK to seek the very best creative talent showing a commitment to their chosen career and looking to progress to the next stage of their development. Applicants could apply for bursaries of up to £5000.

QUOTES FROM BURSARY RECIPIENTS:

Poonam Brah "As I embark on the most ambitious project in my directing career so far, it means such a great deal to know that the MGCfutures bursary will have my back, providing me with absolutely vital artistic and financial support to help make it all happen and to strategise how to progress my career after having a family."

Oliver Dawe "Making your own work is hard for many reasons, but top of the list is money and confidence. The bursary from MGCfutures is not only a huge practical support but also a psychological one. It is a vote of confidence in you as an artist. The bursary will enable me to make the theatre I have always wanted to make and most importantly, continue to develop as a director and a writer."

Sophie Gunn "This bursary from MGC will allow me to develop the work I am currently doing with site-specific theatre company Dante or Die, and allow me to make further contacts and connections to start my career as an independent advisor for accessibility within theatre."

Eve Nicol "The MGCfutures bursary offers practical support for a new idea. The bursary means I will be able to dedicate time to develop a story I am passionate about and working with other theatre makers who inspire me. It provides financial stability and a show of confidence in my creative ambitions.

This support marks an important step in my professional development where I can move from assisting on projects to being a creative lead. "

Danny Prosser "We are absolutely delighted to be one of the recipients of the MGCfutures bursary. It comes at such a vital time in our professional development, allowing us to work with a producer for the first time and interrogate the best way we want to do that."

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