Royal Theatrical Support Trust & Sheffield Theatres Launch New Director Award

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST), and Sheffield Theatres are delighted to announce a new award scheme for emerging directors: the RTST Director Award Scheme.

The new scheme, launched by the RTST - a charity dedicated to promoting theatre and drama - in collaboration with Sheffield Theatres, will offer the chance for an emerging director to create and direct a fully-funded production of a play by an internationally renowned dramatist at a selected regional theatre. In its inaugural year, the successful candidate for the award will direct their chosen play at the Crucible Studio Theatre, as part of Sheffield Theatres' 2017 spring season.

The winner of the RTST Director Award 2016 will be chosen by a selection panel chaired by Daniel Evans, the current Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres and Artistic Director-designate of Chichester Festival Theatre. Daniel will be joined on the panel by Sir Ian McKellen, Dawn Walton, Richard Wilson and Penelope Wilton.

Chairman of the RTST, Sir Geoffrey Cass, said: "This exciting new award scheme reflects the mission of the RTST to support British theatre in multiple ways: it will boost the career of an emerging director; provide meaningful financial and promotional support to a regional theatre; facilitate a production for a regional audience; and promote the work of an internationally renowned dramatist. We are thrilled to be launching the scheme with Sheffield Theatres, and applaud the dedication and enthusiasm of Daniel Evans, the Sheffield Theatres management team and the members of our prestigious Selection Panel in making this possible. We believe it offers something different to the theatre community, and we very much hope it will attract a diverse array of candidates and ideas."

Daniel Evans, Artistic Director at Sheffield Theatres, said: "I'm overjoyed that the RTST has chosen Sheffield Theatres in order to launch the RTST Director Award. The award itself will offer an incredible opportunity to one of the UK's emerging directors. Such opportunities are, frustratingly, all too few. It's edifying to know our collaboration will offer the winner a professional, practical and prestigious experience in one of the country's most exciting theatre spaces."

Entries for the RTST Director Award Scheme 2016 are now open. To enter, and for further details of the award, please visit the RTST's website: www.rtst.org.uk. The closing date for entries is 5.00pm on Friday, 18 March 2016.

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