Donmar Warehouse Welcomes New Associate Artist

Artistic Director Josie Rourke today announced the appointment of designer Tom Scutt as an Associate Artist of the Donmar Warehouse. Scutt joins the team of Associates James Graham, Robert Hastie, Phyllida Lloyd, Writer in Residence, Nick Payne, and Composer in Residence, Michael Bruce.

Scutt's designs for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, currently playing at the Donmar Warehouse, will be seen in the upcoming National Theatre Live broadcast of the production on 28th January. He is also designing Nick Payne's new play, Elegy, with Barbara Flynn, Nina Sosanya and Zoë Wanamaker, directed by Josie Rourke, in the Donmar's new season.

Scutt's appointment is part of the Donmar's continued commitment to making visible the role of the designer in the creative process. He will play a leading role in the Donmar's mission to develop emerging talent, supporting the Donmar's Resident Design Assistant, Rosie Elnile. This role, supported by the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries Programme, gives a recent graduate the opportunity to work directly with world-class theatre-makers across all of our main stage productions. Elnile will spend this year training with and assisting designers at the Donmar, mentored by designer Robert Jones and working closely with Scutt on his Donmar projects.

The Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries programme is a talent development initiative designed to secure the diversity and vibrancy of the UK's future arts workforce. The programme is providing work and training opportunities for 40 talented graduates in 40 arts organisations across the country.

As well as designing Elegy, Scutt will develop work for the Donmar's stage. Over the next twelve months he will curate a programme of talks and workshops for designers, with the aim of supporting and opening up opportunities within the industry; promoting networks and creating a forum to discuss stage design.

Josie Rourke said, "Tom is one of the most talented and innovative artists working in British Theatre. I'm delighted that he's agreed to join the Donmar's team of associates and that he is going to be using the theatre's platform to share his experience and help bring on the next generation of theatre designers."

Tom Scutt said, "It feels the right time to be bringing the role of designer to the fore. It's important to me that we create as many avenues as possible to air the opinions of a community of young designers and to aid their professional progression in order to keep our creative landscape varied and healthy. I'm encouraged that Josie and the Donmar share my belief and I'm honoured to be joining their team."

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