The FST, in association with the Scottish Arts Council and the Fenton Arts Trust, is launching a unique programme designed to support and nurture the creative development of new Theatre Directors. The programme focuses upon the professional creative development of individual artists by supporting an attachment to an established Scottish theatre company.

The FST is aware that there have been limited opportunities for the development of the director as a creative artist. Following training, emerging directors have limited opportunities to work formally with more established practitioners to further develop their practical skills. For many, setting up their own company and working alone is the only option. FST believes that the role of the Assistant Director is crucial to the development of the emerging director. Assistant Directors, working with an established company on the production of a piece of work can observe and develop a number of skills essential for good practice; casting, working in the rehearsal room, the technical rehearsal as well as working with designers, production staff and professional actors.

The FST also accepts and understands the importance of this Assistant Director role to Directors and host companies. Huge demands are regularly placed upon directors within a rehearsal room and the role of Assistant Director offers great opportunity to participate in a shared artistic dynamic, whilst developing leadership potential through the creative process.

There is currently an informal structure of appointing Assistants, however, this is ad hoc and unfunded. FST believes that it is vital to recognise the creativity and value (both artistic and market) of emerging directors, at all stages of their careers and that those with no other means to support themselves should not be precluded from working as Assistants if no fee is available. It is also important to offer the opportunity for emerging directors to work with those whose practice they respect and in most cases, there is a need for such relationships to be facilitated.

Programme:

The Assistant Director Placement Programme operates as a partnership between the proposed placement and the theatre company, and any submission to the programme must be jointly developed.

Although the role each placement undertakes will be titled Assistant Director, it is anticipated that the specific nature and responsibilities of each agreement will vary significantly and consequently will need to be negotiated between the participant and the company prior to application. Therefore, no fixed job description is being provided. Rather, there is a project specification provided below outlining the key elements the Assistant Director Placement Programme will be seeking from potential applications.

Flexibility is the key to this project’s success; a company and the Assistant Directors should be able to work together for a minimum of three and maximum of 12 weeks. Assistant weeks need not be consecutive.

Project Specification:

The FST seeks a joint proposal from the potential Assistant Director and their host company. This proposal should be in the form of a written application, up to a maximum of 2 sides of A4, which may be supported by additional information, such as applicant’s CV or company training policy or any other relevant information.

The proposal should show evidence of:

The Assistant’s commitment to Scottish theatre, either through previous training or directing experience at an appropriate level. This may include but is not limited to: graduate productions, works-in-progress, scratch events, fringe productions or small-scale projects in which you have undertaken a significant directorial role.

A clear rationale for the partnership expressing why the host company and placement have chosen to work together and develop this relationship

A clear articulation and advocacy of how the placement will extend the assistant director’s knowledge of directing approaches and a clear concept of how this will benefit the professional development of the Assistant.

Clear evidence of how the host company will integrate the placement into the creative process, guaranteeing a high quality learning experience through supporting and nurturing the creative talent of the Assistant.

An imaginative and bold approach to building the relationship between the Assistant Director and host.

Selection Process:

There will be two deadlines for the receipt of applications over the next twelve months.

These deadlines are: Monday 16th July (Autumn season productions) and Monday 22nd October 2007 (spring season productions)

Once applications have been received by FST, a panel comprising members of the Nurturing Creative Talent working group and the Scottish Arts Council will evaluate them against the above criteria and select the successful recipients of bursary support. Applicants will be notified of the decisions within four weeks.

Funding:

Successful applicants will receive bursary support from FST to enable them to concentrate fully on their creative learning experience. Host companies will be expected to make a commitment of 15% of the total bursary cost. A bursary will be paid at a stipend of £250 per week.

Bursary support is not available to enable established directors who are employed by SAC Foundation or Flexibly funded companies to be Assistants. We do however welcome applications from a range of creative practitioners.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

The assessment panel will evaluate each successful project against the initial criteria and defined expectations of both the Assistant Director and host company. A joint evaluation should be submitted, which explores the benefits and outcomes of the partnership project against those outlined in the original application.

Application:

Please send your proposal and any supporting material to Investing In Directors, FST, c/o Theatre Workshop, 34 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5AX or email to fst@scottishtheatre.org.

If you have any queries, please call Lizzi Nicoll on 0131 220 6393.