#Amy Jephta

[robynsassenmyview]

Everything’s terrifying in the dark

"Everything's terrifying in the dark", a review of 'Catch me a killer', a new fact-based series on Showmax, featuring Charlotte Hope.

ON the beat: Retired FBI investigator Robert Ressler (Sean Cameron Michael) with profiler Micki Pistorius (Charlotte Hope) in a scene from Showmax’s Catch Me a Killer. SHE’S TOUGH. SHE’S wise. She has everything it takes to be conversant and earn respect in the uncouth macho South African man’s world that constituted the SA Police Service in the mid-1990s. She also has what it takes to skip the…

[theatredirectors]

268 Directors and the end of the blog

This post marks the end of the Ask a Director experiment. I’m so grateful to all who have contributed, supported and engaged with it over the past six and a half years. 

This blog was started at a time when I felt incredibly alone in the directing field. I had always been taught that a director operates solo, that it was a lonely career and above all, it was based on scarcity. This was a style of working and living that didn't fit for me. I wanted to talk to other directors about their practice and thoughts about the field, both national and international. This blog was started as a way to connect, to uplift other directors and to create a conversation about the changing field and practices. 

It's surpassed all of these goals and brought me more joy than I can name. 

I'm now at a moment where my practice and advocacy are taking different and exciting paths and it's time for me to put this site to bed. I remain committed to uplifting other directors, to talking about the practice, to flattening hierarchies, to opening doors for new ways of working, and leading rehearsal rooms, companies, and classrooms away from silos and vacuums. Featuring these 268 different directors was just the beginning. 

I encourage you all to hire them (and others), advocate for them (and others) and choose to work in a system that values connection and generosity. 

Abhishek Majumdar

Adam Fitzgerald

Alice Stanley

Aliza Shane

Amanda McRaven

Amy Corcoran

Amy Jephta

Anisa George

Ana Margineau

Andrew Scoville

Anna Stromberg

Anne Cecelia Haney

Ariel Francoeur

Arpita Mukherjee

Ashley Hollingshead

Ashley Marinaccio

Andrew Neisler

Beng Oh

Ben Randle

Ben Stockman

Benjamin Kamine

Beth Lopes

Bo Powell

Bogdan Georgescu

Bonnie Gabel

Brandon Ivie

Brandon Woolf

Brian Hashimoto

Cait Robinson

Caitlin Ryan O’Connell

Caitlin Sullivan

Catie Davis

Cara Phipps

Carol Ann Tan

Carsen Joenk

Chari Arespacochaga

Cheryl Faraone

Chloe Treat

Christin Eve Cato

Christine Zagrobelny

Christopher Diercksen

Colette Robert

Colleen Hughes

Cyndy Marion

Dado Gyure

Dan Rothenberg

Daniel Irizarry

Danielle Ozymandias

Danny Sharon

Dara Malina

David Charles

Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

Derek Spencer 

Donald Brenner

Doug Oliphant

Eamon Boylan

Elena Araoz

Emily Lyons

Emma Miller

Eric Kildow

Eric Wallach

Eric Powell Holm

Estefania Fadul

Evelina Stampa

Evren Odcikin

Evi Stamatiou

Francesca Montanile Lyons

Gabriel Vega Weissman

Gian Marco Riccardo Lo Forte 

Graham Schmidt

Gregg Wiggans

Hannah Ryan

Hannah Wolf

Heather Bagnall

Horia Suru

Ilana Becker

Ilana Ransom Toeplitz

Illana Stein

Ioanna Katsarou

Ioli Andreadi

Irina Abraham Chigiryov

Iris Sowlat

Isaac Klein

J Paul Nicholas

Jack Tamburri

Jaclyn Biskup

Jacob Basri

Jake Beckhard

Jaki Bradley

Jamie Watkins

Javier Molina

Jay Stern

Jay Stull

Jenna Rossman

Jenna Worsham

Jennifer Chambers

Jenny Bennett

Jenny Reed

Jeremy Bloom

Jeremy Pickard

Jerrell Henderson

Jess Hutchinson

Jess Shoemaker

Jesse Jou

Jessi D Hill

Jessica Burr

Jessica Holt

Jillian Carucci

Joanne Zipay

Jo Cattell

John Michael Diresta

John Kurzynowski

Joe Hedel

Jonathan Munoz-Proulx

Jose Zayas

Josh Kelley

Josh Sobel

Joshua Kahan Brody

Joshua William Gelb

Julia Sears

Justin Schlabach

Kareem Fahmy

Karen Christina Jones

Kate Bergstrom

Kate Hopkins

Kate Jopson

Kate Moore Heaney

Katherine M. Carter

Katherine Wilkinson

Kathy Gail MacGowan

Katie Chidester

Kendall Cornell 

Kendra Augustin

Kholoud Sawaf

Kimberly Faith Hickmann

Kim Weild

KJ Sanchez

Knud Adams

Kristin Marting

Kristin McCarthy Parker

Kristin Skye Hoffman

Kristy Chambrelli

Kristy Dodson

KT Shorb

Kyle Metzger

Kylie M. Brown

Larissa Fasthorse

Larissa Lury

Laura Brandel

Laura Steinroeder

Lauren Hlubny

Lauren Keating

Lavina Jadhwani

Jenn Haltman

Leta Tremblay

Lila Rachel Becker

Lillian Meredith

Lily Riopelle

Lindsey Hope Pearlman

Lisa Rothe

Lisa Sanaye Dring

Liz Thaler

Lori Wolter Hudson

Lucie Tiberghien

Luke Comer

Luke Tudball

Lyndsay Burch

Lynn Lammers

Mallory Catlett

Manon Manavit

Margarett Perry

Maridee Slater

Marina Bergenstock

Marti Lyons

Martin Jago

Matt Cosper

Matt Ritchey

Max Hunter

Megan Sandberg-Zakian

Megan Weaver

Meghan Finn

Melissa Crespo

Melody Erfani

Michael Alvarez

Michael T. Williams

Michaela Escarcega

Michelle Tattenbaum

Mimi Barcomi

Miranda Haymon

Molly Beach Murphy

Molly Clifford

Molly Noble

Morgan Gould

Morgan Green

Murielle Borst-Tarrant

Nana Dakin

Natalie Novacek

Neal Kowalsky

Nell Bang-Jensen

Nick Benacerraf

Noa Egozi

Norah Elges

Normandy Sherwood

Olivia Lilley

Orly Noa Rabinyan

Oscar Mendoza

Pablo Paz

Padraic Lillis 

Patrick Walsh

Pete Danelski

Pirronne Yousefzadeh

Portia Krieger

Rachel Karp

Rachel Wohlander

Randolph Curtis Rand

Raz Golden

Rebecca Cunningham

Rebecca Martinez

Rebecca Wear

Renee Phillippi

Renee Yeong

Rich Brown

Rick St. Peter

Robert Schneider

Ryan Anthony Nicotra

Sammi Cannold

Sammy Zeisel

Sanaz Ghajar

Sara Holdren

Sara Lyons

Sara Rademacher

Sarah Elizabeth Wansley

Sarah Hughes

Sarah M. Chichester

Sarah Rose Leonard

Sash Bischoff

Scarlett Kim

Seonjae Kim

Seth Pyatt

Sharifa Elkady

Shaun Patrick Tubbs

Sherri Eden Barber

Simon Hanukai

Sophia Watt

Suchan Vodoor

Stephen Cedars

Steven Kopp

Steven Wilson

Talya Klein

Tana Siros

Tara Ahmadinejad

Tara Cioletti

Tara Elliott

Tatiana Pandiani

Taylor Reynolds

TerryandtheCuz

Tommy Schoffler

Tracy Bersley

Trevor Biship

Tyler Mercer

Wednesday Sue Derrico

Will Dagger

Will Davis

Will Detlefsen

Will Steinberger

Yojiro Ichikawa

Yoni Oppenheim

Zi Alikhan

Zoya Kachardurian

[filmola-de]

Trackers - Rote Spur, neue Krimiserie im ZDF

Trackers – Rote Spur, neue Krimiserie im ZDF

neue Krimiserie / Free-TV-Premiere

Copyright: ZDF/Nick Strasburg

Trackers – Rote Spur

ZDF, ab 5. Oktober 2020, montags, 22.15 Uhr

ZDFmediathek, ab Montag, 5. Oktober 2020, 22.15 Uhr, bis Samstag, 2. Januar 2021

Im Oktober 2020 präsentiert das Montagskino im ZDF die Krimiserie “Trackers – Rote Spur” nach der Romanvorlage von Deon Meyer als Free-TV-Premiere.

Ein islamistischer Anschlag in Kapstadt,…

[artsvark]

Artsvark Daily Diary – Day 8 – National Arts Festival 2019

Artsvark Daily Diary – Day 8 – National Arts Festival 2019

45th National Arts Festival

Today is the 8th day of amazing, and the amazing keeps coming. Last night we saw a “play” called Pink Money, set in a gay club, a safe space for the gay community, this work combines dance, physical theatre, drama, and spoken word to create awareness amongst the audience of how wealth and privilege have a huge impact on spaces that are meant to be safe spaces for the…

[connectza]

undefined

Check out this video for REFUGE, which captures and artistically documents the often ignored experiences of refugees in South Africa and UK. 

Refuge is part of British Council Connect ZA’s 2017 Programme, visit the Project page

[sarafinamagazine]

A Conversation with Amy Jephta

A Conversation with Amy Jephta. @thegravegirl

Amy Jephta is a playwright, columnist, screenwriter and director. Recently, her play Kristalvlakte was nominated for a Fleur du Cap Award for Best New Script. A self-proclaimed word nerd, Amy has written several full-length plays, many of which have been published. We sat down at the Book Lounge to discuss her exciting year ahead and the current climate for female playwrights.  (more…)

[numetro]

‘Barakat’ official trailer from Nu Metro on Vimeo.

Family is a mouthful.

Showing on Friday 14th May, 2021 at Nu Metro Cinemas: numet.ro/barakat

How does a family move on after the death of a father? When matriarch Aisha Davids decides to accept a marriage proposal, she devises a plan to break the news to her four sons over Eid. The only problem is that the two eldest sons have been at loggerheads since their father passed away and refuse to be in the same room at the same time. Her big reveal is spoiled when the boys hear via the grapevine about their mother’s pending nuptials and come together to voice their disapproval of the match. Now it’s up to Aisha, her fiancé, and her daughters in law to bring the sons around to her way of thinking using the one thing they can all agree on – the barakat. Barakat, an Arabic word meaning blessings, is a story about celebrating life, culture, and the importance of family.

Cast: Vinette Ebrahim, Danny Ross, Mortimer Williams, Joey Rasdien, Keeno-Lee Hector, Quanita Adams, Bonnie Mbuli, June van Merch, Leslie Fong Director: Amy Jephta Music: Kyle Shepherd

Running time: 107 Age restriction: 13 L P Language: Afrikaans

#BarakatMovie

[samerulesapply]

Second try posting this. James McAvoy reads “Shoes,” adapted by Amy Jephta, in The Children’s Monologues, 13 November 2017, at Carnegie Hall, New York.

[littlefoible]

Day 3137 - Amy Jephta https://www.instagram.com/p/CKNpzZdnvQd/?igshid=138f8ybbarih4

[theatredirectors]

150 Directors

Abhishek Majumdar

Adam Fitzgerald

Amanda McRaven

Amy Corcoran

Amy Jephta

Anisa George

Ana Margineau

Andrew Scoville

Anne Cecelia Haney

Ashley Hollingshead

Ashley Marinaccio

Andrew Neisler

Beng Oh

Benjamin Kamine

Bogdan Georgescu

Brandon Ivie

Brian Hashimoto

Caitlin Ryan O’Connell

Cara Phipps

Chari Arespacochaga

Cheryl Faraone

Christin Eve Cato

Christine Zagrobelny

Colette Robert

Colleen Hughes

Dado Gyure

Danielle Ozymandias

Danny Sharon

Dara Malina

David Charles

Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

Donald Brenner

Doug Oliphant

Elena Araoz

Eric Kildow

Eric Wallach

Eric Powell Holm

Estefania Fadul

Evren Odcikin

Evi Stamatiou

Graham Schmidt

Gregg Wiggans

Hannah Wolf

Heather Bagnall

Horia Suru

Ilana Becker

Illana Stein

Ioli Andreadi

Irina Abraham Chigiryov

Isaac Klein

J Paul Nicholas

Jack Tamburri

Jaki Bradley

Jamie Watkins

Javier Molina

Jay Stern

Jay Stull

Jenna Worsham

Jennifer Chambers

Jenny Bennett

Jeremy Bloom

Jeremy Pickard

Jerrell Henderson

Jess Hutchinson

Jesse Jou

Jessi D Hill

Jessica Burr

Jessica Holt

Joanne Zipay

John Michael Diresta

John Kurzynowski

Joe Hedel

Josh Kelley

Josh Sobel

Joshua William Gelb

Justin Schlabach

Kareem Fahmy

Karen Christina Jones

Kate Bergstrom

Kate Hopkins

Katie Chidester

Kendra Augustin

Kimberly Faith Hickmann

KJ Sanchez

Knud Adams

Kristin Marting

Kristin McCarthy Parker 

Kristin Skye Hoffman

Kristy Chambrelli

KT Shorb

Kyle Metzger

Larissa Fasthorse

Larissa Lury

Laura Brandel

Laura Steinroeder

Lavina Jadhwani

Leta Tremblay

Lillian Meredith

Lindsey Hope Pearlman

Lori Wolter Hudson

Luke Comer

Luke Tudball

Lynn Lammers

Margarett Perry

Maridee Slater

Marti Lyons

Matt Cosper

Megan Weaver

Melissa Crespo

Michelle Tattenbaum

Morgan Gould

Morgan Green

Natalie Novacek

Neal Kowalsky

Noa Egozi

Norah Elges

Olivia Lilley 

Oscar Mendoza

Pablo Paz

Patrick Walsh

Pirronne Yousefzadeh

Rachel Karp

Rachel Wohlander

Randolph Curtis Rand

Rebecca Cunningham

Renee Phillippi

Rich Brown

Rick St. Peter

Robert Schneider

Ryan Anthony Nicotra

Sammi Cannold

Sara Holdren

Sarah Hughes

Sarah M. Chichester

Sarah Rose Leonard

Sash Bischoff

Sherri Eden Barber

Simon Hanukai

Suchan Vodoor

Stephen Cedars

Steven Kopp

Steven Wilson

Tara Ahmadinejad

Tommy Schoffler

Will Dagger

Will Davis

Will Steinberger

Yojiro Ichikawa

Zi Alikhan

Zoya Kachardurian

[artsvark]

Artsvark Daily Diary – Day 7 – National Arts Festival 2019

Artsvark Daily Diary – Day 7 – National Arts Festival 2019

45th National Arts Festival

With the 45th edition of the National Arts Festival having reached the halfway mark, in today’s Daily Diary we’ll be giving you a rundown of some of the stand-out performances in this year’s Festival that are still showing that you should definitely see today.

Visual Art: One of the most exciting pieces of art we’ve seen at this year’s Festival is Electric Ladiesby…

[theatredirectors]

250 Directors

Abhishek Majumdar

Adam Fitzgerald

Alice Stanley

Amanda McRaven

Amy Corcoran

Amy Jephta

Anisa George

Ana Margineau

Andrew Scoville

Anna Stromberg

Anne Cecelia Haney

Ariel Francoeur

Arpita Mukherjee

Ashley Hollingshead

Ashley Marinaccio

Andrew Neisler

Beng Oh

Ben Randle

Ben Stockman

Benjamin Kamine

Beth Lopes

Bo Powell

Bogdan Georgescu

Bonnie Gabel

Brandon Ivie

Brandon Woolf

Brian Hashimoto

Cait Robinson

Caitlin Ryan O’Connell

Caitlin Sullivan

Catie Davis

Cara Phipps

Carol Ann Tan

Carsen Joenk

Chari Arespacochaga

Cheryl Faraone

Chloe Treat

Christin Eve Cato

Christine Zagrobelny

Christopher Diercksen

Colette Robert

Colleen Hughes

Dado Gyure

Daniel Irizarry

Danielle Ozymandias

Danny Sharon

Dara Malina

David Charles

Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

Donald Brenner

Doug Oliphant

Eamon Boylan

Elena Araoz

Emily Lyons

Emma Miller

Eric Kildow

Eric Wallach

Eric Powell Holm

Estefania Fadul

Evelina Stampa

Evren Odcikin

Evi Stamatiou

Francesca Montanile Lyons

Gabriel Vega Weissman

Graham Schmidt

Gregg Wiggans

Hannah Ryan

Hannah Wolf

Heather Bagnall

Horia Suru

Ilana Becker

Ilana Ransom Toeplitz

Illana Stein

Ioanna Katsarou

Ioli Andreadi

Irina Abraham Chigiryov

Iris Sowlat

Isaac Klein

J Paul Nicholas

Jack Tamburri

Jaclyn Biskup

Jacob Basri

Jake Beckhard

Jaki Bradley

Jamie Watkins

Javier Molina

Jay Stern

Jay Stull

Jenna Rossman

Jenna Worsham

Jennifer Chambers

Jenny Bennett

Jenny Reed

Jeremy Bloom

Jeremy Pickard

Jerrell Henderson

Jess Hutchinson

Jess Shoemaker

Jesse Jou

Jessi D Hill

Jessica Burr

Jessica Holt

Jillian Carucci

Joanne Zipay

Jo Cattell

John Michael Diresta

John Kurzynowski

Joe Hedel

Jonathan Munoz-Proulx

Jose Zayas

Josh Kelley

Josh Sobel

Joshua Kahan Brody

Joshua William Gelb

Julia Sears

Justin Schlabach

Kareem Fahmy

Karen Christina Jones

Kate Bergstrom

Kate Hopkins

Kate Jopson

Kate Moore Heaney

Katherine M. Carter

Katherine Wilkinson

Kathy Gail MacGowan

Katie Chidester

Kendra Augustin

Kholoud Sawaf

Kimberly Faith Hickmann

Kim Weild

KJ Sanchez

Knud Adams

Kristin Marting

Kristin McCarthy Parker

Kristin Skye Hoffman

Kristy Chambrelli

Kristy Dodson

KT Shorb

Kyle Metzger

Larissa Fasthorse

Larissa Lury

Laura Brandel

Laura Steinroeder

Lauren Keating

Lavina Jadhwani

Jenn Haltman

Leta Tremblay

Lila Rachel Becker

Lillian Meredith

Lily Riopelle

Lindsey Hope Pearlman

Lisa Rothe

Lisa Sanaye Dring

Liz Thaler

Lori Wolter Hudson

Lucie Tiberghien

Luke Comer

Luke Tudball

Lyndsay Burch

Lynn Lammers

Mallory Catlett

Manon Manavit

Margarett Perry

Maridee Slater

Marina Bergenstock

Marti Lyons

Matt Cosper

Matt Ritchey

Megan Weaver

Melissa Crespo

Melody Erfani

Michael Alvarez

Michael T. Williams

Michelle Tattenbaum

Mimi Barcomi

Molly Beach Murphy

Molly Clifford

Molly Noble

Morgan Gould

Morgan Green

Murielle Borst-Tarrant

Nana Dakin

Natalie Novacek

Neal Kowalsky

Nell Bang-Jensen

Nick Benacerraf

Noa Egozi

Norah Elges

Normandy Sherwood

Olivia Lilley

Orly Noa Rabinyan

Oscar Mendoza

Pablo Paz

Patrick Walsh

Pete Danelski

Pirronne Yousefzadeh

Portia Krieger

Rachel Karp

Rachel Wohlander

Randolph Curtis Rand

Raz Golden

Rebecca Cunningham

Rebecca Martinez

Renee Phillippi

Rich Brown

Rick St. Peter

Robert Schneider

Ryan Anthony Nicotra

Sammi Cannold

Sammy Zeisel

Sanaz Ghajar

Sara Holdren

Sara Lyons

Sara Rademacher

Sarah Elizabeth Wansley

Sarah Hughes

Sarah M. Chichester

Sarah Rose Leonard

Sash Bischoff

Scarlett Kim

Seonjae Kim

Seth Pyatt

Sharifa Elkady

Shaun Patrick Tubbs

Sherri Eden Barber

Simon Hanukai

Sophia Watt

Suchan Vodoor

Stephen Cedars

Steven Kopp

Steven Wilson

Talya Klein

Tana Siros

Tara Ahmadinejad

Tara Cioletti

Tara Elliott

Tatiana Pandiani

Taylor Reynolds

TerryandtheCuz

Tommy Schoffler

Tracy Bersley

Trevor Biship

Tyler Mercer

Wednesday Sue Derrico

Will Dagger

Will Davis

Will Detlefsen

Will Steinberger

Yojiro Ichikawa

Zi Alikhan

Zoya Kachardurian

[artsvark]

Local film to compete at international festival

Jill Levenberg as Ellen Pakkies. Photo credit: Lindsey Appolis.

Ellen, Die storie van Ellen Pakkies, will compete at the international film festival in Rotterdam this weekend!

What do you get when you combine a troubled mother-son relationship, drugs and murder? An intriguing film that will not only captivate audiences of all ages but will also impress movie critics across the globe. One of the most controversial South African murder cases is heading for the big screen and is definitely something that should not be missed!

Just like the gripping circumstances surrounding the true events which this film is based on, Ellen, Die storie van Ellen Pakkies has also managed to cause quite a stir in the international movie arena. It has already been selected to be screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival on 27 January 2018 and is set to be an even bigger hit with local audiences.

Ellen Pakkies en Jill Levenberg. Foto Krediet: Lindsey Appolis.

“I am humbled that by International standards, a small film has managed to be recognized by such a prestigious festival. We are truly humbled and just want to say thank you to everybody who made it possible, especially Ellen Pakkies,” says executive producer, Paulo Areal.

Told across two timelines, the movie shares the story of Ellen’s (Jill Levenberg) stormy relationship with her twenty-yea-old drug-addict son, Abie Pakkies (Jarrid Geduld). In 2007, his death caused a stir worldwide when it was revealed that his mother was the one who murdered him. When advocate Adrian Samuels (Clint Brink) takes on the case, he is determined to prove that Ellen had no choice. But what compelled her to stop seeking help? How does a mother become desperate enough to take her own son’s life?

Award-winning director and founder of Gambit Films, Daryne Joshua, known for the incredible success of his debut feature film, Noem My Skollie, was also the creative mind behind this impressive production and the producer is Schalk Burger. The script was created by talented writer and producer Amy Jephta with input from Ellen Pakkies herself. Ellen also helped to recreate some of the scenes in the movie, which was filmed at her home where the actual events took place. Jill Levenberg, who had several roles in films and television series like Genadekans, Noem My Skollie (South Africa’s official entry for the 2016 Oscars), Leemte, While You Weren’t Looking, Abraham, Bekkies Gevind, As Ek Huistoe Kom, Fluit-Fluit, Atlas, Uitvlucht and Suidooster (for which she received a Huisgenoot Tempo Award nomination in 2017) stars as Ellen Pakkies and has already received positive feedback on her outstanding performance. The film also showcases the talent of actors like Elton Landrew, Shimmy Isaacs and Kay Smith.

“Rotterdam International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious International Film Festivals. So obviously, I am overjoyed that our humble South African project has risen above probably thousands of submissions from around the world and made the Official Selection for 2018. A big congratulations to the producers and crew – I thank you from the bottom of my heart, we should be proud of this great achievement. Now on a world stage, hopefully the film can help bring an understanding and context to the remarkable story of Ellen Pakkies,” says Daryne Joshua.

Ellen, Die storie van Ellen Pakkies is the harrowing account of a woman put through the penal system, tried for murder and driven by an unflinching love for her son. It delves into the inner psyche of a family ravaged by drugs in one of the most dangerous communities in South Africa. A scourge that extends beyond the Cape Flats and highlights a systematic failure to protect the poorest of the poor. This kykNET Films production was produced in association with M-Net, the DTI and The Moving Billboard Picture Company (TMPBC). It will be released in cinemas, nationwide, on 7 September 2018, and is distributed by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment.

Local film to compete at international festival was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

Applications open for Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary 2017

The Theatre Arts Admin Collective (TAAC) is calling for applications for the 2017 Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary – in partnership with the Distell Foundation.

Ameera Conrad (director). Photo by Jesse Kramer

This year, TAAC are offering two bursaries to emerging Cape Town-based black women directors. Students at both an undergraduate and post-graduate level will not be considered.

As Caroline Calburn, director of TAAC, explains; “Young black women directors represent a small percentage of the overall profile of the Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary (ETDB) winners over the last seven years. This has to change. There are so many astounding and highly talented black women with the potential to be groundbreaking directors. All they need is opportunity. May this bursary be the springboard to realise that.”

In Wag Van – Jason Jacobs directing Gerswin Mias and Courtney Smith – Photo by Jesse Kramer

The bursary was pioneered in 2010 and has since provided opportunities to nineteen young directors, most of whom are prolific directors making a wide range of work and winning numerous awards.

Notable winners include, Kim Kerfoot who won the Fleur du Cap Best Young Director for Statements After An Arrest Under the Immorality Act in 2013, Nicola Elliott who went on to win the 2014 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, Khayelihle Dom Gumede who won the Naledi Award for Best Director in 2016 for Crepuscule, and Jason Jacobs, a 2016 winner, who has been named the Featured Young Artist for KKNK for 2017.

Previous winners of this bursary also include Amy Jephta, Tara Louise Notcutt, Pusetso Thibedi, Thando Doni, Alan Parker, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Bulelani Mabutyana, Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, Wynne Bredenkamp and Ameera Conrad.

My Children My Africa – Sihle Mnqwazana, Kate Pinchuck, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Mahlatsi Mokgonyana (director). Photo by Jesse Kramer

The Bursary offers emerging theatre directors a mentor, a small budget, a month’s rehearsal space, and a week of performance at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. It is recommended that directors work with already existing scripts as the month-long period has proved insufficient for devised work.

Amy Jephta, the first recipient of the bursary in 2010 says the following about the opportunity; “It offers a new, young voice the chance to explore and create in an environment where there is no worrying about where the money will come from, which space will be used, or how the product will be sold. What I found most encouraging was the fact that, from day one of receiving this bursary, I was given free reign of the decision making process which would bring my play to life…. I was able to learn the nuts and bolts of the production process.”

TAAC is a busy and thriving centre where diversity is supported and celebrated. The same day could see a meeting with a distinguished veteran of the arts to a young director ploughing hard at her trade. This melting pot extends not only to experience but to culture and form too. The rehearsal spaces pulsate with variety – from dance and performance provocation to musicals.

“The Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young/emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable,” says Kim Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners. “It is a wonderful environment in which to find yourself, full of people that want you and your work to succeed, and are willing to do everything within their power to make that happen,” he adds.

The Bursary is specifically designed for emerging theatre directors who have had some experience in directing and who dream of a career as a theatre director.

The bursaries will take place between April and July 2017.

If you are an emerging black woman director and would like to seize this opportunity please submit a 1-page creative proposal, your CV (including two references with contact details), and an indication of your preferred date to artsadmin@mweb.co.za by Friday 10 March 2017.  The bursary winners will be announced on Wednesday 22 March 2017. For enquiries call Caroline on 021 447 3683.

TAAC are hoping that during the course of the year, they will have raised sufficient funds for a further two bursaries. These will be opened up nationally to all emerging theatre directors.

Applications open for Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary 2017 was originally published on Artsvark