Aspiring North East actors are invited to apply to the Jackie Fielding Trust for financial support for their training.
The Jackie Fielding Trust was launched last year in memory of director and actor Jackie Fielding to help young people pursue a career in the performing arts.
In its first year, the trust awarded a total of £2,000 towards training fees. Applications are now open for 2017 and funding of up to £1,500 per student is available, with the funds being paid directly to the training provider.
Students who are applying for, or have secured a place on, musical theatre, dance or acting courses are eligible for consideration. They must also be aged between 18 and 25, originate from the North East, particularly the South Tyneside area, and available to audition at The Customs House in early August.
If successful, they will be invited to perform at the annual Jackie Fielding Trust fundraiser at The Customs House on Sunday 3 September.
Jackie Fielding, who lived in South Shields but was originally from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, died, aged 47, in May 2015, after suffering a brain aneurysm while working on her production The Man and the Donkey at The Customs House.
Gareth Hunter, Artistic Director of Ion Productions, who is producing this year’s fundraiser Forgotten Broadway, said, “Jackie Fielding was an accomplished actress and a critically-acclaimed director whose contribution to theatre, particularly here in the North East, was remarkable.
“She was also renowned for her unwavering support, advocacy and development of emerging artists in the region, many of whom have carved strong careers in their chosen genres.”
The money collected via donations at her funeral and a memorial event was earmarked to help young performers further their careers.
Applicants should submit their name, age, contact details, course title applied / applying for and the training provider / university, along with the reasons why they are in need or deserving of funding, via e-mail to [email protected].
Applicants will then be asked to perform and have a short interview with the board of trustees, who are all theatre professionals. From there, one musical theatre student and one dance / drama student will be chosen to receive support.
The deadline for applications is Saturday 24 June, 2017.