Future Theatre Fund supports new talent

Published: 29 November 2020
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

Panel judge Kwame Kwei-Armah Credit: David Chadderton

London newspaper and the force behind the nation's oldest theatrical award, the Evening Standard, has teamed up with short-form video platform TikTok to create a fund supporting emerging theatre-makers.

The two part Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund will see £10,000 go to each of ten recent graduates across a variety of disciplines, as part of a package that includes mentoring and management by Act IV.

A further two practitioners who have received no formal training will receive funding under the TikTok Breakout Award.

Proprietor of the Evening Standard, Evgeny Lebedev, said, “in 2019, the Evening Standard Theatre Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of London’s theatre for the 65th year. Now in this time of unprecedented pressure for the industry, we are determined to provide tangible support to the sector.

“I am therefore immensely proud that our Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund will support some of the finest emerging talent that will make up the heart of theatre in London’s West End and beyond. This initiative is a crucial investment in our cultural capital that will allow our beloved theatre to return with a bang as soon as possible.”

TikTok UK general manager Richard Waterworth added, "every day on TikTok, we see the breadth and depth of creative talent that the UK has to offer. Often with just the props in their front room, TikTok creators use their creativity, ingenuity and wit to bring to life an idea through video, sharing it with our community to make them laugh, smile or experience something new.

"We're delighted to be working with the Evening Standard for the Future Theatre Fund to celebrate the next generation of theatre makers—from the raw creative talent just considering a life in theatre, to the professionally trained graduates who have spent years developing their craft. We hope this Fund will be the firestarter people need to begin their careers, at a time when the industry really needs support from everyone who values the performing arts."

Applications for the TikTok Breakout Award may be made by submitting a TikTok video that reflects their passion for the industry and creative talent using #TikTokBreakoutStar.

A judging panel to include Andrew Lloyd Webber, Helen McCrory, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Evening Standard arts editor Nancy Durrant, Rich Waterworth and National Youth Theatre artistic director Paul Roseby will select the recipients.

The Fund has been launched in partnership with National Youth Theatre to support the next generation of theatre-makers who will enter an industry bearing the legacy of COVID-19.

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