Lekan Lawal has been awarded a paid director residency at Derby Theatre for 2016/17 as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS).
Established in 1960, RTYDS is recognised as the UK's longest-running and most influential training programme for emerging directors.
Lekan Lawal will have the opportunity to mount his own production as part of the theatre’s programme and the residency will allow him the opportunity to develop his understanding of the artistic and operational workings of a theatre.
Lawal is from London and trained at LAMDA. He is currently working on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at the Young Vic.
Derby Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Brigham said, “I’m delighted that this relationship with RTYDS will build on and develop the innovative artist development work we’ve started with In Good Company.”
In Good Company is a professional development programme for artists making work in the East Midlands which aims to engage, ignite and inspire.
She added, “I’m passionate about diversifying the voices heard on our stage and so I look forward immensely to working with RTYDS and Lekan Lawal to find an exciting new voice to help continue to bring great theatre to Derby.”
As part of RTYDS on a national level, Julia Thomas will take up a director residency at Curve, Leicester.