This week applications open for the MGCfutures Bursary Programme which supports UK theatre practitioners taking their career onto the next level of progression.
Bursaries range between £500 and £5,000 and are offered to those working across the professions that support the creation of live performance.
The charity will, for the second time, also offer The Stephanie Arditti Bursary targeted towards those working in costume. Created in the memory of award-winning costume supervisor Stephanie Arditti, this award supports those working in costuming for theatre and associated fields such as wigs and millinery.
With Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, a bursary is being made available for a trainee Literary Associate role suitable for applicants with a little experience. The expected commitment is approximately 2.5 days per week between June and December 2021, and will include mentoring by Lyric Hammersmith artistic director Rachel O’Riordan.
The partnership with international touring company Pilot Theatre will support a creative assistant and will operate on a freelance basis. The York-based company would especially like to hear from regionally based practitioners for this programme which is expected to start in March or very soon thereafter.
Additionally, MGCfutures patron Nicole Kidman is to provide a six-year annual bursary to support female theatre-makers and three years of bursary funding is offered by the Theatre Community Fund. This charity, led by Olivia Colman, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Francesca Moody, also provides hardship funding through the Royal Theatrical Fund for practitioners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael Grandage said, “the pandemic of 2020 has seen theatres shut across the world and yet I remain hopeful that the many people who make up the complex ecology that creates live theatre will be working again very soon. MGCfutures, as the name suggests, is a charity that looks forward and that is now more important than ever as we support theatre makers across the country to return to the industry they love.
“We are enormously grateful to the many generous individuals who make these bursaries happen, and especially today to the Theatre Community Fund whose donation will enable us to provide these vital bursaries to artists to create work across our stages and rebuild our industry in new and vibrant ways.”
Applications—which must be made via the web site—are open from noon on 16 December to 12 noon on 7 January. Recipients are chosen by an industry panel including Michael Grandage.
Bursaries are not available to support training or as commercial investments in productions.