Writer, dramaturg and director Rachael Walsh from South Shields, who this year graduated from the Drama Directing MA at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, has been awarded a Victoria Wood Foundation / JMK Trust bursary.
Funded by Wood’s foundation, the bursary scheme will be delivered by the JMK Trust, which was founded in memory of theatre director James Menzies-Kitchin and supports young and emerging directing talent through its annual award and national directors programme. The bursaries will become part of the national programme.
The bursaries have been set up this year to support emerging theatre directors, inspired by the performer, writer and director, who died in 2016.
Rachael Walsh will act as associate director to Maria Crocker on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, this year’s Christmas production at Northern Stage, which is written by Laura Lindow and directed by Maria Crocker (who is a former recipient of JMK Trust funding).
Since 2017, she has directed Silk Road (2021) by Alex Oates at The Wardrobe in Bristol, The Taming of the Shrew (2019) at Alphabetti, Paper Plane (2019), her own play, in Playing Up 9 at Northern Stage, Mortar by Sharon Clark (2018) at Live Theatre and A Very Mediocre Christmas by (2017) by Gary Kitching at Alphabetti.
Work as an assistant director includes assisting Sally Cookson on The Three Seagulls (2021) at Bristol Old Vic, I Weigh (2020) and Relentless (2018) (also dramaturg on both) with Mortal Fools, From the Ashes (Audio) with Curious Monkey (2019) and Assistant Director on Wilfred (2017) at Alphabetti.
“I am delighted to be one of the first recipients of the JMK Victoria Wood Bursary,” she said, “having attended several JMK workshops, mainly at Northern Stage, previously. They make learning new skills and building connections with other creatives in the region really easy, warm and accessible and I'm delighted to continue my journey with them through this brilliant opportunity.
“It's always a treat to see the Christmas Show at Northern Stage each year and watch them open up Stage 2 and 3 into the Epic Stage to create a real spectacle. I've been a fan of Maria's work and Laura's writing for a long time so I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with them on this production, as well as the other brilliant members of the creative team.”
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice runs in The Epic Space (Stage 1 and Stage 2 combined into one stage / auditorium) at Northern Stage from 27 November to 31 December.