Michael Grandage today announces the recipients of the seventh annual MGCfutures Bursaries awarded across a range of theatrical disciplines including directing, writing, producing, designing, performance-makers, and for the first time a puppet maker and a theatrical shoemaker. A registered charity, MGCfutures offers both financial and ongoing mentoring support to the recipients who come from across the UK.
This year’s recipients are Tom Bailey, Jessica Brigham, Nur Khairiyah Bte Ramli, Sarah Burton, Ruth D’Silva, Sharon Kanolik, Lubna Kerr, Roisin McCay-Hines, Louise Orwin, Em Spoor, Eleanor Taylor, Nikhil Vyas, and Alice Ortona Coles and Nicola Holter who receive Stephanie Arditti Bursaries, and Carys-Haf Williams who becomes The Other Room Production Manager Placement.
The bursaries programme was launched in 2016 for arts practitioners who show a commitment to their chosen career and look to progress to the next stage of their development.
Michael Grandage said today, “With writers, directors and producers sitting alongside shoemakers and puppet makers, the recipients this year perfectly encapsulate the unique nature of this charity and its mission to encourage all disciplines within the theatre industry. MGCFutures has now given over half a million pounds to 141 people and we are looking to the future with renewed optimism – today’s announcement is a wonderful demonstration of that.”
2023 has been a significant year for the charity – in addition to the bursary scheme, MGC commissioned and produced previous bursary recipient Marcelo Dos Santos’ critically acclaimedBackstairs Billy with Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans at the Duke of York’s Theatre; and Emma Corrin joined MGCfutures as a patron.
QUOTES FROM BURSARY RECIPIENTS:
NUR KHAIRIYAH BTE RAMLI:
“I’m grateful to be awarded the MGCfutures Bursary. As someone on a personal journey – exploring how my faith can inform and inspire my work in theatre – this bursary will help me to take ownership of the stories I wish to tell, particularly about the Muslim woman. It’s great to see organisations recognising the importance of diverse voices in the arts.”
RUTH D’SILVA:
“The MCGfutures bursary will help me develop a play that tells the tale of the colonised rather than the coloniser revisiting an old classic. I will also receive the guidance and mentorship of an MGCfutures team committed to encouraging unheard voices. Priceless at this stage of my career as an emerging writer. I am so happy.”
SHARON KANOLIK:
“The MGCfutures bursary is such a special scheme because it truly centres theatre artists’ personal and artistic growth. This investment in me and my play A Tale of Us will be transformative. Their commitment to my writing and development is a huge confidence boost. Thank you so much to MGCfutures for this incredible support.”
LUBNA KERR:
“As an older person transferring into the arts world, it is a difficult path. However, when your passion runs deep and you know inside it’s where you belong, there is nothing that can stop you except acceptance by your peers. I am so grateful to MGCfutures for this award and for the faith they have in me and my future.”
LOUISE ORWIN:
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to the MGCfutures Bursary for helping me to take the first step towards one of my wildest and most ambitious projects to date. The bursary will allow me time to work with new partners and creatives in the industry, helping me level up my directing and theatre making practice – I can’t wait to get started.”
BURSARY RECIPIENTS:
TOM BAILEY – THEATRE MAKER
The bursary will support Tom in conducting creative workshops for young people with cancer in the Lake District. Following these workshops, the bursary will also support the early-stage development of a new international theatre production (exploring cancer experiences) with Baltic company MMLab.
JESSICA BRIGHAM – LIGHTING DESIGNER
The bursary will fund lighting software and programming tools for Jessica to elevate her designs and work in touring productions.
NUR KHAIRIYAH BTE RAMLI – PRODUCER
The bursary will support Khai’s development of a new show about Islamophobia in the UK and the “white saviour complex”.
SARAH BURTON – COSTUME TECHNICIAN
The bursary will facilitate Sarah’s career transition from Wardrobe Manager to textile artist.
RUTH D’SILVA – WRITER
The bursary will allow Ruth to champion global majority voices by writing a radical theatre adaptation of a British classic set in colonised India.
NICOLA HOLTER – THEATRICAL SHOEMAKER (STEPHANIE ARDITTI BURSARY)
The bursary will enable Nicola to take her first steps in filling a much needed gap in the UK theatre industry: shoemaking.
SHARON KANOLIK – WRITER
The bursary will provide the opportunity for Sharon to write and develop a new play for parents and newborn babies.
LUBNA KERR – THEATRE MAKER
The bursary will help Lubna develop her writing style by delivering workshops with second generation Asian migrants in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
ROISIN MCCAY-HINES – DIRECTOR
The bursary will allow Roisin to workshop a new play about the 1997 cargo ship that spilled 5 million pieces of sea-themed Lego into the South West English coast.
LOUISE ORWIN – THEATRE MAKER
The bursary will fund Louise’s workshops with teenage girls, re-examining famous opera scenes from a feminist perspective to create a new opera-inspired project.
ALICE ORTONA COLES – DANCE COSTUME DESIGNER (STEPHANIE ARDITTI BURSARY)
The bursary will develop Alice’s skills in costume design for dancers through an R&D exploring the intersections between dance, costume and theatre.
EM SPOOR – PUPPET MAKER
The bursary will provide time and resources for Em to experiment with new ideas and develop their style as a puppet maker.
ELEANOR TAYLOR – WRITER
The bursary will allow Eleanor to write her first full-length play about a modern day Viking burial in York.
NIKHIL VYAS – DIRECTOR
The bursary will support Nikhil’s R&D process in devising a new play about the Cold War from a unique perspective.
CARYS-HAF WILLIAMS – PRODUCTION MANAGER (THE OTHER ROOM BURSARY PLACEMENT)
Carys-Haf will become The Other Room’s first Production Manager, developing her skills in a Cardiff venue that celebrates Welsh theatre.
MGCfutures
MGCfutures is a charitable organisation committed to supporting the next generation of theatre makers and theatre goers, principally through its bursary programme, mentorship and online resources. Established in 2013 by director Michael Grandage, the charity aims to introduce people to the wide variety of jobs available within the theatre, both on and offstage, and also provides vital support to theatre makers at pivotal moments in their careers.
MGCfutures is governed by a Board of Trustees. It is also supported by the charity’s patrons: Emma Corrin, Judi Dench, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale, Sheridan Smith, Aidan Turner,David Walliams and Ben Whishaw.
“My MGCfutures Bursary allowed me to work on the long-term sustainability of my producing career through business and financial training, as well as developing my company’s artistic slates through acquiring rights for two works for adaptation. At this stage of my career, the recognition and support from MGCfutures has given me the confidence to take the next steps in moving towards becoming a leader in the industry – I can’t thank MGCfutures enough.” Nisha Oza, Producer and Bursary Recipient 2021
More than 141 practitioners have been supported by MGCfutures bursaries since the scheme began in 2016 – for further information, visit here…
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