Local theatre director Olly Webb, 21, has now joined Prime Theatre in Swindon on a Three-Month Placement.
Prime Theatre is one of just five theatre companies across England to be awarded a placement with the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS), the country’s longest running and most influential training scheme for new directors.
Olly will work alongside experienced theatre professionals gaining an invaluable insight into the work of a theatre director and developing his own career opportunities at the same time. Olly is going to be involved with a variety of projects during his new placement, from helping develop professional touring production, youth theatre and school projects as well as shadowing Mark Powell, Artistic Director.
Olly said, “I am incredibly excited to start this wonderful opportunity. The team at Prime Theatre show how much Swindon has to offer. Working with them for these months is really going to help further my career in what can be a famously unpredictable industry.”
Based in Purton and coming from a farming background, Olly has worked with a number of dramatic societies creating theatre but after being diagnosed with dysgraphia decided against the university route, instead going into the world of work and doing as much theatre as possible as a director, actor, designer and technician.
Sue Emmas, RTYDS Artistic Director said “Through professional placements, RTYDS creates pathways for talented directors from under-represented backgrounds to learn their craft, build networks and take the first step towards a career as a professional theatre director. Directors should reflective of the diversity of our towns and cities and RTYDS is working towards making this a reality in Swindon.”
*Other recipients of Programme Funding last November are Tiata Fahodzi, Watford; Open Clasp Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne; Greyscale Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne; Tamasha and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Queen’s Theatre, Essex; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme.
The Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS) was founded in 1960 by Howard Thomas, then Managing Director at ABC Television (subsequently part of Thames Television), to support aspiring theatre directors. It was his belief that television has a debt to live theatre for its supply of creative talent.
Many RTYDS alumni have enjoyed distinguished artistic careers in Britain’s theatre and film industry. They include Ken Loach, Roger Michell, Adrian Noble, Trevor Nunn and John Tiffany, many of whom have gone to lead organisations of their own including Michael Boyd (former RSC), Vicky Featherstone (Royal Court), Rupert Goold (Almeida), Dominic Hill (Glasgow Citizens Theatre), Jeremy Herrin (Headlong) and Natalie Ibu (Tiata Fahodzi). Last year RTYDS alumni Lorne Campbell, Nikolai Foster and James Dacre were appointed as first-time artistic directors to Northern Stage, Curve Theatre and Northampton Royal and Derngate respectively. www.rtyds.co.uk