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Staging the World 2024

Staging the World – APPLICATIONS for year two, focussing on Directors

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED – Thank you to everyone who applied. 2024 participants will be announced shortly. 

An exciting opportunity to be mentored by one of the leading Directors in the US focussing on contemporary work primarily from POC, Mina Morita (Leader of Artistic Curation & Strategy at Crowded Fire Theater Company, San Francisco).

STAGING THE WORLD is an intensive skills development program for POC artists, to work with and receive mentorship from established international creatives.

We launched our program in 2023 with a two week intensive mentorship with one of the world’s leading playwrights, Tarell Alvin McCraney. Participant’s included: Challito Browne, James Elazzi, Moreblessing Maturure, Jules Orcullo, S. Shakthidharan and are thrilled to be launching our second year of this successful program.

Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta is an essential hub for inclusivity, creative exploration, growth and empowerment. Our work and programs are critical in that we invest in careers and open doors for our artists, creating long term opportunities.

Four Directors will be selected to be involved in a mentorship with Mina.

Over the program, participants will have the opportunity to develop their directing skills alongside Mina Morita (Yoga Play). There will be an opportunity to observe Yoga Play rehearsals.

Applications CLOSED 19 Feb 2024

“I am thrilled to be exploring Dipika’s brilliant new play with a group of emerging directors. The deeper work of questioning and refining within an actual production process will be illuminating for the cohort–and my hope is that this will become a mutually supportive group as we continue throughout our careers. The future of the theatre lives in each of us!” – Mina Morita

“It is a fantastic feeling to be able to run this program for a second year. The first iteration led by Tarell Alvin McCraney has had an incredible impact and we know that the insights Mina will provide our next intake will be invaluable.  Australian theatre has begun the change to be more inclusive, yet the opportunities for BIPOC artists to take lead roles in major companies is still limited. NTofP is fulfilling a much needed gap by providing internationally successful BIPOC artists with years of experience in their fields as mentors for our future leaders. A huge shout out to the Girgensohn Foundation who have had the vision to recognise that Australia is not a monoculture and there is a richness in championing and celebrating our diversity.”  Joanne Kee (Executive and Creative Producer NTofP)

STAGING THE WORLD is supported by the Girgensohn Foundation.

Mina Morita (she/her) is the Leader of Artistic Curation & Strategy at Crowded Fire Theater Company. A celebrated new plays director, her work includes: English (Berkeley Rep); Vietgone (The Guthrie); Today is My Birthday (Yale Rep); Crazy Wisdom (Berkeley Rep); The Chinese Lady (Magic Theater); Sisters Matsumoto (Center Rep) On Grace (Anna Deavere Smith); Both Your Houses (ACT’s MFA Program); Crowded Fire; Shotgun Players; Campo Santo; Ferocious Lotus; Just Theater; Playwrights Foundation; Playwrights Center; and Bay Area Children’s Theatre. OTHER Artistic Associate at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and its center for the creation and development of new work, The Ground Floor; Board President of Shotgun Players; Interim Executive Director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre; Community Arts Panelist for Zellerbach Family Foundation; Guest Artist at UC Berkeley & Stanford University; and Playwriting Australia AWARDS YBCA100; FrontOffice Foundation’s Inaugural Mid-Career Director’s Award; Theater Bay Area Best Director; Theater Bay Area’s Bay Area Impact; Beinecke Fellowship; Bret C. Harte Fellowship; and Lincoln Center Director’s Lab. In 2015, Mina was honored to share her story on TEDx, and in 2016, she was chosen as one of the YBCA100, for “asking questions and making provocations that will shape the future of culture.”

MORE INFORMATION

  • Preference will be given to Directors with experience in theatre who have had their work staged by a professional Company
  • The mentorship is limited to four participants.
  • Applications will be accepted from NSW POC Directors.
  • Preference to Western Sydney artists
  • A stipend of $500 will be provided to participants.
  • Applicants will be advised in early April 2024
  • REQUIRED DATES runs over 10 days during September and October – see schedule below.
  • Please contact Leigh Russell lrussell@nationaltheatreofparramatta.com.au if you have any further questions
  • Read more about our 2023 program with Tarell Alvin McCraney here

REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants must submit a CV with Directing experience
  • Participants must be able to commit to full period
  • Applicants must be over 18.
  • Applicants must be from a POC background

Applications CLOSED 19 Feb 2024

Please contact Leigh Russell lrussell@nationaltheatreofparramatta.com.au if you have any further questions

REQUIRED DATES runs over 10 days during September and October

Mon 9 Sept
10am – 6pm
Tues 10 Sept
10am – 6pm
Wed 11 Sept
10am – 6pm
Thurs 12 Sept
10am – 6pm
Fri 13 Sept
10am – 6pm

YOGA PLAY Rehearsals Commence – Opportunity to shadow the Director during the rehearsal process.

Sat 21 Sept
10am – 6pm
Sat 28 Sept
10am – 6pm
Sat 5 Oct
10am – 6pm
Sat 12 Oct
10am – 6pm

Dates subject to change

Please contact Leigh Russell lrussell@nationaltheatreofparramatta.com.au if you have any further questions