The Old Vic Announces the Old Vic 12 Class of 2016-2017
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The Old Vic announces The Old Vic 12 Class of 2016-2017 London, 5th December: Today The Old Vic announces the theatre makers behind this year’s Old Vic 12: a company of talented, developing artists looking to make the next step in their careers. The scheme offers them the opportunity to expand their networks, experience first class mentoring and receive funding to create three brand new plays as a collective. The newly announced Old Vic 12 consists of: ➔ Directors, Chelsea Walker, Lekan Lawal and Jesse Jones ➔ Producers, Molly Roberts, Tobi Kyeremateng and Aaron Rogers ➔ Playwrights, Joe White, Rebecca Crookshank and John O’Donovan ➔ Designer, Fin Redshaw ➔ Movement Director, Rachael Nanyonjo ➔ Composer, Cassie Kinoshi This Autumn, after receiving 1,300 applications and interviewing over 300 candidates, The Old Vic is thrilled to start work with these artists to nurture and unveil the work they produce. Artistic Director, Matthew Warchus said, ‘Supporting the next generation of theatre-makers is one of the most important and effective contributions to our cultural future we can make. It is also one of the most enjoyable. The Old Vic 12 sees emerging creatives engaging with people at the top of their profession across a wide range of theatrical disciplines and it's hugely inspiring to see how much all parties get from the mutual exchange of ideas. The presence of these early-career creative minds in our midst through the year is extremely energising. And it's also exciting to see the partnerships formed within the group and how these develop forward beyond The Old Vic. So, we are very happy to welcome this year's group, and to support them as they collaborate to create new work and bring fresh energy to this building.’ The Old Vic 12 demonstrates the theatre’s commitment to outreach and inclusivity in everything it does and feeds into The Old Vic’s integrated artist development strategy at the heart of the theatre. During Season 1 of Matthew Warchus’ Artistic Directorship, The Old Vic engaged with 10,000 people via four new outreach programmes: OV12, Stage Business (a unique leadership and employability project for young people aged 16–18, who then deliver additional workshops for younger students aged 11–14), Baylis Director and Assistant Baylis Directorships (annual post that provide a notable opportunity for one director and assistant directors each year) and Frontline (a scheme offering 16–20 year olds, an opportunity to discover more about careers in theatre through paid placements with The Old Vic’s front of house team). These initiatives unlock creative imagination in people of all ages and backgrounds, building close relationships and friendships, developing strong communities, and enhancing employability. The Old Vic is committed to working in a united way with artists to ensure genuine career progression and development at every stage. During its year of inception, The Old Vic 12 developed three brand new plays; Five Years, Prince of the River and The Test, which were recently presented in an intimate setting at the Criterion Theatre. Alongside this process they received mentoring from industry experts, collaborated on a variety of projects and delivered masterclasses to other emerging artists. Achievements from the Class of 2015–2016 include: Director Caitlin McLeod moving on to win a Sky Arts Scholarship to create new theatre company The Coterie, pairing with OV12 Producer Martha Rose Wilson. Producer Paul Jellis moved on to become Executive Producer (maternity cover) at HighTide and Sarah Georgeson is now Assistant Producer at the Lyric Hammersmith. Director Ed Stambollouian recently finished a successful run of Blush at The Edinburgh Festival; composer Harry Blake takes up post as Cameron Mackintosh resident composer at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and playwright Samuel Bailey is presenting his next play Champ at the Tobacco Factory. - ENDS - PRESS CONTACTS For general Old Vic press enquiries, including OV12: Amy Dowd | E [email protected] | M 07737 007 016 For production press enquiries: Jo Allan | E [email protected] | M 07889 905 850 | T 020 7520 9392 Kitty Greenleaf | E [email protected] | M 07545 131 539 | T 020 7520 9392 NOTES TO EDITORS: THE OLD VIC 12 CLASS OF 2016–2017 DIRECTORS Chelsea Walker trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and the University of Oxford. She was a runner up for the 2016 JMK Award and will be directing Low Level Panic by Clare McIntyre at the Orange Tree in February. Her recent directing credits include White Lead (Women Centre Stage, Hampstead), P’yongyang (Finborough), Klippies (Southwark), Chicken Dust (Finborough), Occupied (Bush Bazaar, Bush) and Lean (Tristan Bates). Her recent assistant directing credits include Wild (Hampstead), Routes (Royal Court) and Little Mermaid (Bristol Old Vic). Chelsea is a director for Southwark Playhouse’s Young Company, a Stage Business Facilitator for The Old Vic and a script reader for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Lekan Lawal is a director, and theatre maker. He is currently finishing an 18-month placement with the Regional Theatre Young Directors’ Scheme (RTYDS) at Derby Theatre and an Associate at the Hackney Showroom. He has directed and assisted at several venues including the Young Vic, Derby Theatre, Arcola and Summerhall. He will be directing a production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal at Derby in Spring 2017. Jesse Jones is a theatre maker from Bristol. He Trained on Bristol Old Vic Made in Bristol Program and the National Theatre Studio’s Directors Program. Jesse was founding Artistic Director of the Wardrobe Theatre, set up in 2011 and is a founding member of award winning company, The Wardrobe Ensemble whose work has toured nationally and internationally. Jesse has recently finished an 18-month residency at Royal & Derngate, Northampton having been awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme bursary. Work directed for the Wardrobe Theatre includes: Wilbore, Scumbag and Guttermouth. For The Wardrobe Ensemble: 1972: The Future of Sex, Edgar and the Land of Lost, 33 (as associate) and Riot (as devisor and performer). For the National Theatre: The Grandfathers, Maggot Moon (workshop development) and Emil and the Detectives (as Assistant). For Bristol Old Vic: Smoke and Bridges, Paths Present Future, Two and Brave (Assistant Director). For Royal & Derngate: A Day To Remember, Market Boy, KONTAKT. As Associate: The Tempest, Soul, The Herbal Bed. As Assistant: The Hook, Brave New World, Gaslight and Odd. This Autumn Jesse will direct Shipped for Theatre west, Champ for Tobacco Factory Theatre’s and return to Northampton this Christmas with Second Star to the Right. PLAYWRIGHTS Joe White is a writer from Birmingham, and is a graduate of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme and Invited Studio Group. He has developed work with Birmingham Rep, Lyric Hammersmith, HighTide Festival and BBC Radio 3. In 2014, he was selected for the BBC writersroom 10, and won the Channel 4 Playwriting Award (formerly Pearson Award) for his play Pangaea. In 2015, he was the Writer in Residence of Pentabus Theatre Company. Rebecca Crookshank left the Royal Air Force to train at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts where she gained a First Class BA (Hons) in Acting. She is now an artist based in East London. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot her debut play as a solo writer/performer, is based on her own story as a woman the British Armed Forces and highlights inequality, sexual harassment and bullying in institutions. The script is published by Oberon Books and has just finished playing in New York. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was nominated for Best New Play, Best New Production, Best Director and Best Actress in the 2015 Broadway World Awards and shortlisted for the Brighton Fringe Audience Choice Award. Rebecca recently won Performer of the Year at the Devon Performance Awards and the show was shortlisted for a Liberty Human Rights Arts Award 2016. Writer credits include: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Edinburgh Fringe, UK Tour, United Solo New York); Alice: A New Musical (St James, London); Detached (Feature Film-In Development with WARP Films and Bcre8tive). Her first short play Clipping My Wings premiered at the Our Bodies Our Future Conference in 2015 led by MP Stella Creasy. Rebecca runs her own creative consultancy company encouraging equality, the arts and future voices. Clients include the Royal Ballet, The International School of Harrow Beijing, Jacksons Lane, LAMDA and Arts Award. She has worked as writer in residence at Frederick Bremer School in East London. In 2007 she set up a creative education company in Devon called ‘The SHAC’ which later became Shacademy Ltd where she ran workshops and new writing projects with young people in rural communities. John O’Donovan is a London-based playwright from Co. Clare, Ireland. His work has been read and staged in the UK at the Old Red Lion, Southwark Playhouse, Theatre503, New Diorama and Arcola Theatre and in Ireland by Druid Theatre, the Abbey Theatre and the Irish Drama League. A former member of the Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme and the Abbey Theatre Playwrights Hub, he has had stories and plays published in Verbal Arts Magazine, Crannóg and Bare Fiction. If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You is published by Methuen Drama (2016). PRODUCERS Molly Roberts is Artistic Director