Emerging Director: MAMETZ

This is a brilliant opportunity for new directors to spend some time working side by side with more experienced directors on a NTW show this year. The first emerging director position of 2014 will be alongside Matthew Dunster, working on Mametz.

National Theatre Wales will stage a site-specific production in a field and nearby forest near Usk, as part of the World War I commemorations in June. Mametz will give audiences a vivid glimpse into life – and death – in the trenches and battlefields of the Somme.

Inspired by Welsh writer Owen Sheers’ poem Mametz Wood, it will draw on written material by some of the poets who fought in or witnessed one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Somme - The Battle of Mametz Wood, in which 4,000 of the 38th (Welsh) Division were killed or wounded. Among the soldiers who took part were several key Welsh and English war poets, including Robert Graves, David Jones, Siegfried Sassoon and Llewellyn Wyn Griffith.

Director Matthew Dunster has directed, written and acted for many theatres in the UK and internationally; twice being nominated for an Olivier award. Recent work includes directing: Before the Party (Almeida Theatre), The Love-Girl And The Innocent (Southwark Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Open Air Theatre, Regents Park), Mogadishu (Royal Exchange, Manchester and Lyric Hammersmith) and Love the Sinner (National Theatre). He is currently under commission to The Royal Exchange in Manchester and The Sheffield Crucible. He is developing a dance work for Headspace Dance and The Royal Opera House and is writing his first feature film.

The Emerging Director is a full time role and key component of the creative team. It requires attendance to all rehearsals, the production week and all performances. There may well be opportunities to be involved in production meetings prior to the official start date of the project.

Dates:

Rehearsals: 19 May – 14 June (NB: rehearsals will be held in Cardiff  for three weeks before transferring to the site of the performance in Usk. They will run between Monday and Friday in most instances)

Production week: w/c 16 June

Previews: 24 & 25 June

Press Night: 26 June

Final performance: 5 July

NTW is offering a £2500 bursary to enable access to the opportunity. This should cover any travel, accommodation and subsistence costs incurred as a result of taking on the role. NTW will strive to help find the best solution to travel and accommodation if you are not based locally.

If you would like to apply to be the emerging director on Mametz, please send a copy of your up to date directing CV, together with a covering letter to emerge@nationaltheatrewales.org

You should include:
CV

• Full contact details and hyperkink to your NTW Community Profile
• details of your directing experience - working with professional and non-professional casts if relevant
• the contact details of two referees who know your work

Cover letter

• a statement about why you think this is the right opportunity to support you and your development at this time
• a statement about your connection to Wales: NTW is focused on the development of theatre and theatre-making in Wales.
• We ask that you keep your cover letter to one side of A4.

Deadline: 12noon on the 11 Apr 2014.

Interviews will be held at NTW Offices on the morning of the 17th April. All applicants must be available to interview on this day.

If you have any questions, please contact simoncoates@nationaltheatrewales.org

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