Birmingham Repertory Theatre has announced the 18 artists who will be part of its exciting new year-long programme, REP Foundry.
REP Foundry: Roxana Silbert REP artistic director centre with foundry artists. Photo: John James
Created under The REP’s new artistic director, Roxana Silbert, the REP Foundry is an initiative that aims to discover and promote the West Midlands’ most promising talent within groups of six writers, six directors and six theatre makers – receiving mentoring and professional support from staff at The REP.
As well as masterclasses with theatre professionals there’ll be an opportunity for the artists to present work in progress in front of an audience at monthly scratch performance nights.
The 18 local people to have been chosen are:
Writers
Tom Allsopp (30, Hednesford, Staffs),
Emerson Mayes (40, Lichfield),
Stephanie Ridings (35, Birmingham),
Arvind Thandi (35, Walsall),
Alex Townley (35, Solihull),
Joe White (24, Birmingham);
Directors
Clive Judd (26, Worcester),
Scott Le Crass (29, Birmingham),
Fiona McDonnell (23, Stratford upon Avon),
Anna Murray (21, Birmingham),
Monique Sterling (25, Birmingham)
Polly Tisdall (23, Birmingham)
REP Foundry – Theatre Makers Photo: John James
Theatre Makers
Hannah Graham (24, Birmingham),
Ed Jaspers of Teasel Theatre Company (33, Birmingham),
Amerah Saleh (19, Birmingham),
Jo Newman of Tin Box Theatre Company (23, Birmingham),
Jo Gleave also of Tin Box Theatre Company (25, Birmingham),
Francesca Millican-Slater (31, Birmingham)
Ben Pacey (36, Birmingham).
Roxana Silbert, artistic director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre said:“We’ve been overwhelmed by the quality and range of response to our call out for writers and directors for REP Foundry. The final 18 that we’ve chosen are some of the most talented emerging theatre makers from the West Midlands.
“This is an exciting opportunity to throw our doors open and bring in new people with new things to say. In many cases The REP will offer them their first chance to see their work on stage.
“We’re looking forward to supporting and developing some exciting and adventurous new work with them. Through REP Foundry we are aiming to forge a generation of theatre makers who, as the theatre celebrates its centenary, will take us into the next 100 years creating new work for a new era. We hope too that with our support and investment these emerging theatre makers find their route into the profession and have a career creating memorable and distinctive new work.”
The first REP Foundry scratch performance night takes place on Thursday 28 February at 8pm at the Old Rep Theatre, Station Street Birmingham, and then on the last Thursday of the month at The Edge, Cheapside, Digbeth.
For tickets, costing £5, and further information call 0121 236 4455 or visit Birmingham-rep.co.uk/repfoundry
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