Praise for “visionary” new appointment.
An award-winning theatre director has been named as Associate Director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Alexander Zeldin is a recipient of the prestigious Quercus Trust Award 2015 and will take up his new position in 2015.
The Quercus Award for Theatre Directors, a biennial initiative now in its third cycle, was conceived by the National Theatre Studio and the director Marianne Elliott to enable the recipient to make the transition from directing in fringe and smaller venues to working on main stages around the UK. This year, for the first time, two appointments are being made, with George Mann appointed at Bristol Old Vic as well as Alexander at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Alexander Zeldin will direct a main-stage production at The REP, working with senior members of the National Theatre as well as the artistic team in Birmingham.
Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Alexander Zeldin to the Rep. He is a unique, inspiring and exceptionally talented theatre artist and we know his vision will have a remarkable impact on The REP and beyond. We are very grateful to the NT and Quercus for this very important initiative that launches brilliant directors on to our main house stages, embracing new perspectives into the mainstream.”
Alexander Zeldin said: “I am so excited to have this opportunity to work with Roxana and her team at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. This is a unique chance for me to embed in a fascinatingly rich and diverse community and encounter new people, experiences and audiences and undoubtedly challenge myself in unexpected ways. To be given this opportunity to develop my work on a bigger scale, mentored by inspiring senior figures in the industry is a real honour and blessing.”
Laura Collier, Director of the National Theatre Studio, added: “The Quercus Award was born of a shared desire to help nurture a generation of directorial talent able to tackle the demanding challenges of bigger stages, particularly at a time when such opportunities are becoming harder to fund. These Quercus Awards are therefore an invaluable and ideal next step for Alexander Zeldin and George Mann as they progress their careers. The National Theatre looks forward to supporting them throughout the year ahead, wishing them every success and eagerly anticipating their main house shows at The REP and Bristol Old Vic.”
Zeldin’s work includes his own devised pieces Beyond Caring at The Yard, Hackney and Shéméhé (touch me) for the Rustaveli National Theatre, Georgia. Directing includes Black Battles with Dogs (Southwark Playhouse); Macbeth (International Performing Arts Festival, Miryang and Seoul), Romeo and Juliet (Teatro Festival Italia, Naples, in collaboration with the Young Vic), his own play Glimpses (Edinburgh Festival), The Constant Prince (Arcola Theatre/Oxford Playhouse/Cairo); and the operas Othello (Verona Festival workshop production), Powder Her Face and Gianni Schicchi at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg. Alexander has also worked as an assistant director to Peter Brook/Marie Helène Estienne.
