Mercury Theatre, led by Creative Director Ryan McBryde, Executive Director Steve Mannix and Executive Producer Tracey Childs, are thrilled to announce their Playwrights, Producers and Directors cohort for their 2022/23 programme. This follows a hugely successful year offering support and development to their talented 2021/22 alumni.
Creative Director of Mercury Theatre, Ryan McBryde, said: “The success of our Mercury Playwrights, Producers and Directors scheme has proved to us how vital it is that regional theatres support local artists. These creative programmes are an integral part of supporting our freelance regional community and creating work for the future. This means that we can continue to be a source of innovation for audiences and artists across the East.”
Talent Development Producer for Mercury Theatre, Dilek Latif, said: “Throughout all three programmes classes will be supported by some of the best writers, producers and directors in the business; and as I know first-hand from building my career as a producer at the Mercury, there is no comparison to learning to shape your talent and your art with such supportive feedback from a broad variety of talented professionals.”
Mercury’s Artist Development Programme supports the nurturing of ground-breaking, local theatre makers. By providing time and space for researching, exploring and testing ideas, their aim is to aid local innovators. This year’s cohort are all innovative, imaginative talents, and Mercury Theatre are overjoyed to be welcoming them and providing them with rigorous training in playwrighting, producing and directing, along with the space to platform their voices on their stages.
Gail Egbeson, former Mercury Playwright said, “Being part of Mercury Playwrights has aided me in more ways than I could imagine. Not only did it help me build my confidence as a writer but it’s also given me a wonderful support system who constantly encourage me to believe in myself.”
Ollie Harrington, former Mercury Director added, “Being on the Mercury Directors programme is a joy for any emerging director. We got to learn from some of the best in the industry through Ailin and the guest directors. Best of all, together with the Playwright and Producer Cohorts, we’ve made a community of creatives who will support and inspire each other wherever our journeys in theatre take us.”
Mercury Playwrights 2022/23:
David Holland
Eilish Mullane
Emma Zadow
John Webber
Lydia Sabatini
Rohan Gotobed
Thomas Edwards
Tom Murray
Vanessa Ackerman
Mercury Producers 2022/23:
Bea Svistunenko
Claire Gilbert
Lydia Idakula
Marco Young
Mercury Directors 2022/23:
Elinor Dunton
Jane Prinsley
Jasmine Skingle
Matthew Jewson
Neetu Singh
Nicola Pollard
