Sihle Mnqwazanakate, Kate Pinchuck, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana. Photo: Jesse Kramer

The Theatre Arts Admin Collective (TAAC) is calling for applications for the 2017 Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary – in partnership with the Distell Foundation.

This year, they are offering two bursaries to emerging Cape Town-based black women directors. Students at both an undergraduate and post-graduate level will not be considered.

Caroline Calburn, director of TAAC, explains: “Young black women directors represent a small percentage of the overall profile of the Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary (ETDB) winners over the last seven years. This has to change.

“There are so many astounding and highly talented black women with the potential to be groundbreaking directors. All they need is opportunity. May this bursary be the springboard to realise that.”

The bursary was pioneered in 2010 and has since provided opportunities to nineteen young directors, most of whom are prolific directors making a wide range of work and winning numerous awards.

Notable winners include, Kim Kerfoot who won the Fleur du Cap best young director award for Statements After An Arrest Under the Immorality Act in 2013, Nicola Elliott who went on to win the 2014 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, Khayelihle Dom Gumede who won the Naledi Award for best director in 2016 for Crepuscule, and Jason Jacobs, a 2016 winner, who has been named the featured young artist for KKNK for 2017.

Other previous winners include Amy Jephta, Tara Louise Notcutt, Pusetso Thibedi, Thando Doni, Alan Parker, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Bulelani Mabutyana, Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, Wynne Bredenkamp and Ameera Conrad.

The Bursary offers emerging theatre directors a mentor, a small budget, a month’s rehearsal space, and a week of performance at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. It is recommended that directors work with already existing scripts as the month-long period has proved insufficient for devised work.

Speaking about the bursary, Amy Jephta, the first recipient of the bursary in 2010 said: “It offers a new, young voice the chance to explore and create in an environment where there is no worrying about where the money will come from, which space will be used, or how the product will be sold.

“What I found most encouraging was the fact that, from day one of receiving this bursary, I was given free reign of the decision making process which would bring my play to life…. I was able to learn the nuts and bolts of the production process.”

“The Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young/emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable,” says Kim Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners. “It is a wonderful environment in which to find yourself, full of people that want you and your work to succeed, and are willing to do everything within their power to make that happen.”

If you are an emerging black woman director and would like to seize this opportunity please submit a one-page creative proposal, your CV (including two references with contact details), and an indication of your preferred date to artsadmin@mweb.co.za by Friday, 10 March.  The bursary winners will be announced on Wednesday, 22 March.

For more information call Caroline on 021 447 3683.