MinterEllison will partner with Melbourne Theatre Company for a further three-years to provide paid placements for 12 assistant theatre directors. Applications for the 2025 cohort of MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative will open in October 2024, with placements to commence next year.
This renewed partnership strengthens Melbourne Theatre Company’s commitment to creating the next generation of Australian mainstage theatre directors. And MinterEllison’s renewed commitment, anchored by the MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative, is a testament to its pivotal role in the investment of future leaders not only in the creative industries, but across significant sectors of the Australian economy.
The MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative provides opportunities for emerging creatives to shadow senior theatre directors on Melbourne Theatre Company productions, creating valuable mainstage experience and widening career pathways for emerging theatre makers.
Since its inception in 2022, The MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative has provided invaluable opportunities for twelve emerging directors over the course of the partnership’s initial three-year period. Participants of the initiative include:
• Katie Cawthorne (Touching the Void, 2022)
• Alonso Pineda (Admissions, 2022)
• Miranda Middleton (Come Rain or Come Shine, 2022)
• Roshelle Fong (Laurinda, 2022)
• Keegan Bragg (Happy Days, 2023)
• Joel Bray (Jacky, 2023)
• Kuda Mapeza (Is God Is, 2023)
• Kitan Petkovski (My Sister Jill, 2023)
• Kamarra Bell-Wykes (37, 2024)
• Jennifer Sarah Dean (The Almighty Sometimes, 2024)
• Afsaneh Torabi (English, 2024)
• Alistair Baldwin (Cost of Living, 2024)
Each of the participants were provided the opportunity to learn about the process of developing productions for large-scale theatre companies, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives continue to contribute to Australian theatre making.
Recent participant Kamarra Bell-Wykes notes ‘Being Assistant Director on 37 as part of the MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative was such an incredible opportunity to build relationships and become familiar with the working processes of the company.’ These insights and connections will be valuable to Bell-Wykes as they take on the role of one of three Directors in the upcoming collaboration between Melbourne Theatre Company and ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Blak in the Room.
Melbourne Theatre Company Executive Director and Co-CEO Sally Noonan said, ‘MinterEllison’s renewed commitment is a testament to their continued sector leadership and support, particularly in the creative industries.’ Through this partnership we are able to strengthen Melbourne Theatre Company’s commitment to ensuring that the future of Australian theatre will benefit from a diversity of perspectives and voices.
Matthew Hibbins, MinterEllison Managing Partner – Melbourne said, ‘Career pathways for the development of future leaders is an important focus for MinterEllison. We support our people to have the opportunities and resources to develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive and lead effectively. Through our partnership with Melbourne Theatre Company, we have witnessed first-hand how through our collaboration on the MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative, the nurturing of new talent and aspiring leaders can contribute to sustainability in the arts sector and to the reputation of Melbourne as a destination for talent. Working with established experts in their field and building upon that experience is the way we can support new talent and future leaders in all sectors so we are proud to be helping facilitate this in the arts sector and to be partnering with the Melbourne Theatre Company for another three years.’
MinterEllison is Australia's largest law firm providing legal and consulting services through a global network of affiliated firms and associated companies. MinterEllison has a long history of community partnerships, all embedded with a spirit of purpose to create and amplify lasting impacts.
Photo: Heath Warwick
Published on 24 September 2024
