Earlier this year MTC was thrilled to announce the eleven theatre practitioners selected to take part in the inaugural Women in Theatre Program. This new initiative builds on the great success of the Women Directors’ Program that launched in 2014, expanding to include additional disciplines – artistic direction, general management, set and costume design, lighting and sound design, producing, dramaturgy and playwriting.
The new program consists of two parts. The first offers nine emerging and mid-career Women in Theatre the chance to familiarise themselves with the culture and inner workings of a major state theatre company and gain insight into its audiences, venues and ongoing core business, whilst also receiving one-on-one mentoring from a respected practitioner in their chosen field. The second part of the program engages two alumnae of the 2015 Women Director’s program, as Assistant Directors on mainstage MTC productions. Justine Campbell will join director Sam Strong on Jasper Jones and Kat Henry will work on The Odd Couple with Peter Houghton.
Throughout the year, the program provides leadership training, practical career advice and coaching across a wide range of business and commercial aspects of the theatre industry. With access to all facets of the Company’s artistic and business activities, the participants also receive a thorough grounding in how a flagship arts organisation is run.
The Women In Theatre program is supported by donors who are passionate about redressing the well-known gender imbalance in the professional theatre making community. Spearheaded by MTC Foundation Board members Janette Kendall and Leigh O’Neill, the new Woman in Theatre Giving Circle was officially launched in April at a lunch on stage – behind the beautiful set of Miss Julie. Attended by current Women in Theatre participants and alumnae, Giving Circle Donors and MTC Foundation Board Members, the lunch was a great success, confirming that as an industry leader MTC is well placed to confront gender inequality within the theatre profession.
It is only with the help of our generous donors that we are able to offer this exceptional program and support women working in the theatre industry.
If you are interested in supporting the Women in Theatre Program, please contact Major Gifts Manager, Sophie Boardley, 03 8688 0959 or via email on s.boardley@mtc.com.au
Published on 23 May 2016
