ALT. Directing Course
ALT.’s all-new directing course is launching this Summer and we’re looking for 12 creatives with Directing aspirations. If you are looking to apply for Assisting or Associate Director positions, then this could be the course for you!
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This intensive week-long course will run for five consecutive evenings from 8 to 12 July. In a week, you will get to work with five established stage and screen directors, including ALT. founder Toby Clarke, Andrew Whyment, Philip Morris, Matthew Xia and more. (scroll down for more info on our coaches)
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The 12 participants will take turns directing one another, tackling a different aspect and skillset of directing each evening.
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What you will get:
· Practical, hands-on directing experience
· Coaching from various industry leaders, each sharing their own practice
· Industry knowledge and career insights
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We will cover script work, research and preparation, rehearsal technique, understanding an actor's process, working on film & TV sets, and more.
This course is suitable for aspiring directors of all levels of experience. Please note participants will act in each other’s pieces and no prior Director training or experience is required.
Session details:
Monday 8 July, 6:30-9:30pm at Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Tuesday 9 July, 6:30-9:30pm at Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Wednesday 10 July, 6:30-9:30pm at Southwark Playhouse Borough
Thursday 11 July, 6:30-9:30pm at Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Opportunity to shadow Toby in rehearsal: 22-31 July at Park Theatre (details TBC)
Fee: £300 all-inclusive, payable in 2 instalments. The 1st installment of £150 will be due by 1 July.
Applying should take about 5 min. If you have any questions or issues filling out the form, please contact Montel on Assistant.ALTClub@gmail.com.
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Coaches
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TOBY CLARKE
Toby Clarke has enjoyed a career spanning 20 years in Theatre, TV and Film as a Director, Playwright and Acting Coach. Nominated for Olivier and Offie awards for his directing work, Toby has recently worked on Queenie (Channel 4), Get Millie Black (HBO), Sherwood (ITV) and Christy (BBC) as an Acting Coach. His clients have starred in Eastenders, Top Boy, Hollyoaks, and at the Almeida, Royal Court & Bush Theatre.
ANDREW WHYMENT
Andrew is a Director for stage and screen.
For stage, he directs new work - scripted, devised and adapted - developing and staging shows with companies including English Touring Theatre, Headlong, the National Theatre, The PappyShow and the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama with writers including Brad Birch, Chris Bush, Elinor Cook, Tim Crouch, James Fritz, Rob Hayes, Yolanda Mercy, Owen Sheers, Ross Willis and Alexandra Wood.
He is Artistic Director of award-winning theatre company, Squint, a graduate of the Birkbeck Theatre Directing MFA, an Associate of the National Youth Theatre and formerly Resident Assistant Director at Leeds Playhouse.
He is an experienced Facilitator of education and participation projects, training young people at the National Youth Theatre, working in refugee camps with Good Chance Theatre and teaching in prisons with Synergy Theatre Project.
His practice is influenced by the likes of Mike Alfreds, Anne Bogart, Thomas Ostermeier, Told By An Idiot and John Yorke.
For screen, he has made two short films as Writer Director - Blue, a psychological thriller and Look Away, a horror drama - both of which are currently screening at international festivals.
PHILIP MORRIS
Philip J Morris is the Artistic Director of Trybe House Theatre following a period as Trainee Director at the Royal Court Theatre. His journey into directing began at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) in 2015 where he started as an intern. He would then go on to become a Senior Youth Theatre director. During his time at The REP, Philip was the instrumental lead in a pilot project named Up My Street which was created to work specifically with vulnerable young black men across the city.
In 2018 Philip spent 2 years working as a Project Associate with the National Theatre with a project named NT Public Acts. After receiving training at Introduction To Directing course (RTYDS) Philip has directed two showcases with Neighbourhood Theatre at the Young Vic in 2020 and 2021. He is currently working as a Project Associate at Company Three.
He has directed at esteemed theatres such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Residenz Theatre (Munich), Young Vic, Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre, Southbank Centre, New Diorama Theatre, The Rep, and Talawa.
MATTHEW XIA
Matthew Xia is the award-winning Artistic Director of ATC (Actors Touring Company). He was previously Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; Director-in-Residence at The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; and Associate Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East. He was an Associate Artist at the Nottingham Playhouse alongside James Graham and Amanda Whittington from 2018 – 2022.
Matthew has directed some of the UK’s most talented actors, including Daniel Kaluuya, Cynthia Erivo, Maxine Peake, David Haig, Karl Collins, Samuel Barnett, Malachi Kirby, David Moorst, Erin Doherty, and Joseph Quinn.
Directing includes TAMBO & BONES (ATC/Stratford East); the Olivier Award winning HEY DUGGEE – THE LIVE THEATRE SHOW (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment/Cuffe & Taylor); the Fringe First award winning FEELING AFRAID AS IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN (FMP/Roundabout)
MORE PRACTITIONERS TBA