Artist development programme
By providing time and space for researching, exploring and testing ideas, we aim to nurture and grow the innovators of tomorrow.
The Mercury aims to provide a transparent ladder of progression in order to provide a huge benefit for skills development – here is how we can support artists from education to employment:
• Mercury Young Company
• Mercury Connects
• Mercury Playwrights / Directors / Producers
• Hg Festival
• Mercury Creatives
• Mercury Originals
• Associate Artists
• Mercury Productions
Playwrights, Producers and Directors
Following a hugely successful few years of support and development to a talented pool of Playwrights, Producers and Directors in the East of England, we are delighted to announce our cohort for 2023/24.
Talent Development Producer for Mercury Theatre, Antony Stuart-Hicks, said: “I am delighted to welcome our new 20 strong cohort onto our career enhancing programme. Throughout the next 9 months, our cohort will be supported by some of the best writers, producers and directors in the business; and as I know first-hand, there is no comparison to learning to shape your talent and your art with such supportive navigation from a broad variety of talented professionals. The 2021/22 evaluation statistics identify that PPD members have enhanced employability by 60%, increased life satisfaction by 70% and a positive impact on wellbeing has improved by 20%.”
Playwright’s alumni and Olivier-award winner (The P Word) Waleed Akhtar said: “PPD was invaluable. Kenny is a brilliant teacher and mentor. His wealth of experience and his generosity in sharing his knowledge has helped me immensely in my writing practice. The course was conducted over zoom which made the group even more inclusive and accessible. The monthly sessions were a real beacon for me during the dark time of the pandemic. The Mercury team as a whole has really embraced me as a creative, and I will always be so thankful for their support.”
Director’s alumni Neetu Singh said: “Being a part of the Mercury directors programme taught me a lot about not just how to direct but also what kind of theatre is popular, important and current. Ryan was giving, open and meticulous in his sessions, I have a real sense of how to plan for and direct for all kinds of productions – especially bigger ones like pantomimes and musicals.”
Producer’s alumni Bea Svistunenko said: “Being on Mercury Producer’s programme has helped gain agency over my career and has been a godsend, demystifying crucial skills such as budgeting, pitching, fundraising and marketing. During this course I submitted my first ever Arts Council Project Grant application and it was a success! This may well be the single most useful thing I have done for my career – I couldn’t recommend this course more to those that want to learn how to produce their own work with confidence.”
Please note applications are now closed until early 2024.
You can find out more about each of the programmes via the buttons below.
Playwrights Producers Directors
