Recipients Of The Inaugural MGCfutures Bursaries Announced

Artistic Director of MGC, Michael Grandage today announces the recipients of the inaugural MGCfutures Bursaries awarded across a range of theatrical disciplines including directing, writing, producing, millinery, set and lighting design and performance artistry. Offering both financial and ongoing mentoring support from the MGCfutures team, the recipients come from across the UK.

The recipients of this year's bursaries are Dean Burke - Theatrical Milliner, Camisado Club - Performance Company, Rob Casey - Lighting Designer, Shruti Chauhan - Performance Poet, Ashley Cook - Producer, Rebecca Frecknall - Director, Ella Grace - Singer & Songwriter, Dan Jones - Director, Anna Lewis - Designer, Isley Lynn - Playwright, David Ralf - Producer, Tara Robinson - Director, Rachel Stone - Designer, Selina Thompson - Performance Artist, Leigh Toney - Director, Claire Willoughby - Theatre Maker and Jingan Young - Playwright.

Additionally directors Oliver Dawe and Oliver O'Shea, Producer Andrew Hughes and Sound Designer Michael Woods have been offered on-going mentoring relationships with MGCfutures. Michael Grandage said today, "We were very clear from the outset of setting up MGC, that we wanted to continue and develop the careers of young theatre practitioners. Our charity, MGCfutures, enables this and the Bursaries are a newly developed annual scheme which sees the charity award bursaries to theatre makers across a variety of disciplines acknowledging the unseen work of the many people it takes to make a production. We were thrilled with the quality and diversity of applications we received this year, and it bodes well for the theatre industry of tomorrow that such a wealth of talent exists within our ranks."

"It's our intention also to mentor and support recipients to help them develop their work and careers, and in addition to the 17 who have received the bursaries, we have committed to mentoring a further 4 applicants moving forward." MGC founded MGCfutures - a scheme designed to introduce young people to the theatre in 2012 alongside their first season of West End work. The bursaries programme was launched earlier this year with a call out to arts practitioners showing a commitment to their chosen career and looking to progress to the next stage of their development. Applicants could apply for bursaries from £500-£5000.

QUOTES FROM BURSARY RECIPIENTS:

Dean Burke: "The MGCfutures Bursary has enabled me to set myself up properly in my chosen field. Having had a great training and grounding, serving as an apprentice, this bursary has given me the tools to establish myself as a theatrical milliner. But more importantly than that, the bursary, and the recognition from a charity such as MGCfutures, has given me the confidence I need - knowing that I have this recognition means I know I have a place within this industry."

Shruti Chauhan: "This bursary means so very much to me. It will enable to me watch the kind of theatre I really want to but cannot afford - theatre that I am sure will impact tremendously on my writing and the development of my debut solo show. I couldn't be more grateful to MGCfutures for investing in me, for believing in young artists and for recognising the value of their contribution to the theatre of today and tomorrow."

Ella Grace: "I was offered the opportunity to workshop my new musical Nethergate with Scottish Youth Theatre. For the week, with the support of the MGCfutures Bursary, I was able to bring in two key members of my creative team, a director and a parkour instructor. Awards like the MGCfutures Bursary are vital to creatives such as myself, providing the essential support, guidance and financial help, which make developing new work possible."

Dan Jones: "Money is tight in the current climate; and when a production is faced with financial limitations, the assistant director fee is often the first thing on the chopping board. This is devastating, as assisting is the single most beneficial experience for an emerging director - and it's this that makes MGCfutures Bursaries unique. Also on a personal level, this is a huge endorsement, having faith placed in me by an organisation such as MGCfutures is truly humbling. I cannot express just how grateful I am."

Isley Lynn: "MGCfutures understands that artists need practical support, as well as encouragement and mentorship, in order to be empowered to make good work. The bursary will have a massive impact on Revolutions because it allows me to collaborate with artists at the top of their game from the earliest stages, and support myself and them while we work together. It's exactly the investment I need at this stage in my career to keep raising my ambitions."

Selina Thompson: "This bursary enables me to create space as an artist to explore a new project - a risky one, an exciting one, a scary one! Awards like this are essential when artists want to push themselves and the boundaries of their form, and I believe that the time and the space this money will create will really support me in taking the creative leaps that lead to making something special."

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