MEDIA MTC ANNOUNCES ASSISTANT DIRECTORS FOR 2014

Melbourne Theatre Company has announced the appointment of four Assistant Directors for Season 2014. Tanya Dickson will work on Private Lives, Kat Henry on The Speechmaker, Kim Hardwick on Ghosts and John Kachoyan on Pennsylvania Avenue, joining the company as part of MTC's paid Assistant Directors Program for emerging or mid-career artists.

MTC Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong praised the successful applicants, saying 'all four directors have already built an impressive body of work and we can't wait to have their rigour and energy in the building. Assistant directing is a vital pathway to directing for the mainstage and we are thrilled to welcome them into the MTC family for 2014.'

Each Assistant Director has been assigned to a specific mainstage play and will work closely with MTC Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong on Private Lives or The Speechmaker, Gale Edwards on Ghosts and former MTC Artistic Director Simon Phillips, directing a new work, Pennsylvania Avenue.

Tanya Dickson is thrilled to be returning to MTC after her Directorial Secondment in 2011 saying, 'It's wonderful to be back after working on Apologia. This is a great opportunity to continue to develop my artistic profile'.

Kat Henry echoed the sentiment. 'I'm looking forward to the mentoring opportunities throughout the program,' she said. 'It will be both exciting and challenging to work alongside Sam Strong'.

Kim Hardwick is similarly excited about the opportunity. 'It will be an invaluable experience and I can't wait to be a part of the theatre-making process with a flagship theatre company,' she said.

John Kachoyan said, 'The team behind Pennsylvania Avenue have achieved so much in theatre. I look forward to working closely with them on this world premiere production'.

During their time with MTC the Assistant Directors will shadow the director, attend production meetings and have formal opportunities for networking and industry exposure with a focus on their own artistic development. Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong said 'The team at MTC have been working hard to make the company as accessible as we can for artists. This is about recognising the position that MTC occupies in the Melbourne theatrical ecology and creating pathways for artists through our company and the industry.'