MTC Now Accepting Applications for Women in Theatre Program

Melbourne Theatre Company is pleased to announce that applications are now open for its 2016 Women in Theatre Program.

This new initiative builds on the success of MTC's Women Directors Program and expands the scope to include other professions in the theatre industry such as sound and lighting design, producing and playwriting.

In 2016 the program has two parts, the first with nine mentoring opportunities available to women in various disciplines and the second offering two assistant director positions to alumni of the 2015 Women Directors Program.

Next year, MTC's Women in Theatre program will provide nine women with leadership training, practical career advice and coaching across a wide range of business and commercial aspects of the theatre industry, while also offering open access to all facets of the Company.

Each participant will receive one-on-one mentoring from a respected practitioner in their chosen field as well as the chance to familiarise themselves with the culture and inner workings of a major state theatre company, allowing them to gain insight into its audiences, venues and ongoing core business over a twelve-month period.

MTC Executive Director Virginia Lovett said, 'Initiatives like our Women in Theatre Program are significant drivers of opportunities for emerging and mid-career professionals to develop their skills and learn directly from senior theatre artists, producers and managers. Our aim is to provide valuable mentoring opportunities that will support and help women advance in their chosen careers.'

MTC Producer Martina Murray said, 'Our Women Directors Program has demonstrated the real pathways programs like this create and we feel it is important to offer similar opportunities in other areas of the business. We are very pleased to be welcoming women from a broader range of disciplines next year and to be providing further opportunities for participants of the previous program to deepen their relationship with MTC.'

The disciplines represented in the first year of the program are lighting design; sound design and composition; set and costume design; dramaturgy; playwriting; directing; producing; and executive management, with positions for an artistic director and general manager of an independent or small organisation.

The assistant director positions will see two successful alumni of the 2015 Women Directors Program work on either Jasper Jones or The Odd Couple, providing a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience working on a large scale mainstage production alongside an award-winning director. These positions are in addition to the four offered annually through MTC's Assistant Directors Program.

Applications for the nine mentoring opportunities are open until 5pm on Monday 14 December 2015.
For more information on the program and application process visit mtc.com.au/artistaccess