MTC to Welcome New Artists to Women Directors Program

Melbourne Theatre Company will welcome ten new artists to the Women Directors Program in 2015 following the program's successful inaugural year. Katy Alexander, Rachel Baring, Justine Campbell, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Tanya Dickson, Catarina Hebbard, Kat Henry, Samara Hersch, Tamara Searle and Hallie Shellam will join the year-long program, a first for a major theatre company in Australia.

'MTC is committed to developing strong relationships with women in the theatre industry, and we are thrilled to welcome ten artists to the Women Directors Program in 2015,' MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy AO said. 'After the success of the inaugural program in 2014, MTC is excited to see this initiative continue to provide opportunities for these talented directors to network, learn and collaborate. I commend MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres for her commitment to this program and her excellent work in leading this initiative.'

MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres said, 'It's a great privilege to be able to roll out the second year of the Women Directors Program. 2015 is set to build on the successes of 2014 with a very impressive group of directors who are making a mark for themselves on the Melbourne and national landscape. These are all unique, visionary theatre makers who are poised to claim exciting careers as leaders.'

The MTC Women Directors Program offers emerging and mid-career directors the chance to familiarise themselves with the culture and inner workings of a major state theatre company and gain insight into its audiences, venues and ongoing core business.

Participants will be provided with leadership training, practical career advice and coaching across a wide range of business and commercial aspects of the theatre industry, and open access to all facets of the Company. They will also have the opportunity to pitch work for MTC production.

Three alumni have secured employment opportunities in MTC's 2015 mainstage and Education seasons, including Clare Watson (What Rhymes with Cars and Girls), Naomi Edwards (The Waiting Room) and Nadja Kostich (I Call my Brothers).

Leticia Cáceres said, 'This is a program which I am enormously proud of and which has seen a number of success stories come from it. We are delighted that these artists see our program as a stepping stone in achieving their goals. 2015 is going to be another terrific year.'