tiata fahodzi are Successful in Joining the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme

tiata fahodzi are one of five theatre companies across England to join up with the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme (RTYDS), the country's longest running and most influential training scheme for new directors. RTYDS helped launched the careers of Ken Loach, John Tiffany, Vicky Featherstone and Rupert Goold amongst others.

Established in 1960, RTYDS works with theatres across the country to provide talented new directors with the opportunity to develop their skills as directors and artistic leaders.

New Director, Ajjaz Awad-Ibrahim, will be joining tiata fahodzi on a three-month placement where she will gain an invaluable insight into the work of a theatre director and develop her own career opportunities at the same time. Ajjaz will be mentored by Natalie Ibu - Artistic Director of tiata fahodzi, director of good dog and RTYDS alumni - and the production team for tiata fahodzi's spring 2017 world premiere of good dog by Arinze? Kene.

Ajjaz comments I can't wait to get started on good dog. I'm looking forward to seeing how a monologue play is brought to life; I've never worked on one before so this will be a new learning experience. I'm also interested to see how a production is created so that it can tour and what this means from a directorial point of view. I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity to work with and learn from some very talented people from the industry.

Natalie Ibu comments, We pride ourselves in inspiring, identifying and nurturing up and coming creative talent, often giving the first professional production to under-represented African-heritage actors and writers. It's a great privilege to partner with RTYDS in supporting Ajjaz in developing her craft and confidence as a theatre director. It is because of RTYDS' support of founder Femi Elofowoju Jnr. in the 90s that tiata fahodzi exists at all and because of their support of me in 2008 that I now run this company, 8 years on.

*Other recipients of Programme Funding this November are Prime Theatre, Swindon; Open Clasp Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne; Greyscale Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne; Tamasha and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Queen's Theatre, Essex; New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme.