Insight Directors Scheme

Helping emerging local directors find their feet in the rehearsal room.

We are delighted to be continuing the Insight Directors Scheme to support local theatre-makers interested in directing through Theatr Clwyd’s Spring / Summer 2026 Season.

This Scheme allows one local theatre-maker at an early stage in their journey the opportunity to “observe” rehearsals for a forthcoming Theatr Clwyd production. Recent recipients have found the Scheme useful to their development and have reflected –

“The Insight Directors Scheme has been an amazing opportunity for me to understand more about myself as a creative and gain further insight into a professional working environment. Schemes like this prove that you can survive as a Welsh artist, living and working in Wales. It’s really uplifting to feel like people want to support your career.”

Em Dulson, Insight Director on Tick, Tick… BOOM!

“The Directors Insight Scheme does exactly what it says on the tin – provides an incredible insight into the process of directing. The scheme allows someone, like myself, who is sidestepping into directing after 17 years of working as an actor in the industry, an insight that I’ve never been privy to before, despite the work I’ve undertaken in rehearsal rooms. Being on the other side of the room and engaging in all the meetings, conversations and advice provided across the theatres departments as a whole, feels like an invaluable launching point to an exciting new avenue I’ve been dreaming of pursuing. The cherry on top is the undeniably warm welcome you receive while working in the building!”

Danielle Bird, Insight Director on Cinderella

About our Insight Directors Scheme

The director is invited into rehearsals every Monday (or another day by mutual agreement) throughout the rehearsal period, tech and into previews. This enables them to follow the process of bringing the work to our stages and the journey of the production. They aren’t an Assistant Director and are solely there to observe the process. The Scheme also affords them the opportunity to start (or continue) a dialogue with the theatre and to gain an insight into creating work for our spaces.

The successful candidate will be invited to create a diary or blog about their experience – this is to support their reflective learning and development, to consider how they actively might apply their learning to their own practice and may be used as a resource to talk about the production.

The successful candidate will also have a mentoring relationship with Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, and Suzanne Bell, Director of Stiwdio Clwyd, and tickets to see the production. They also have a dialogue with the Assistant Director on the production.

Who can apply?

The Insight Director Scheme is open to anyone local over the age of 18 who want to focus on theatre directing, and is at an early stage in their career. They should not have professional directing credits – but may have created work at a fringe level, as a student, as part of a youth theatre or through other training.

The successful candidate will be provided with a fee of £1,050 for the Insight Director Scheme – this is the equivalent of £150 per day. There is not a budget to cover travel or subsistence so it is open only to local artists.

For this Scheme, we define local as someone based in Flintshire, Denbighshire or Wrexham.

How to apply

We ask that people only apply for one production – please consider which production or which director you would most benefit from an opportunity to observe. Details on the productions, directors and rehearsal dates are listed below.

To apply please submit a current directing CV or bio and a brief expression of interest (no more than 300 words) that outlines why you are interested in observing the process on this production and this particular director and the questions you have coming into that process.

Applications are to be sent to stiwdio@theatrclwyd.com.

If you have any queries about this opportunity, please contact stiwdio@theatrclwyd.com for more information.

Upcoming Productions

Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare, directed by Juliette Manon.

Shakespeare’s greatest comedy is given a vibrant twist in this fun, party-filled, glitter-infused show.

More information about the production can be found here.

Director – Juliette Manon

Juliette is a director and multidisciplinary artist from North Wales. They recently completed their residency at Theatr Clwyd as the recipient of the Carne Traineeship for Directors in Wales (22-24) having previously trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester. They are passionate about platforming underrepresented voices and telling fantastical and silly stories through an abstract lens.

Recent work as Director includes: Nutcracker (The Alternative Cabaret) at Wales Millennium Centre, Lydia Merch y Cwilt (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru), Dysgu Hedfan (S4C), Ble mae trenau’n mynd gyda’r nos a chwestiynnau mawr eraill bywyd (Y Cwmni), Ie Ie Ie (Theatr Cymru).

As Associate/Staff Director: The Great Gatsby (Theatr Clwyd & The Guild of Misrule), Truth or Dare (Theatr Clwyd), The In-Between (Theatr Clwyd & NYTW).

Dates

Mon 9 Feb 2026	Deadline for applications for Twelfth Night
Mon 16 Feb 2026	Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview online
(Week commencing) Mon 23 Feb 2026	Interviews with shortlisted candidates
Fri 27 Feb 2026	Successful candidate informed
Mon 16 Mar 2026	Induction Week
Mon 23 Mar 2026	Week one rehearsals
Mon 30 Mar 2026	Week two rehearsals
Tue 7 Apr 2026	Week three rehearsals (please note the change of day due to bank holiday)
Mon 13 Apr 2026	Week four rehearsals
Mon 20 Apr 2026	Observe technical rehearsals
Mon 27 April 2026	Attend preview
Wed 29 Apr 2026	Attend guest night
Fri 1 May 2026	Evaluation / exit strategy meeting

Atlantis

by Emily White, directed by Guy Jones.

World premiere of award-winning play. While Bryn battles to save his home from the waves, Gwen and her grandchildren take to the streets to save the whole planet. It’s time for a new story.

More information about the production can be found here.

Director – Guy Jones

Guy is an Olivier-nominated director and dramaturg. He directs new plays and contemporary revivals, bringing work from the canon to new audiences. Guy is New Work Manager at Shakespeare’s Globe alongside developing a slate of new plays for theatres around the country.

Previously held positions include Associate Director Orange Tree, (2022-2024), Orange Tree Literary Associate (2014-2022), Creative Associate at Headlong (2020-2022) and Associate Artist at Company Three (2011-2015). At the Orange Tree, Guy helped revitalise the theatre for a new generation, bringing projects like Pomona, An Octoroon and Jess & Joe Forever to the theatre’s programme, while developing audiences and artists. In spring 2026 Guy will direct Emily White’s award-winning Welsh play Atlantis for Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre.

Recent directing credits include: Blackout Songs (Hampstead Theatre, nominated for an Olivier Award in Outstanding Achievement), O, Island! (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Climbers (Theatre by the Lake), Either (Hampstead Theatre), Doggerland (Audible/LAMDA), Out of Water, Mayfly, The Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night (Orange Tree Theatre), Busking It (HighTide), Disnatured (Shakespeare in Shoreditch Festival), Spokesong (Finborough Theatre), No Wonder (NSDF/24:7 Festival), Not Blue Green But Grey (ICT, National Theatre).

More information about Guy can be found here.