The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2012 - participants announced
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
FOR THE seventh year running, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) partner with the 24 Hour Play Company and IdeasTap to discover the next generation of theatrical talent in a grand theatrical experiment like no other.
A company of twenty one actors, six writers, six directors and six producers aged between eighteen and thirty will be challenged to create six brand new short plays from scratch in just twenty four hours.
From the playwrights’ first ideas, to casting, rehearsals, prop sourcing, the lighting design and sound effects, everything must be completed in one day, ready to be staged in front of more than one thousand VIPs and members of the public, on the Old Vic’s one hundred and ninety three year old stage.
The 2012 participants are:
Directors: Hannah Banister, Richard Fitch, Amanda Gaughan, Mark Maughan, Julia McShane and Daniel Raggett.
Producers: Liz Eddy, Clemmie Forfar, Chris Foxon, Luke Harris, Dawn Taylor and Sarah Wilson.
Writers: Jon Barton, David Byrne, Zoe Cooper, Cat Jones, Sophie Petzal and Chris Urch.
Actors: James Baxter, Thea Beyleveld, Rob Carter, James Cooney, Michael Cusick, Eddie Eyre, Lewis Hart, Tori Hart, Vicki Lee Taylor, Molly Logan, Haseeb Malik, Chloe Massey, Jonathan Milshaw, Stephen Myott-Meadows, Anna-Maria Nabirye, Sian Polhill-Thomas, Ben Sewell, Fiona Skinner, Patrick Warner, Haz Webb and Rachel Wilcock.
Steve Winter, Director, Old Vic New Voices, commented:
“With over 2,000 applicants we have been spoilt for choice this year and seeing all of the 1,800 actors that applied was not only a joy but also demonstrates our commitment to finding the very best talent possible. What was particularly heartening was to see so many applicants from the upper age limit of 30 years, be it writer, producer, director or performer proving that ‘new voices’ are not just teenagers but a mixture of people all eager to fulfill their creative potential.”
The project has launched over 250 careers with many participants securing agents, West End contracts, TV roles and commissions. 2011’s event saw offers and opportunities for participants flood in. Producer Sophie Watson was appointed as Programme and Projects Manager at Watford Palace Theatre. Director Oliver Rose was appointed Associate Director on Hampstead’s hit Chariots of Fire and Jude Monk McGowan played Tuskevitch in Working Title’s Anna Karenina.
Previous alumni include Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett (Cock at the Royal Court, Earthquakes in London and 13 at the National Theatre); directors George Perrin and James Grieve (Joint Artistic Directors, Paines Plough); producer Amy Letman (Associate Producer, West Yorkshire Playhouse) and actor Gethin Anthony (Game of Thrones, HBO).
Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) supports emerging talent, inspires young people and opens The Old Vic Theatre to new and diverse audiences through three strands of work: OVNV Education, OVNV Community, OVNV Talent. OVNV receives no public subsidy and is funded entirely through philanthropic giving by corporations, individuals and trusts and foundations.
IdeasTap is an online creative network that supports creative people through opportunities, funding, arts jobs and career advice.
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012.
Tickets: £15, £10, £7 – to book call 0844 8717628 or visit bookings.oldvictheatre.com/.
Time: 7.30pm.
The Old Vic, The Cut, London, SE1 8NB