Opportunity for emerging theatre-makers opens
Applications for the Market Theatre Laboratory’s renowned Theatre and Performance full-time course open from 1 August – 30 September 2023, for study in 2024.
“We are looking for talented, determined young people who are passionate about the performing arts to become part of the next generation of artistic innovators, change-makers and storytellers,” said the institution in a statement.
The Market Lab is a multi-award-winning arts incubator, with a reputation for facilitating the development of exceptional young theatre-makers, facilitators, actors, writers and directors, and for creating innovative and relevant new plays.
“Our students have the opportunity to work and learn with some of the country’s most iconic theatre practitioners, while creating a diverse range of work both individually and within an ensemble,” the Market Theatre explained.
With multiple local, African and global partners, the Lab strives to create enriching experiences that contribute to the personal and artistic growth of each person who participates in our programmes.
Alumni have gone on to excel on stage and screen, from established stalwarts such as Warren Masemola, to relative newcomers such as Wonder Ndlovu.
The theatre contributions made by Lab Alumni have been acknowledged significantly by the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, boasting their latest winners Theatre Duo (Billy Langa and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana) for theatre in 2023.
Others have chosen to apply their skills in several other industries, including publishing, radio, event management and marketing.
Many are playing leadership roles in arts institutions and other contexts and remain committed to working in the communities that nurtured their growth as young artists.
The Market Lab’s full-time theatre and performance course, which runs from January to November each year, offers intensive training in a laboratory environment for emerging theatre practitioners to develop to a professional standard.
The programme focuses on practical experience, and learning through experimentation, exchange, research and making.
Each year, twenty first years are selected, a small group that allows for each students’ creative journey to be mentored. The Lab invests in ensuring that the curriculum continues to serve the interests and needs of young creatives in a rapidly evolving industry.
“Most importantly, we teach young artists to adapt, to experiment, and to think of themselves as entrepreneurs. In these challenging times, we aim to think expansively about the relevance of theatre and live performance, and to find language that articulates what theatre-makers know how to do and where the current need for these skills is situated. The ways in which theatre-making skills help make sense of being human, teach us how to be with people, how to hold space, how to participate in community, how to approach change, and how to solve problems creatively, are needed now more than ever,” said the theatre.
Applications open on the 1st of August 2023 for study in 2024.
CLOSING DATE for submission of applications forms: 30th of September 2023.
*No late applications will be considered.
