For eight years the Young Vic ran the Jerwood Directors Award, which had an extensive impact on this profession. To build on the success of this award, the Young Vic has developed a new initiative, the Jerwood Assistant Directors Programme, which has already supported 13 emerging directors in 2010 and 2011.

Professional on-the-job development is a vital opportunity for directors at the start of their careers and this programme does this by offering those taking part:

• an extended placement at the Young Vic, tailored to meet their individual development needs;

• the paid role of Assistant Director on a major Young Vic production;

• a budget to hold their own creative process week, supported by space and staff time at the Young Vic.

The programme provides the Young Vic with a fantastic opportunity to support and develop the next generation of young directors in a  structured way, and is proving to be extremely valuable in enabling those chosen to take the next steps in their careers.

To date, 2012 Jerwood Assistant Directors are:

Anthony Lau (Bingo, directed by Angus Jackman)

Rebecca Frecknall (After Miss Julie, directed by Natalie Abrahami) 

Kate Hewitt (Wild Swans, directed by Sacha Wares) 

Tom Hughes (A Doll's House, directed by Carrie Cracknell)

Another six directors will be recruited as part of the scheme in 2012/13. Opportunities will be advertised through the Genesis Directors Network. 

www.youngvic.org