Jack Bradfield wins Sir Peter Hall Director award

Jack Bradfield has been announced as the winner of the Sir Peter Hall Director award.

Bradfield and runner-up Lilac Yosiphon were selected from eight finalists for the prize, which is awarded by the Royal Theatrical Support Trust in conjunction with Newcastle’s Northern Stage producing theatre, and in partnership with Rose Theatre, Mercury Theatre in Colchester and English Touring Theatre.

The annual award, named in recognition of the RTST co-founder and Royal Shakespeare Company founder Hall, offer its winner the chance to direct a fully funded production in a UK regional theatre, as part of its main season, prior to taking that production on tour.

Bradfield will now direct an original production on Northern Stage’s main stage, with the support of the venue’s artistic director Natalie Ibu. 

The production will open in September 2024 before touring to the Rose, Mercury and other theatres, with the RTST contributing £50,000 to its costs.

Yosiphon will receive mentoring support from Northern Stage, in her capacity as runner-up.

Bradfield said: "It is an honour to receive this year’s award from RTST and Northern Stage. This is an opportunity like no other, and I can’t wait to create a new show as part of the main seasons at Northern Stage, the Rose and Mercury Theatre, and to take it on tour with ETT. I’d like to thank the panel for their generosity and rigour, as well as everyone who has supported my work as a director over my career so far. I am looking forward to making a show with heart and humanity for audiences across the country."

Ibu added: "At Northern Stage we are committed to supporting the development of the next generation of inspiring, ambitious and skilled theatre artists to make work on mid-scale both here in Newcastle and on stages across the country. We are so grateful to all the finalists for their bold visions, courage and passion for putting big stories on big stages, which they believe could have big impact on audiences across England. We received 90 entries so choosing a winner amongst such talented individuals was a real challenge and we offer particular congratulations to Lilac as runner up."

She added: "We can’t wait to introduce our winner Jack to the team at Northern Stage and begin working with him on his new show. We have been so impressed by his craft, creativity and commitment to putting audiences at the centre of his practice – audiences here in Newcastle and across the UK are in for quite the event."

Bradfield and Yosiphon were selected by a panel comprising Ibu, director Tinuke Craig designer Debbie Duru, director Debbie Hannan, artistic director of the Rose, Christopher Haydon, playwright Kate McGrath, actor Lucian Msamati and Richard Twyman, artistic director of ETT. The other shortlisted finalists were Emily Aboud, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Madelaine Moore, Oscar Toeman, Lucy Wray and Chris Yarnell.