Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu wins 2019 JMK Young Director Award

Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu has won the 2019 James Menzies-Kitchin Young Director Award, which is presented in a new partnership with Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre.

This is the first year the award has moved to the Orange Tree, after seven years at the Young Vic.

JMK Award for emerging directors moves to the Orange Tree Theatre after seven years at Young Vic

The annual award now offers the winning director the opportunity to direct a full-scale production at the Orange Tree.

Fynn-Aiduenu will direct Arinzé Kene’s Little Baby Jesus, working with designer Tara Usher.

This year’s runners-up are Oscar Toeman and designer Rebecca Brower, who will receive £2,000 in recognition of their proposal for The Sugar Syndrome by Lucy Prebble.

Fynn-Aiduenu said: “It is a blessing to be given the support and time to mount the professional revival of Little Baby Jesus, the play that changed my life.

“I want people to watch this piece and see that their growing pains can make incredible stories and that there is someone out there desperate to hear them. I thank the JMK Trust and Orange Tree Theatre for investing in my madness. I cannot wait to tear this stage up.”

Artistic director at the Orange Tree Theatre, Paul Miller, added: “Our partnership with the JMK Trust starts a new chapter in this history of director development here. I have no doubt that this year’s winning director will make great theatre happen in our unique space.”

The award forms part of the national programme for the JMK Trust, which was set up in memory of director James Menzies-Kitchin, who died unexpectedly at the age of 28.

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