Regional Young Directors Scheme opens with UK wide tour

Three new productions from the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme are set to open across the UK from April.

The scheme, which is the UK's longest running training programme for emerging directors, brings together developing directors with leading regional theatre companies, and in recent years has focused on directors who live outside London and are from communities presently under-represented in theatre.

Alumni from RTYDS include Rupert Goold, Michael Boyd, Vicky Featherstone and Matthew Xia.

This year's directors include Jo Newman, Ben Occhipinti and Rebecca Frecknall, who will all fulfill 18-month residencies. Newman will direct This Land by Sian Owen (13 to 30 April, Salisbury Playhouse and tours), Occhipinti directs #ChipShoptheMusical, written and co-produced by Emma Hill (11 to 21 May, Olympus Chip Shop, Bolton and tours) and Frecknall directs Julie by Zinnie Harris (3 to 18 June, Northern Stage).

Sue Emmas, artistic director of RTYDS said: "RTYDS is aiming to change the face of British theatre in response to the dearth of diverse directors in leadership positions… I am incredibly excited and proud that just two years into our new Arts Council England and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funded programmes, we have three of our directors opening major productions in leading regional theatres in this coming season."