For the seventh year running, Old Vic New Voices is on the hunt to discover more theatrical talent among young people.
Raising the previous upper age limit by five years to allow aspiring creatives aged between 18 and 30 to apply, Old Vic New Voices, in partnership with IdeasTap and The 24 Hour Play Company, is looking for 20 actors, six producers, six writers and six directors to create six brand new short plays from scratch in 24 hours.
From the playwrights’ first ideas to casting, rehearsals, prop sourcing, lighting design and sound effects, the challenging task must be completed in just a day before being performed in front of more than 1,000 VIPs and members of the public at the Old Vic theatre from 27 to 28 October.
Previous alumni of the scheme include Olivier Award-winning playwright Nick Payne, whose critically acclaimed play Constellations transfers to the Duke of York’s theatre later this year following a sell-out run at the Royal Court, and actress Vanessa Kirby, who stars in the Young Vic’s production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters next month.
Talking of this year’s event, Steve Winter, director of Old Vic New Voices, said: “For the first time this year we’re inviting applicants from 18 to 30 years of age. We believe this will help us find the very best people around and build on our existing successes in discovering talent over the last six years.”
Applicants have from now until 23 August to demonstrate their theatrical potential by filling in the online application form here.