Helen Milne, who received a Stage One producer bursary in 2018, is transferring multi-award winning Fringe hit Islander: A New Musical to London.
The Stage One producer bursary scheme provides financial and practical assistance to help new producers get their first productions up and running, and to support their development. They aim to give passionate new directors opportunities that they would not otherwise have the resources for.
They support new producers all around the UK, and help over 120 new producers every year, with £130,000 in bursaries awarded every year.
Helen Milne is currently supported by the Stage One Bursary for New Producers under the mentorship of Oliver Mackwood. Before joining the Stage One family, Helen was resident assistant producer at Theatre503 and trained as part of the Creative Scotland Producers Project.
Islander took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm this year, selling out and winning Musical Theatre Reviews’ Best Musical Award at the Fringe. Islander centres on Eilidh, wistfully staring out to sea and dreaming of a life bigger than her lonely island. When a stranger washes up onto her beach, myth and reality clash and Eilidh’s life is forever changed.
The play explores loss, identity and place. Inspired by the harsh and beautiful Scottish Isle of Mull, Islander features a beautiful contemporary Scottish folk-inspired score. Kirsty Findlay (Olivier Award Nominated, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour) and Bethany Tennick play many different characters and use looping technology to interweave and build their voices to create a unique and ethereal soundscape.
Islander opens at Southwark Playhouse on 2 October, and will run until 26 October.