The Award
NIDA is inviting applications for the 2024 Freddy Gibson Fellowship – a new award designed to enable an emerging theatre director to undertake a period of study abroad in 2024. The Fellowship is worth up to $30000 to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses.
About Freddie J Gibson
Freddie Gibson was a renowned Australian theatre manager and producer. He was Executive Producer for many Garnett H. Carrol shows including The “King & I”, “Carousel” and “Robert & Elizabeth.” He collaborated with entrepreneur Harry M. Miller on “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Hair” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” A successful 16-year long tenure as the manager of the Theatre Royal saw him produce numerous acclaimed shows such as Cameron Macintosh’s Australian productions of Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Song & Dance”, as well as “Cats”, “Les Misérables” and “Phantom of the Opera”.
Since 2014, Freddie Gibson’s $2.5 million Bequest has provided NIDA with a substantial annual income for the production of plays involving professional artists and students and for student and graduate travel grants.
Purpose of the Award
The purpose of the award is to enable an emerging director to experience theatrical activity not available in Australia. This may involve a formal course of study, attendance at international theatre festivals, an attachment to a theatre company or theatre school, and similar activities.
The award is primarily open to graduates of the NIDA Directors’ Course, but it does not exclude graduates of other NIDA courses.
Applicants must provide evidence that they have begun a professional career as a theatre director with a minimum of three year’s experience in the industry after graduating from NIDA.
Applicants must complete The Freddy Gibson Fellowship Application Form and attach the following information:
- A current CV demonstrating the applicant’s professional experience of at least 3 years,
- A description of the proposed activity.
- How the planned activities will contribute to their career advancement
- A timeline of proposed dates of travel and activities
- Evidence of having taken preliminary steps to ensure the plan is feasible
- A budget that outlines the allocation of the grant funds for the proposed plan of study
- Any additional information supporting the application
For any enquiries, please call Tess Bourguignon (NIDA Development Coordinator) on 02 9697 7592 or development@nida.edu.au
- Applications must be received by NIDA no later than 26 September 2023
- Applications will be considered by a Selection Committee on or about 10 October 2023
- Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with the Selection Committee the following week
- The successful applicant will be announced on 30 October 2023
- The successful applicant must agree to provide NIDA with a Report describing their experience of the Fellowship and assessing its professional usefulness
