Directors Award
Tall Stories Directors Award
Are you a director with a burning idea for a family theatre project? If so, Tall Stories are encouraging you to apply for the Tall Stories Directors Award!
Three theatre directors will receive a budget of up to £4250 to cover a week’s development of their children and family storytelling theatre project; including time in the Tall Stories Studio, as well as mentoring from the leadership team at Tall Stories.
The criteria for the proposals are as follows:
- Involve narration and/or storytelling that directly addresses the audience, e.g.
“Alice followed the White Rabbit down the rabbit-hole, then found herself falling down a very deep well…”
- Are original pieces.
Retellings/adaptations of existing stories are suitable; pieces that use a script that has previously been performed would not be suitable.
- Are for children and families.
All applications must meet all the criteria to be considered.
We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences. Please feel free to mention this in your application (though this is not a compulsory requirement).
We are especially interested to hear from directors who live in Islington (and neighbouring boroughs).
Please make sure that you have the rights to work with any text or ideas that are not your own.
For more information about the award, please see the pack below.
We are holding an optional 1 hour Zoom session to give more information about the award and what we are looking for in applicants on Friday 23 May 6.30pm – 7.30pm.
Please send an email to recruitment@tallstories.org.uk with the subject line ‘Directors Award Zoom information session’ to register your interest and we will send a Zoom link closer to the time. In the email please let us know if you have any access requirements you would like us to consider.
How to apply:
Please download and complete the application form above and send it to recruitment@tallstories.org.uk
The questions may be answered in writing or by submitting a video or audio file. All formats will be equally considered.
The deadline for applications is 9am, Monday 9 June 2025
We will be in touch with everyone who applies no later than Tuesday 17 June 2025.
Interviews are likely to be week commencing 23 June 2025.
If you have any questions, or if you would like this call out information in another format feel free to contact recruitment@tallstories.org.uk or 020 8348 0080.
Equal Opportunities:
Tall Stories is committed to equality of opportunity and access for all. We strive to create an inclusive environment that reflects our community’s values and respects diversity.
We ensure that no person is unfairly discriminated against in our recruitment and selection policies and procedures. We actively welcome applications from those currently underrepresented in our workforce and industry.
Your application and any associated personal information will be stored and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and destroyed after six months.
Past Directors Award Recipients
(FYE-zull UB-dool-lah)
Faizal Abdullah is a Muslim-Malay-Singaporean theatremaker, director, actor and facilitator. Born and raised in Singapore, he moved to London in 2018 to do an MA in Performance Making at Goldsmiths. His work explores themes of faith, roots, racial identity and politics and the decolonisation of mind and body.
Tell us about your project
I’ll be working on a selection of stories from ‘Malay Sketches’ by Alfian Sa’at. It’s an honest look into the lives of the Malay community in Singapore and the realities of life as an ethnic minority.
What’s your favourite story?
The story of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat. They are two warriors from the Malaccan Sultanate and even though Hang Tuah is the titular character, Hang Jebat was the anti-hero that captured my young mind. His character represented justice, love and the antithesis of ‘blind loyalty’.
(PEN-ee DIE-uh)
Since her graduation in 2016, Penny has mainly focused on creating family theatre. She has had the privilege of travelling around the world, performing in many incredible children’s shows. Penny loves storytelling, and she’s thrilled about this opportunity with Tall Stories.
Tell us about your project
My passion for children’s theatre has inspired this project. I will be bringing Rachel Rooney’s picture book ‘The Worrying Worries’ to life and adapting it for the stage. Books with strong, emotive narratives particularly capture my attention.
What’s your favourite story?
My favourite stories come from the world of Winnie-the-Pooh. Its heartfelt messages about friendship and the simple joys of life resonate with both children and adults alike.
(so-FEE-ah gall-OO-chee)
Sofia is a director and dramaturg working across new writing, musical theatre and restaging renaissance texts with a potent social resonance. Her work strives to make even the small and intimate feel powerful and epic, aiming to amplify lost voices and preserve neglected heritage. She was born and bred in Stratford-upon-Avon, trained in the south-west and currently resides in south London.
Tell us about your project
‘Hussy’ is a cabaret show that features actor-musicians and explores the history of the Ladies of Covent Garden. It is the story of the lives behind the names on the Harris List, which was the most notorious catalogue of women working in Georgian London. It’s going to be very messy, very loud and an absolute riot!
What’s your favourite story?
My favourite story is Ludwig Bemelmans’ ‘Madeline’ (closely followed by ‘Paddington 2’).
(oh-ZEE-oh-ma ee-hiss-ee-AY-nay)
Having trained with Start Directing Cohort, Iris Theatre, Ozioma gained her directorial debut for a sold-out one-man show, Before I Go, at Theatre Peckham Fringe Festival. The show has made a return this year at Camden People’s Theatre and Brixton House. She is in the current cohort for Fresh Direction at the Young Vic. Next up, Ozioma will be directing the show ‘Hair That Defies Gravity’.
Tell us about your project
IZWI:(VOICE), written by Dalumuzi Moyo.
The journey of purpose. Dee finds himself in a new environment with contrasting societal norms.
He assimilates. What was the cost?
What’s your favourite story?
The story of Moses found throughout Exodus in the Bible.