Call goes out to young acting talent in county

Derby Theatre is to offer The Brian Weaver Fellowship for a second year.

Following its launch at the end of 2013, and a successful first year, Derby Theatre is delighted to announce that The Brian Weaver Fellowship will again be offered to another aspiring local actor.

Set up in 2013, due to a generous personal donation from Doreen Weaver in memory of her late husband, Brian, the Fellowship will again provide a local young actor with a number of opportunities in professional theatre.

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When Brian passed away, Doreen felt like she wanted to create a legacy for his passion for theatre and decided to approach Derby Theatre to discuss how this could be recognised in his home county. Now, thanks to Doreen’s continuing generosity, the Fellowship will run for a second year in Brian’s memory.

The successful Fellowship recipient for 2015 will gain professional acting experience and the opportunity to appear in two Derby Theatre productions plus benefit in many other ways from the theatre and the links it has to the wider UK theatre industry.

Adam Horvath, from Derby, was the first successful recipient of The Brian Weaver Fellowship for 2014. Adam’s previous acting experience included roles in productions for Derby Playhouse Youth Theatre, Derby LIVE Community Theatre, Derby Shakespeare Company and voiceover experience for the BBC.

Since starting the Fellowship, Adam has appeared in The Odyssey and is in rehearsals, as part of the acting company, for Derby Theatre’s big festive production of A Christmas Carol.

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During the run of The Odyssey, Adam was also seen by Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director Giles Croft who subsequently offered him a key role in The Second Minute, which played at the Playhouse before embarking on a UK tour.

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Doreen Weaver said: “The auditions for the Fellowship last year were new to us all.

“We were delighted with the response we received, and surprised at the amount of talent and enthusiasm shown by the applicants.

“Due to the successful year which Adam has been enjoying, I am sure that he will be an inspiration to all those thinking of applying this year.”

Applicants need to:

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n have either been born in Derbyshire or be currently living in Derbyshire (proof will be required so please do not apply if you cannot prove this)

n the applicant needs to be aged between 18 to 29.

n the applicant should aspire to a professional acting career, and so have some acting experience, which could be through amateur groups, school, youth theatre or some professional theatre, but not with an established career.

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n the Fellowship is intended to help support someone who may not have had the chance, due to financial, social, or cultural barriers to have taken up a career in acting or be likely to in the future. The applicant therefore needs to write 500 words explaining why they feel they need the scholarship and how they will benefit from it, addressing the barriers outlined above.

n the applicant needs to be available from late summer 2015.

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To apply, send your CV, outlining a) any acting experience along with any other experience that you feel demonstrates your commitment to theatre and details b) your educational history and c) any work experience, and also a covering letter of 500 words to Andrew McIntyre at: [email protected] by the deadline of Monday, December 15. If you have any specific questions regarding the

Fellowship, contact Caroline Barth on 01332 593944 before December 12.

The applicant will be selected on the basis of an audition and an interview in early January.