Bristol Old Vic welcomes new Associate Artistic Director as part of the inaugural RYTDS Fair Play leadership programme

RTYDS (Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme) has named the first three theatre-makers set to benefit from its trailblazing Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency scheme. One of whom will be resident at Bristol Old Vic.

The game-changing initiative is the only leadership programme of its kind in the UK, created specifically to offer mid-career directors or theatre makers who identify as working class or from a low socio-economic background the opportunity to progress to artistic leadership via paid training roles.

Bristol Old Vic is one of three leading partner venues announced as host venues earlier this year, RTYDS received more than 160 applications from creatives across the UK following an open call-out.

Following a rigorous selection process, the three directors/theatre-makers and partnering host theatres are:

• Rikki Henry – Bristol Old Vic: A Creative Technologist based in the UK, Rikki won the Nestroy Award for Best Federal State Performance for a production of Hamlet in Austria in 2020. He worked as an associate director at HOME in Manchester, as a recipient of the BBC Performing Arts Fellowship in 2015. In the same year he was recognised as the Genesis Future Directors Award.
• Jamie Sophia Fletcher - Leeds Playhouse: A director and musician specialising in musical theatre and new writing, Jamie brings a fiercely distinctive voice shaped by her experience as a northern, neurodivergent, queer, trans woman. Her previous work includes directing the critically acclaimed UK revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell & Stephen Trask (Leeds Playhouse & HOME).
• Yusra Warsama - Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse: Actor, writer and theatre practitioner, Yusra is also the founder of "Big Soul", Her work takes many forms, and she has worked with artists from the likes of Don Letts to Shane Meadows. She has collaborated with many organisations from grass roots to international spaces.

Image (L-R): Jamie Sophia Fletcher, Rikki Henry, and Yusra Warsama 
From January 2026, the three Associate Artistic Directors will spend 18 months contributing to the strategic planning and delivery of their host theatre’s artistic programme, with the opportunity to direct a mid-scale production. They will also develop their craft as a director while learning about the role of an artistic or creative director in cultural leadership.

Nancy Medina, Artistic Director - Bristol Old Vic said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rikki Henry as Bristol Old Vic's Associate Artistic Director and are hugely grateful to the RTYDS's Fair Play scheme for the vision and commitment towards addressing the systemic barriers present in our industry. Rikki has established himself as a director who can confidently navigate British and European theatre making at the highest of levels, always propelling himself forward along with his teams, casts and productions. The leadership he has demonstrated in varying work environments has shown innovation, creativity and care. He shares the values of Bristol Old Vic and most importantly loves and admires the cultural arts of Bristol and will no doubt be a propelling energy to connect in significant ways with the city and the South West." 

The Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency reflects RTYDS’ strong commitment to the development of directors and theatre-makers as cultural leaders, where there continues to be a significant lack of diversity. Just 13% of workers in the arts sector come from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds, meaning the percentage of those in leadership positions is even lower.

Sue Emmas, Artistic Director of RTYDS said: “The ask being made of artistic directors today is huge; they need to be entrepreneurs, fundraisers, politicians, with the ability to inspire a board and a workforce and at the same time make and facilitate exceptional art. An even greater ask if you are from a low socio-economic background and face barriers to progression. “Opportunities to learn this demanding skillset first-hand are rare which is why we have created this new opportunity. As a director gets further into their career the chances to train are limited; there are few tailored, structured learning opportunities for artists wishing to learn about leadership and deepen their craft. This scheme covers it all.

We are thrilled that Rikki Henry, Jamie Sophia Fletcher and Yusra Warsama will be joining Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse respectively. Exceptional artists who share with us this urgent need for change and we look forward to working together across the next 18 months.”

Rikki, Jamie and Yusra will join RTYDS for twenty per cent of their residency to deepen their understanding of the sector on a national level, as well as build relationships with other regional theatres and contribute to class equity advocacy work.