Mgcfutures Ltd

Charity Number: 1153534

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £500,000+ (total since 2016)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: Up to £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide
  • Total Recipients: 154+ theatre makers supported since 2016

Contact Details

Website: www.mgcfutures.com

Email: info@mgcfutures.com

Phone: 020 3582 7210

Executive Director: Andrew Broadley - andrew@mgcfutures.com (for eligibility questions)

Overview

MGCfutures is a registered charity (No. 1153534) established in 2013 by acclaimed theatre director Michael Grandage CBE using royalties from his first independent West End season. The charity launched its flagship Bursary Programme in 2016 to promote, maintain, improve and advance the education and appreciation of the dramatic arts for the public benefit. Since inception, MGCfutures has awarded over £500,000 to more than 154 theatre makers across all disciplines. With an annual income of £168,678 (2024), the charity focuses on supporting early to mid-career theatre professionals who have at least two years of professional experience. The organisation is unique in that it supports every type of career within the theatre industry—creative, administrative, and technical—not just performers or directors. In 2024, the charity celebrated its 10th anniversary with support from high-profile patrons including Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Corrin.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Bursary Programme: Up to £5,000 per recipient

  • Annual application window (typically 4 weeks in November-December)
  • Individual grants supporting personal artistic and professional development
  • One-time awards (recipients cannot reapply for a second bursary)
  • Between 13-33 bursaries awarded per year depending on funding availability

Nicole Kidman Bursary for Women: Amount varies

  • Specifically for emerging female directors, producers, or writers
  • Six-year commitment from patron Nicole Kidman
  • Focus on building the profile of women in theatre

Collaborative Bursaries: Various amounts

  • Derby Theatre engagement communications producer placement (2024)
  • The Other Room (Cardiff) 12-month Technical and Production Manager placement (2023)
  • Theatre Community Fund partnership (£300k over three years)

Priority Areas

Who They Fund:

  • Theatre professionals with minimum 2 years professional experience
  • Early to mid-career professionals (primarily ages 18-30, but open to all ages)
  • All theatre roles: creative (directors, writers, performers), administrative (producers, marketing), and technical (designers, stage managers, technicians)
  • Projects focused on personal artistic development and career advancement
  • Proposals demonstrating a “significant shift in practice”
  • Underrepresented groups in theatre, including Global Majority individuals and disabled/neurodiverse professionals

Types of Projects Funded:

  • Professional development opportunities (training, courses, mentorships)
  • Research and development for new work
  • Artistic experimentation and skill development
  • Career-pivoting initiatives
  • Access to resources otherwise unavailable through traditional funding channels

What They Don't Fund

  • Production costs for shows or commercial investments in productions
  • Classic text-based projects
  • TV and film-related projects (theatre-only focus)
  • Students or recent college leavers without professional experience
  • Individuals who have previously received an MGCfutures bursary
  • Projects primarily benefiting audiences rather than the artist's development
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Governance and Leadership

Founder: Michael Grandage CBE, Artistic Director of the Michael Grandage Company

Chair of Trustees: Lady Hannah Lowy Mitchell

Executive Director: Andrew Broadley (as of November 2024)

Total Trustees: 5 (no trustee remuneration)

Team Members:

  • Stella McCabe
  • Daniel Gonzalez
  • Kashish Gaba
  • Dominic Francis

Patrons: Emma Corrin, Dame Judi Dench, Luke Evans, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale, Sheridan Smith, Aidan Turner, David Walliams, Ben Whishaw, and Penelope Wilton

Quote from Michael Grandage:

"Now more than ever it's essential to invest in the theatre makers of the future – not just to survive, but to thrive and create new and vital work."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

MGCfutures operates an annual open application process with a limited 4-week window, typically opening in November.

Application Requirements:

  • Maximum 500-word statement explaining what funding is needed for
  • Detailed budget clearly indicating project costs
  • Demonstration of how the project will significantly impact professional development and career trajectory
  • Evidence of at least 2 years professional theatre experience
  • Maximum request: £5,000

Application Portal: Applications submitted through the MGCfutures website during the designated window

2024 Timeline Example:

  • Applications opened: November 8, 2024 at 12pm
  • Applications closed: December 5, 2024 at 12pm
  • Notifications: March 2025

Important: Follow MGCfutures on Instagram for announcements about the next application window.

Decision Timeline

  • Application period: 4 weeks (typically November-December)
  • Decision notification: Approximately 3-4 months after deadline (typically March)
  • Funding disbursement: Following notification

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, based on available information:

  • Recipients per year: Between 13-33 bursaries awarded annually (varies by funding availability)
  • Historical awards: 154+ recipients over 8 years (2016-2024)
  • Average: Approximately 19 bursaries per year

Annual recipient numbers have varied:

  • 2024: 13 recipients
  • 2023: Data not specified
  • 2022: 19 recipients
  • 2021: 33 recipients
  • 2020: 23 recipients
  • 2019: 16 recipients
  • 2018: 18 recipients
  • 2017: 17 recipients

Reapplication Policy

  • One-time award only: Recipients cannot apply for a second MGCfutures bursary, even for a new project
  • Unsuccessful applicants: May reapply in subsequent years
  • Multiple applications discouraged: Submitting multiple applications in one round weakens the case for support

Application Success Factors

Focus on Personal Development:

According to MGCfutures guidance: “Your personal development as an artist should be the main focus of your bursary application.” The charity is not interested in funding productions or audience-facing work, but rather the growth and development of the individual artist.

Demonstrate Significant Impact:

Applications must clearly demonstrate how the proposed project “will have a significant impact on their professional development and subsequent career.” Generic or modest development plans are less competitive than proposals showing transformative potential.

Show Readiness for Next Step:

The charity encourages applicants to “demonstrate commitment to their career path and readiness to take their next developmental step.” This suggests they are looking for people at a pivotal moment who need this specific support to advance.

Budget Clarity:

A detailed, realistic budget is required. The budget should “indicate clearly how much the idea/project will cost” and justify the amount requested up to the £5,000 maximum.

Avoid Common Pitfalls:

  • Do not submit multiple applications (weakens your case)
  • Do not apply for production costs or commercial ventures
  • Do not focus on audience benefit over personal artistic growth
  • Do not apply for TV/film projects
  • Do not apply without the required 2 years professional experience

Diversity and Inclusion:

MGCfutures “recognizes the value of diversity and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds,” particularly encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. The organization has demonstrated this commitment through partnerships and specific bursaries (e.g., Nicole Kidman's bursary for women).

Recent Funded Projects (to understand what succeeds):

  • Imy Wyatt Corner (2024): Developing a new play about the woman who infiltrated The Magic Circle
  • Emergency Chorus (2024): Research and development for “Something In Your Voice” and expanding choreographic practice
  • Nur Khairiyah Bte Ramli (2023): Producer taking ownership of stories about Muslim women, including work on play “A Tale of Us”
  • Carys-Haf Williams (2023): 12-month placement as The Other Room's first in-house Technical and Production Manager

Quote from Recipient:

Nur Khairiyah Bte Ramli stated the scheme "truly centres theatre artists' personal and artistic growth“ and described the investment as ”transformative and a huge confidence boost."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is critical: Applications are only open for 4 weeks per year (typically November-December). Follow their Instagram for announcements or set up alerts to avoid missing the window.
  • Personal development over production: MGCfutures funds the artist, not the show. Frame your application around how you will grow, learn, and transform as a theatre professional rather than what you will create for audiences.
  • Be specific about career impact: Vague proposals about “gaining experience” are less competitive than applications showing exactly how this funding will create a “significant shift in practice” and advance your career trajectory.
  • Budget meticulously: With a maximum of £5,000, every pound must be justified and clearly linked to your development goals. Detailed budgets demonstrate seriousness and planning.
  • Demonstrate professional readiness: The 2-year minimum experience requirement exists because MGCfutures wants to support people ready for their next developmental leap, not beginners. Show you're at a pivotal career moment.
  • One shot only: You can only receive an MGCfutures bursary once in your lifetime. Make your application count by ensuring the timing is right and the project is genuinely transformative.
  • Leverage diversity: If you are from an underrepresented group in theatre, the organization actively welcomes and encourages your application. Don't be shy about highlighting how your perspective enriches the theatre sector.

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