Mahlia Theismann Awarded Support Grant for Emerging Directors

Luxembourg's National Culture Fund (Fonds culturel national - FOCUNA) has awarded its support scholarship for emerging directors to Mahlia Theismann.

Since 2016, FOCUNA has offered an annual support scholarship for emerging directors. The main objective is to finance a mentorship for the duration of a production either alongside a confirmed director or in a renowned cultural institution as part of a training programme.

The jury, composed of Simone Beck (theatre historian), Carole Lorang (Escher Theater) and Sally Merres (2020 scholarship holder), decided to award the 2021 scholarship to Mahlia Theismann.

After a Bachelor in Theatre and Performance studies at the University of Warwick (UK) and a Masters in Directing and Dramaturgy in Europe at the University of Lorraine (graduated in 2019), Mahlia Theismann worked as an assistant director in productions of the Compagnie Projeten, the Théâtre National du Luxembourg, Staatstheater Cottbus, the Théâtre d’Esch and the Théâtre Ouvert Luxembourg. In January 2021, Mahlia Theismann directed her first production with the show "Moulins à paroles" by Alan Bennett, produced by the Théâtre Ouvert Luxembourg and performed at the Studio du Grand Théâtre.

As part of the 2021 support scholarship for emerging directors, Mahlia Theismann will assist director Anne-Cécile Vandalem, who is particularly known for her creations "Die Anderen" (2019), "Arctique" (2018) and "Tristesses" (2016) in the elaboration of her future play "The Kingdom", produced by Das Fräulein (Kompanie), in co-production among others with the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg.

"The Kingdom" will be unveiled in July 2021, then toured internationally during the 2021, 2022 and 20223 seasons. Written and directed by Anne-Cécile Vandalem, the piece is loosely inspired by "Braguino" by Clément Cogitore.