Created to honour a friend, collaborator, and extraordinary designer

The Naomi Wilkinson Award for Stage Design was established by Told by an Idiot in 2019 to recognise an emerging female designer with a unique visual imagination, in memory of the late Naomi Wilkinson; a hugely talented and renowned theatre set and costume designer.

'Naomi Wilkinson changed the way we looked at design. Over a ten-year period she was a close and wonderful collaborator, designing nine utterly unique worlds, and helping us define our visual aesthetic. She provoked us, challenged us, and inspired us to think differently. She never settled, constantly questioned, and was always curious. We would love for the legacy of her work, to give an opportunity to an aspiring female visual imagination.’ PaulHunter, Artistic Director of Told by an Idiot

The recipient of the Naomi Wilkinson Award for Stage Design 2025 will be the third recipient of the award and will be given the opportunity to develop their craft in collaboration with Told by an Idiot. They will be employed to design the set and costume for our next stage production, directed by Paul Hunter, a co-production with the Unicorn Theatre, London, to open in the Weston Theatre, November 2025. The chosen designer will be mentored by a freelance theatre designer well acquainted with Told by an Idiot’s style, with support from Told by an Idiot’s Artistic Director Paul Hunter and Unicorn’s Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw.

Application deadline: Monday 6th January 2025, 12pm.

Those shortlisted from submissions will be invited to a workshop with Told by an Idiot on Monday 13th January 2025. From the workshop, finalists will be invited to an industry panel interview on either Thursday 16th or Friday 17th January 2025.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage people from a wide variety of backgrounds, experience and skills to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We particularly encourage applications from people who are Black or from the Global Majority and candidates who are disabled. All candidates who are disabled and demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited to the workshop, in line with the Equalities Act 2010.

Winner to be announced: w/c 3rd February 2025.

Prize: £5,500k to the designer to design set and costumes. £575 fee for attendance at the April 2025 Research and Development week.

PRODUCTION DATES:

R&D 2: w/c 28th April 2025 – Winning designer in the room to develop design ideas
White card meeting: late May 2025
Model box showing: mid July 2025
Rehearsals: Beginning w/c 13th October 2025
Tech and Open: Tech from Tuesday 11th November 2025, first preview Sunday 16th November 2025

How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:

Email us ([email protected]) using the subject line ‘Naomi Wilkinson Award Application’. Include:

• Two examples (digitally) of your previous set and costume designs

• Your CV including where you are based and details of 2 referees

• An answer the question ‘What interests you most about working with Told by an Idiot and the Unicorn Theatre?’
  (Either written - max 300 words, or send a video of you answering the question - max length 3 mins).

The only requirements are that you:

• identify as female

• have permission to work in the UK until Feb 2026

• have at least two years’ experience of designing professional productions (including fringe work)

• can submit digital evidence of 2 previous designs

• have an inventive approach to your practice

• have an interest in creating transformative theatrical experiences for children and young people
• are available for the workshop / interview production dates listed below
• have a base in London

Application deadline: Monday 6th January 2025, 12pm.