Theatre design students Isabelle Wilkes and Nathan Gibson will soon be heading down to Swansea to work on one of the most expensive television series ever filmed in the UK.
They’ve both been awarded major scholarships from the production company that creates the award-winning, globally successful television series Da Vinci’s Demons. They’ll also receive internships on season three of the series.
The Da Vinci scholarships were announced in front of an audience of key cultural and business guests, including Welsh Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, and Head of Adjacent Productions and Executive Producer on Da Vinci’s Demons, Jane Tranter, at the screening of the series two finale.
First year Issy Wilkes said: ‘The award was based on our course work and feedback from our lecturers, and came totally out of the blue – I was in shock when I heard! I was told I’d get a scholarship but then they told me I’d also get to work on the television programme itself, so I’m going to spend my summer working on one of the biggest television productions in this country. It’s an excellent way to meet new industry people and get a broader perspective on what I want to do at this early stage of my career. “
Nate Gibson, a postgraduate who is currently designing the set and costume for a production inspired by the boardgame ‘Cluedo’ with National Dance Company Wales adds: “It’s a great ‘in’ to the television industry, a chance to make great connections and meet people within the field. Television design is very different in some ways to theatre design. Although it comes from the same essential place, television is on a different scale, with a different focus – and of course Da Vinci comes with a totally different budget! “
Da Vinci’s Demons is created by Man of Steel screenwriter David S. Goyer and produced by Adjacent Productions and Starz Entertainment. It’s broadcast in 125 countries in 45 languages and has already received two Emmy Awards and two BAFTA nominations.
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