Visiting Artists NSDF09
Anthony Alderson - NSDF Board and Workshops
Director of the Pleasance Theatre. Other theatrical work has included: National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Cheek by Jowl, Ennio Marchetto, David Strassman, as well as project managing the first Kenyan National Festival.
Neil Alexander - NSDF Workshops
Sound Designer who joined the Royal Court in 1994 and the National Theatre in 1997. He is now the Deputy Head of Sound at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has worked with Sir Richard Eyre, Roger Michel, Simon McBurney, Sir Peter Hall and Nick Hytner to name a few.
Martyn Andrew - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Martyn has been part of the NSDF technical team since 1995. A vision and audio engineer, he is currently a technology coordinator in the master control room for television and radio news at BBC Television Centre.
Jessica Almasy for The TEAM - NSDF Workshops
TEAM Founder/performer. Film: Unconscious with Peter Friedman; Noise with Tim Robbins, dir. Henry Bean. Television: Law and Order: SVU Avatar. NYC Stage: Ariel in Aquila's Tempest, Clark Theatre - Lincoln Center; Mankynde in Mankynde, Soho Playhouse (2004 Fringe Festival). Recorded Books: Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator, Madison Finn, and Clementine - for which she won the 2008 Audie Award. Nominated for the 2005 Jack Tinker Spirit of the Fringe Award. BFA / NYU / Meisner Award for Artistic Achievement.
Archangel and Nick Webber - Performers
Archangel are a brilliant new band. That's not strictly true. They're not really a band, but you can keep the bit about "brilliant". Archangel is the brainchild of Nick Webber, a young man from West London with a strong will and a warped imagination. The album to look out for and the answer to your prayers is How To Lose Your Best Friend.
David Babani - NSDF Workshops
Artistic Director of the Menier Chocolate Factory, David has produced numerous highly successful productions, and won the Evening Standard Theatre award for Best Newcomer for the Chocolate Factory in 2005. He is currently producing A Little Night Music, directed by Trevor Nunn and La Cage Aux Folles directed by Terry Johnson.
Richard Beecham - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Freelance Director and Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme, Richard is currently researching theatre-making in Israel/Palestine and developing a new version of L'Atelier by Jean Claude Grumberg with acclaimed playwright Amy Rosenthal. Future productions include Rutherford and Son at Northern Stage in Newcastle Upon Tyne in autumn 2009.
Lucy Briers - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Lucy Briers trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Recent Theatre includes: Ivanov (Donmar in the West End), Some Kind of Bliss (Trafalgar Studios - What's On Stage Award Nomination for Best Solo Performer 2008), The Voysey Inheritance (National Theatre), Catch (Royal Court).
Daniel Burston for Nofit State - NSDF Workshops
Daniel Burston has been teaching circus skills for four years and specialises in juggling and manipulation. He toured with Nofit State on their Sci-Circus tour, and with ImMortal. He trained in LISPA, London and was responsible for devising and facilitating The Circus Space under 8's programme.
John Byrne for The Stage - NSDF Workshops
John is the resident entertainment industry career advisor for The Stage newspaper, as well as offering one to one advice via his website www.showbusiness-success.com. With over twenty years of experience in broadcasting, scriptwriting and artist management John has worked with a wide variety of performers ranging from beginners to established names and has lectured on performance careers at The Guildhall, Solent University, Stanmore College and numerous other venues.
Lynn Carroll for Nofit State Theatre - NSDF Workshops
Lynn Carroll has performed and taught circus skills internationally for over 20 years, specialising in aerial. She was performer and coach for three tours with Nofit State show ImMortal. She was responsible for the growth and development of the youth programme at The Circus Space, London.
Rachel Chavkin for The TEAM - NSDF Workshops
Rachel Chavkin: Founder and Artistic Director, the TEAM. With the TEAM: Architecting (National Theatre of Scotland producer, winner 2008 Fringe First), Particularly in the Heartland (2006 Fringe First), A Thousand Natural Shocks, Give Up! Start Over! (In the darkest of times I look to Richard Nixon for hope) (2005 Fringe First), and HOWL, based on the poem by Allen Ginsberg. Outside the TEAM: collaborations with Taylor Mac, Elevator Repair Service, the Civilians, SITI Company.
Matt Chisholm - NSDF Head of Sound and Workshops
Matt graduated form LIPA in 2007 with a BA (hons) in Theatre and Performance Technology, and now works as a freelance sound engineer and rigger. Recent show credits include Feeder, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Summer Pops, Aspects of Love, Breaking Out Dance Tour and the world premier of Lea Anderson's Mr Memory.
Fiona Creese - NSDF Workshops
Fiona is co-artistic Director of Slot Machine and co-creator of Slide Show. Fiona trained at London Contemporary Dance School and for the last 20 years she has created and devised theatre for numerous companies including The Kosh company, co-creating The Act, Marked Cards, Telling Tales, Dinner Dance, 3 Point Turn, Falling Angels and Twentieth Century Girls. Since 1992 she has created work with the People Show, including Show Number 99: The Ballroom Show, Number 105: Flaming Locks, Number 106: Fetch the Gramophone Out, Number 111: The Slide Show, and Number 115: The Obituary Show. She has co-created a number of site-specific shows for the People Show including The Boat Show for LIFT in 2002, The Art of Escape, the 40th Anniversary show Number 117, the Fountain Show, performed at a number of festivals in Britain during the last 4 years, and Ghost Sonata for Liverpool City of Culture in 2008. She has also worked for a number of other companies including London Bubble, ManAct and the Globe Theatre. With Nick Tigg she formed Slot Machine in 2002. Their show, The Slide Show, will be on tour again in the Spring of 2010, and their cabaret act, The Ukulele Evangelists, will be touring in the autumn of 2009.
Mark Cunningham - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Mark studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama after which he's toured as a freelance Technician and Sound Engineer. In recent years he has Sound Designed and Engineered regularly for the National Theatre of Scotland as well as touring to locations worldwide including New Zealand and Azerbaijan!
Maxine Doyle for Punchdrunk (Associate Director) - NSDF Workshops
Maxine trained at Roehampton (BA Hons) and Laban Centre, London (MA), and was artistic director of dance theatre company First Person (1996 - 2002). Touring work for the company included Plastic Chill (1999/2000) and It's Only a Gameshow (2002). Other works include Rough and Tumble for StopGap Dance Company (2003) and Who Dunnit? for High Spin Dance Company (2004). Maxine was a semi-finalist with Felix Barrett for The Place Prize 2006 and created the site-responsive piece, Picnic, for Dancing City (2007). Maxine began her association with Punchdrunk in 2003 and has co-directed, with Artistic Director Felix Barrett, Sleep No More (2003), Woyceck (2004), The Firebird Ball, Marat/Sade and The Yellow Wallpaper (2005), Faust (2006) and The Masque of the Red Death (2007). Maxine's recent choreography for theatre includes Timon of Athens for Shakespeare's Globe (2008).
Viviana Durante - NSDF Workshops
Viviana trained at the Royal Ballet School and became principal ballerina with the Royal Ballet at the age of 21. She has danced all the major classical roles at Covent Garden and as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre, La Scala, Toyko Ballet and other international companies. Among her awards, she was nominated for an Olivier and won the Evening Standard and Time Out Awards.
Matthew Dunster for the Young Vic - NSDF Workshops
Matthew won the Best Acting Award at the NSDF in 1988. He then trained at Bretton Hall. He has worked extensively as an director, actor, playwright and teacher, and is an Associate Director of The Young Vic.
David Eldridge for Methuen Drama - NSDF Workshops
Theatre credits include: John Gabriel Borkman, The Wild Duck, Summer Begins (Donmar Warehouse); Market Boy (Olivier Theatre, National); Festen (Almeida); Incomplete and Random Acts of Kindness, Under the Blue Sky (Royal Court); MAD, Serving it Up (Bush); Falling (Hampstead); A Week With Tony, Fighting for Breath (Finborough); Thanks Mum (Red Room); Dirty (Theatre Royal Stratford East); Cabbage for, Tea, Tea, Tea! (Platform 4 Exeter). Television credits include: Killers, Our Hidden Lives (BBC). Short Film credits include: The Nugget Run (Zig Zag Productions). Radio credits include: Michael and Me: Stratford, Ilford, Romford and all Stations to Shenfield; Festen; The Picture Man (BBC). Publications include: Serving It Up & A Week with Tony, Under the Blue Sky, Festen, Incomplete and Random Acts of Kindness, David Eldridge Plays One, The Wild Duck, John Gabriel Borkman (Methuen Drama). Under the Blue Sky won the Time Out Live Award 2001 for Best New Play in the West End and Festen the 2005 Theatregoers Choice Award for Best New Play. The Picture Man won the Prix Europa Best European Radio Drama 2008.
Jackie Elliman for the Independent Theatre Council - NSDF Workshops
Jackie is ITC's Legal & Industrial Relations Manager. Jackie comes from a theatre management background and has worked for a range of performing arts organisations, from street arts to the West End. She has also worked for TMA/SOLT and for Equity and for 8 years ran her own business providing arts administration, marketing and events organisations services. Jackie has a Drama Degree from Manchester University and studied Law at the College of Law. She is also a qualified mediator and arbitrator.
Femi Elufowoju Jr - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Artistic Director & Founder of Tiata Fahodzi. Currently Associate Director, New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich. Femi has directed for 14 years, with seasons at Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Salisbury Playhouse, the Royal Court, and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Recently he directed the World Premier of Joe Guy by Roy Williams (Tiata Fahodzi/Soho Theatre) and returns to the West End next year with Iya-Ile, Oladipo Agboluaje's follow-up production to his 2006 sensational play The Estate.
Mary FitzGerald - NSDF Workshops
Mary was born in bred in North Yorkshire and was part of Alan Ayckbourn's youth theatre at the SJT before studying directing at Rose Bruford College of Music and Drama just outside London. She worked briefly in film casting before starting her agenting career with ICM (now Independent), where she worked with many NSDF alumni . Attracted by its reputation for both new and established artists Mary moved to Curtis Brown in 2007, and now represents clients in film, television and theatre alongside former ICM colleague Lucy Johnson.
Peter Glanville for Little Angel Theatre - NSDF Workshops
Since 2006 Peter has been Artistic Director of the Little Angel Theatre directing acclaimed productions of The Snow Queen and Jellybean Jack and working on projects with the RSC, NT, Derby Playhouse and the Barbican. Peter also founded Kazzum in 1989 and was Artistic Director until 2005 directing over 40 productions.
Aindrilla Ghosh - NSDF Workshops
Aindrilla Ghosh has trained in various dance styles. Her dance training started at a very young age in Kolkata, India. She learnt from some of the best known names including Guru Thankamani Kutty of Kalamandalam. Since moving to the UK in 2000 Aindrilla has performed with many companies traveling extensively in the UK and Europe.
Peter Higgin for Punchdrunk (Enrichment Manager) - NSDF Workshops
Pete trained at the University of Exeter and has worked with Punchdrunk since its inception in 2000. He has also worked with a variety of other companies including, Eudemonic, Gideon Reeling, Britishtouringshakespeare, Word in Action and Shakepeare4kidz. For two years, Pete was a secondary school drama teacher on the Isle of Wight. For Punchdrunk: The Moonslave (2000), The Tempest (2001), Chair (2002), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2002), The Tempest (2003) Woyzeck (2004), Marat/Sade (2005), Faust (2006) and The Masque of the Red Death (2007). Pete now leads Punchdrunk's Enrichment Programme, a new initiative with a mission to integrate the company's groundbreaking participatory and collaborative ethos and practice across all of its activities.
Lucy Hind - NSDF Workshops
Lucy trained with First Physical Theatre Company, South Africa and works as a Performer and Movement Director. Movement Direction Credits include; Bus, Year of the Rat, Company Along the Mile (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Be My Baby (New Vic Theatre). Lucy is a member of Slung Low and made: Time at Moghul Gardens, 1139 Miles, Small Worlds and Helium (Barbican BITE 2008). As a performer, Lucy has toured nationally with Red Ladder. Film credits include Brideshead Revisited. Lucy choreographs for the ITV Junior Workshop and lectures at the University of Huddersfield.
Thelma Holt - NSDF Workshops
International Producer, Thelma founded the Open Space Theatre before moving on the Roundhouse and then the National Theatre as Head of Touring. Thelma Holt Ltd has been producing exceptional work internationally, throughout the UK and in the West End since 1990. www.thelmaholt.co.uk
Richard Hurst - NSDF Workshops
Trained: WCMD; RNT Studio. NSDF: Harold Hobson Award; Buzz Goodbody Award. Currently writing Secret Diary Of A Call Girl (ITV2) and co-writing Miranda Hart's Joke Shop (BBC2). Co-wrote and directed: Bill Hicks: Slight Return, Potted Pirates, The Edinburgh Love Tour. Directed: Potted Potter, Moon The Loon. Adapted: Ripley Bogle, Hard Times.
Stephen Jeffreys - NSDF Board and Workshops
Stephen has appeared as actor, playwright, director, Selector, Noises Off Editor (twelve years) and Festival Judge. His play The Libertine, was presented by Out of Joint at the Royal Court and was subsequently produced by Steppenwolf in Chicago starring John Malkovich. Other plays include A Going Concern, Valued Friends (Hampstead), A Jovial Crew (RSC), and The Clink (Paines Plough). Won the Best New Play Award at NSDF77 and a Scotsman Fringe First with NSTC78 for MOBILE 4. His most recent play The Art Of War was premiered last year by Sidney Theatre Company.
Mark Jenkins - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Mark works as Theatre Manager for Cranleigh School in Surrey, teaching tech theatre and lighting design. Previously he was resident technician at the Almeida Theatre, Stage Showman for The Producers at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and a regular casual across London. He continues to work as a freelance technician.
Humphrey Ker for The Penny Dreadfuls - NSDF Workshops and Performer
Humphrey is a writer, actor working in London. He has appeared on BBC2 and BBC3 and in numerous short films. With the Dreadfuls he has written and performed in their three critically-acclaimed sold-out shows at the Edinburgh festivals 2006-8, as well as two series of their radio show Brothers Faversham for BBC Radio 4.
Kwame Kwei Armah for Methuen Drama - NSDF Workshops
British actor, playwright and broadcaster. Kwame first achieved recognition as an actor in Casualty, before going on to be nominated for an Olivier for his fifth play Elmina's Kitchen and a BAFTA for the TV version. Statement of Regret premiered at the National Theatre in 2007. Most recently BBC 4 screened Kwame's wartime drama, Walter's War.
Lu Kemp - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Lu Kemp is a theatre and radio director, with a particular interest in the relationship between sound and performance. She is currently creating a new play A Thousand Paper Cranes with the Scottish International Children's Festival. Her latest radio project Deja vu, is a bilingual co-production between Arte France and BBC London recorded on location across Paris and London.
LAMDA - The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is one of the leading drama schools in the English-speaking world, with a long-established and international reputation for excellence.
Alan Lane - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Artistic Director of Slung Low Theatre Company ("Theatre Innovators" The Guardian). Recent projects include: Small Worlds for Fuse Theatre/Capital of Culture Company and the theatre installation Helium at the Barbican, winner of the Oxford Samuel Becket Award.
Shyla Lakshminarayan - NSDF Workshops
Shyla combines her passion of performance and research in the performing arts. She trained at the most prestigious dance institute in India, Kalakshetra. Acknowledged for her clean lines and rhythmic expertise. A qualified psychology graduate and recently acquired Mcs in dance science for Laban. Shyla is an important member of Beeja as a dancer researcher.
Dave Larking - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Since 2000 David has worked in many capacities with a variety of student theatre groups within Edinburgh and this will be his 5th year at NSDF. He now works designing and building scenary and staging for theatre, TV, and corporate events as well as maintaining a 95 year old cinema.
Dom Leclerc - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Director and Choreographer who has worked for the National Theatre, RSC, Donmar Warehouse, Lyric Hammersmith, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sheffield Theatres, Young Vic, Old Vic, BAC, Riverside Studios and Frantic Assembly. He also directs Holby City, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Emmerdale for TV.
Little Angel Puppet Theatre - The Little Angel is the home of British puppetry and for over 45 years they have been providing high quality puppet theatre aimed at family audiences, and are continuing to extend their work for young children and adults. Not only do they produce their own shows which play in-house and tour nationally and internationally, but also welcome puppetry companies from around the UK and overseas to perform on our stage. Wonderful work that celebrates the possibilities of theatre
(The Guardian).
Gareth Machin for the National Theatre Studio - NSDF Workshops
Gareth is currently Studio Associate at the National Theatre. Previously, he was Artistic Director of Southwark Playhouse and Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic. Later this year, Gareth will direct Three More Sleepless Nights by Caryl Churchill at the National Theatre.
Michael Maloney - NSDF Workshops
Michael is an actor whose theatrical work includes numerous productions at: the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Royal Court, Royal Exchange, Greenwhich Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Donamr Warehouse. His many celebrated films include: Notes on a Scandal, Hamlet, In the Bleak Midwinter, Truly Madly Deeply and The Young Victoria.
Julian McCready - NSDF Workshops
Julian's most recent lighting designs include, I Have Been Here Before at The Palace Watford, Risk Everything, Hot Property, Canaries Sometimes Sing at the Old Red Lion, Hyperlynx at the Edinburgh Festival which won a fringe first, Wild Raspberries at the Glasgow Citizens, The Baltimore Waltz at The Gate House, Ken Campbell's History Of Comedy, Part One Ventriloquism!, The Menu at The National Theatre, The Laramie Project, Joe Orton Triple Bill both at Sound Theatre. As well as designing his own shows Julian has relit many productions in both in this country and abroad in venues ranging from village halls to large international opera houses, the most recent being Katie Mitchell's production of Waves, Mike Leigh's 2000 Years and Anthony Sher's adaptation of Primo Levi's book If This Is A Man.
Methuen Drama - 2009 is Methuen Drama's 50th anniversary. The Methuen Drama list was started in 1959 with the publication of Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey, and has since then published some of the seminal plays of the last 50 years, including Joe Orton's Loot, Edward Bond's Saved, Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, Mark Ravenhill's Shopping and Fucking, and Sarah Kane's Blasted. Methuen Drama is committed to supporting new writing and is sponsoring the NSDF's Emerging Artists' Competition, as well as bringing Kwame Kwei Armah, Joe Penhall and Simon Stephens to NSDF09.
Paul Miller for the National Theatre Studio - NSDF Workshops
Paul Miller's recent work as a director includes Baby Girl/DNA/The Miracle, The Enchantment, and Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (NT), Elling (Trafalgar Studios) and Total Eclipse (Menier). He has worked extensively at the NT Studio and directed new plays for the Bush, Hampstead, ETT, Soho Theatre, the Sheffield Crucible and the Royal Court.
David Newman - NSDF Selector and Workshops
David was Arts Council Trainee Director at Nottingham Playhouse and resident director at the National Theatre Studio and Sheffield Theatres working alongside Michael Grandage. Directing includes Tracy Beaker Gets Real (Nottingham Playhouse and UK Tour), Girl in the Goldfishbowl and The Jazz Conductor (Sheffield Theatres), The Rake's Progress (WNO) and Casina (National Theatre Platform).
Sarah Nicholson for the National Theatre Studio - NSDF Workshops
Sarah is Studio Manager at the National Theatre. Her involvement with the NSDF began in 1994. During her final year at University, where she studied Theatre and Music, she became the Local Organiser and, subsequently, she worked on the book Raw Talent: 50 Years of the National Student Drama Festival. Previously at the National, she has worked in Education, Contracts and as the Administrator for the Transformation Season. For five years, she was Literary Manager and Production Administrator at the Donmar Warehouse.
Gordon Nimmo-Smith - Venue Designer and Workshops
This is Gordon's eighth year on the NSDF technical team, and third year as venue designer. Gordon graduated from the University of Leeds in 2007, where he was heavily involved in the Backstage Society and worked as an Events Technician for Leeds University Union. Gordon regularly freelances as an event technician and sound engineer, including at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
National Theatre Studio - NTS will be bring three leading directors to NSDF09. Since its foundation in 1984, the National Theatre Studio has played a vital role in developing work for the theatre's stages. It is also a resource for a wide range of artists working throughout British theatre, providing an environment in which writers, actors and practitioners of all kinds can explore, experiment and devise new work free from the pressure of public performance.
No Fit State - During the last 5 years nofitstate has established itself as the UK's leading contemporary circus company. The future of British circus........ Cirque du Soleil without the Disney and the disinfectant.... (**** The Guardian). Rooted in a specifically Welsh tradition of community arts in which the creative voice is an expression of and grows from collective identity, nofitstate has developed a unique performance form.
Penny Dreadfuls - The Penny Dreadfuls are the biggest-selling and most critically-acclaimed sketch troupe to emerge in recent years. The trio met performing with The Improverts at Edinburgh University. Three years on, they have three sell-out Edinburgh Festival shows under their belt, broadcast two radio series on BBC7 and are currently developing for television. They've appeared regularly on Radio 4, BBC2, BBC3, the Shepherd's Bush Empire and the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. www.pennydreadfuls.co.uk
Simply brilliant. Not for nothing have they been compared to some of the greatest legends of comedy (***** - Edinburgh Evening News)
Penny Dreadfuls present Aeneas Faversham Forever in Spa Theatre on Sat 28th March - Aeneas Faversham Forever was one of the best received shows and at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008, selling every single ticket and notching up nine five-star reviews. Bridging the gap between traditional sketch and full narrative, the show was a hit with audiences and reviewers alike.
Presenting a riproaring rollercoaster of murder and the occult unfolds across the murky underworld of Victorian London, revealing a terrifying secret that could threaten the Empire. One of this year's most scrumptious and comically edifying Fringe treats. A trio who will one day join the pedestal of Pythonic, Blackaddery excellence ***** The List
James Phillips - NSDF Selector and Workshops
James is a playwright and director. He is currently developing a six part drama for Talkback Thames and is writing two commissions for theatre, alongside a film. His first play, The Rubenstein Kiss, won the John Whiting Award and the TMA Award for Best Play.
Punchdrunk - Punchdrunk is the UK's leading immersive theatre company. Recent major productions include Faust and The Masque Of The Red Death. ‘There's nothing else in British theatre quite like a Punchdrunk show' - The Times.
www.punchdrunk.org.uk
Mark Ravenhill - NSDF Board and Workshops
A playwright whose work includes Shopping and Fucking (Out of Joint/Royal Court), Some Explicit polaroids (out of Joint), Mother Clap's Molly House (National Theatre), The Cut (Donmar) Citizenship (National Theatre) pool (no water) (Frantic Assembly) SHOOT/GET TREASURE/REPEAT (Paines Plough).
Ian Reddington - NSDF Workshops
Ian boasts a wealth of experience as a performer. He trained at R.A.D.A. and has worked from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Fringe, from Hollywood film to London's West End via English repertory and European avant - guard. Known to millions on TV through his characters of Tricky Dicky in Eastenders and Vernon Tomlin in Coronation Street.
David Reed for The Penny Dreadfuls - NSDF Workshops and Performer
Since 2001, David has written and starred in two series of the hit Radio 4 show The Brothers Faversham, played Peter Cook in BBC4 drama Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me alongside David Walliams and has played the drums for John Hegley and Jarvis Cocker.
Richard Roe - NSDF Workshops
Richard has been working in the West End for 13 years. He has been fortunate to appear in numerous original shows, ranging from We Will Rock You to The Lord Of The Rings, and has worked along side many choreographers such as Arlene Phillips, Peter Darling, Steven Mear and Liam Steel.
Mark Rosenblatt - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Mark is Artistic Director of Dumbfounded Theatre, which specialiesd in reviving European classics and commissioning bold new work. As a director he has worked extensively for Oxford Stage Company (now Headlong), touring extensively round Britain, whilst in London his work has been seen at the National Theatre, the Young Vic, the Tricycle, the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, BAC and for English National Opera. In 1999 he won the prestigious JMK Young Director's Award for The Dybbuk. He has also directed drama for BBC Radio 3 and is currently writing his second feature film for Brilliant Films.
Laurie Sansom - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Laurie has been the Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate, Northampton since 2006, where his productions have included Sondheim's Follies, Frankenstein with Frantic Assembly and J.B. Priestley's The Glass Cage. Previously he directed over 20 new plays as Alan Ayckbourn's Associate Director at the SJT. Other work includes shows for Lyric, Hammersmith, Birmingham Rep and Dangerous Corner at West Yorkshire Playhouse and West End. He brought shows to NSDF as a student in 1992-4.
Rachel Scott for TiPP - NSDF Workshops
Rachel is a project worker for TiPP. She facilitates, directs and writes drama with offenders, ex offenders and those at risk of offending in secure and community settings. She designed and led West Manchester Summer Arts College in 2008 where eight young people on high level community sentences achieved a bronze level arts award. Rachel's recent work in prison includes a radio play, stand up comedy, a film about knife crime and the creation of a cartoon strip.
Spotlight - Spotlight is the UK's leading directory of professional performers: featuring photographs and details for over 30,000 actors, actresses, dancers, presenters, child artists and stunt artists.
Ben Stephen - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Ben is currently working full time for Stage Electrics, specialising in theatre and rock & roll lighting and rigging. Recent design credits include a sell-out Hamlet at the Minack Theatre, Accidental Death of an Anarchist at the Ustinov Studio and Status Quo's latest pop video.
Simon Stephens for Methuen Drama - NSDF Workshops
Simon Stephens' plays include Motortown and Pornography, which was produced at the Traverse Theatre 2008. On the Shore of the Wide World was Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2005. He is the National Theatre's Writer in Residence, and his play Harper Regan premiered there in 2008.
Melly Still for the National Theatre Studio - NSDF Workshops
Melly studied Theatre, Dance and Art at St John's College, York. Her work in theatre as a director and designer includes The Revenger's Tragedy at the National; Coram Boy at the National and on Broadway (Tony Award nominations for direction and design); Cinderella and Watership Down at Lyric Hammersmith; and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Beasts and Beauties both at Bristol Old Vic. For the RSC, she was designer and co-director for Tales from Ovid and Midnights Children. Other work for the National Theatre: Epic of Gilgamesh and Whale (Movement), and Haroun and the Sea of Stories (as designer and co-deviser).
Pete Stormont - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
2009 marks Pete's eleventh year at NSDF since he lit Slice of Saturday Night (NSDF99). He has worked as a Senior Technician at LIPA for the past 8 years, as well as working as a Lighting Designer, programmer and operator for clients including Yamaha and Liverpool City Council.
Stephanie Street - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Educated at Cambridge and LAMDA. She has performed in theatres across the UK, and her TV work includes lead and regular parts in Red Cap, Holby City, Eastenders, 20 Things to do Before you're 30, NY-LON and Apparitions. Her first, Sisters, is going on at Sheffield Crucible and Arcola theatres in 2010.
Anusha Subramanyam - NSDF Workshops
Anusha is an established dancer, teacher, choreographer and music therapist who has performed and taught internationally. Anusha hasrecently been appointed as a subject leader and tutor on the bharatanatyam strand of the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) for South Asian Dance in Birmingham.
Idil Sukan for the Penny Dreadfuls - NSDF Workshops
As a producer, Idil manages the live arm of the Penny Dreadfuls, and the biggest sketch comedy showcase in the UK, Sketchatron. She is a long-standing associate producer for two multi-award winning touring theatre companies: Kandinsky (Radio, The Bird & The Bee) and Tantrums (Eight). Idil also designs for all her own productions and is the co-founder of the print & design company, edfringedesign.com launched in 2008, specialising in marketing for the Edinburgh Festival. Within their first month, they were involved in over 50 shows in the Festival, receiving praise from companies, venues and audiences alike, and are continuing to grow from strength to strength.
Isy Suttie - Host and Performer of NSDF Comedy Night
Isy's kooky songs, stand-up and characters enchant audiences all around. A regular on TV and radio, she played Dobby in Channel 4's Peep Show and has appeared in numerous BBC radio shows including Danny Robins Music Therapy and Out to Lunch. Two sell-out Edinburgh runs. "Quirkily endearing" - The Scotsman
The TEAM - The TEAM is the Theatre of the Emerging American Moment. A New York city based company dedicated to celebrating the experience of living in American today. Their work combines aggressive athleticism with delicate examinations of the social and political factors shaping our world today. Three time winners of the Edinburgh Fringe First (2005, 2006 & 2008) the TEAM's work has been seen all over their home town, country, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Delyth Thomas - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Delyth Thomas is a Bafta-nominated television director whose credits include: Hollyoaks, The Bill, Tracy Beaker, Richard Herring's film You Can Choose Your Friends... and the award-winning comedy series The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury. She has also directed a short opera for the stage, and recently made an appearance on Blue Peter.
Matt Thompson - NSDF Head of Lighting and Workshops
Matt has been part of the NSDF technical team since 2002 and was awarded the 2006 Stage Electrics Contribution to Lighting Award. Trained at QMU, he is a lighting & sound designer and technician currently working primarily with Hull Truck. Recent designs include Revenge, York Theatre Royal, Kes, Stags & Hens, On A Shout, A Christmas Fairytale, Hull Truck.
Thom Tuck for The Penny Dreadfuls - NSDF Workshops
Thom is a writer, actor and director. He has attended NSDF twice before (Like Skinnydipping & Scaramouche Jones). He has appeared at eight Edinburgh festivals, winning two ThreeWeeks Editors' Awards and a Herald Angel. He is currently developing work with the other Dreadfuls for the stage, the radio and television
Chris Thorpe - NSDF Selector and Workshops
Chris is a writer and performer, and was a founder member of Unlimited Theatre. Chris has written radio drama for the BBC, performs internationally with Third Angel and Unlimited, and is working on his first feature script for Ruby films.
Nick Tigg - NSDF Workshops
Nick is a writer, director, performer and musician. He has worked with the People Show since 1992. Shows created for the company include Number 99: the Ballroom Show, Number 105, Number 108, Number 111: the Slide Show, Number 112: a site specific event created for the LIFT festival 2002, Number 114: Baby Jane which he co-created and which won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival 2003, and Number 115: Play Dead. He has performed in theatres in Britain, Europe and America, including the RSC, the Young Vic and the National Theatre, and has written music for numerous theatre pieces including all 19 hours of music for Ken Campbell's The Warp. With Fiona Creese he created the company Slot Machine and the cabaret act the Ukulele Evangelists. On tour this autumn 2009 with An Evening with the Ukulele Evangelists and in spring 2010 with The Slide Show.
Allan Titmuss - Freelance arts photographer best known for his Guardian pictures of jazz musicians, now in the permanent collections of Nikon's European Headquarters in Amsterdam, New York's Lincoln Center, and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. The only photographer ever to have worked on-stage with Miles Davis. Photographing the Festival for the Sunday Times.
David Toole - NSDF Workshops
Dave Toole started a career in the arts after attending a workshop with CandoCo Dance Company in 1992. After touring with them for six years he left to pursue other opportunities and has since worked with many companies including DV8 (The Cost of Living) and Graeae Theatre Company (Blasted) and most recently with the RSC (I'll be the Devil). His film work includes Sally Potters The Tango Lesson, Outside In for CandoCo and also Amazing Grace. He has also played numerous small roles in a number of TV and film productions the most recent being that of a mad man announcing the death of Ceaser in the second series of Rome for HBO. David has just recently made his onstage singing debut in the Red Ladder production of Where's Vietnam.
Gabby Vautier - NSDF Workshops
Gabby is a producer for the Young Vic and runs the Genesis Directors Programme for young and emerging directors. Previous to this Gabby ran the community participation programme at the Young Vic and has also worked for Thames TV and Channel 5. Outside of work Gabby directs and produces on the London fringe.
Glen Walford - NSDF Workshops
Glen is an International Theatre director specialising in Shakespeare and musical theatre. During a long career she has been Artistic Director of London Bubble (Founder), Chung-Ying Theatre, Hong Kong (Founder), Liverpool Everyman (during seven years here Glen commissioned and directed the original Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell), Ludlow Festival Shakespeare. She has directed in countries world-wide in ten languages including Prometheus in Greek at Epidaurus amphitheatre. In January 2009 she opened Titanic - the Musical at the International Theatre Forum in Tokyo and will direct Blood Brothers at Theatre Creation, Tokyo in July. She has been an NSDF judge six times and is a trustee. www.glenwalford.com.
Nic Watson - NSDF Technical Director and Workshops
Nic has been working freelance in design, management and crew roles on a broad range of theatrical productions for the last 10 years. He has a particular interest in theatrical comedy, new writing and training/mentoring technical students and has averaged about 5 shows per year over the last eight Edinburgh Festivals.
Mike Williams - NSDF Technical Advisor and Workshops
Mike is a freelance Lighting and Rigging Engineer, I work on a number of different projects from live outside broadcasts to small intimate theatre and arena touring. I deal mostly with the technical side of larger events and the problems and logistics unique to each event, trying to make them fun.
Young Vic - Great shows for great audiences - now and in the future We present the widest variety of classics, new plays, forgotten works and music theatre. We tour and co-produce extensively within the UK and internationally. Our shows are created by some of the world's great theatre people alongside the most adventurous of the younger generation. This fusion makes the Young Vic one of the most exciting theatres in the world. Our audience is famously the youngest and most diverse in London. We encourage those who don't think theatre is for them to make it part of their lives. We give 10% of our tickets to schools and neighbours irrespective of box office demand, and keep prices low.
Rob Young - NSDF Workshops
Rob is a Director of the Conference of Drama Schools and Course Director for Stage Management & Technical Theatre at LAMDA. Prior to this he specialised in touring, as a Production Manager and Company Stage Manager, and has taken productions all over the world.
