Three students rehearsing in a studio. The central student has their hand on one students shoulder and a script in the other hand

Courses

Directing Theatre

Key Information
  • Suitable for

    Beginners, age 18+

  • Dates

    Mon 1 – Fri 5 Sep, 2025

    10.00 – 16.00

  • Tuition

    Full-time

  • Location

    Downside Road, Bristol

  • Cost

    £570

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Overview

The Directing Theatre short course is designed as an introduction to the fundamentals of directing performances for stage. Over five days, the course will cover skills in text analysis, character development, and classical as well as contemporary text work. You will also get to explore the complete process of bringing a production to life – including concept work, adaptation, devising, conducting rehearsals and technical rehearsals.

Highlights

• Gain a practical understanding of the role of a director and their relationship with actors, writers and other collaborators in the rehearsal room;

• Explore text analysis – including interpretation, world building and character development;

• Techniques to direct adaptations of classical and contemporary texts, as well as to direct devised theatre;

• Practical exercises and projects to explore the process of direction – from concept work to rehearsal rooms and tech weeks.

This is a full-time, Monday to Friday course. Sessions run from 10:00 to 16:00. This course is taught in our facilities at Downside Road.

Your tutor Liz Felton

Liz Felton is Artistic Director of The Story Cellar, working as a theatre director, workshop facilitator and storyteller across Bristol and North Somerset.

She specialises in devised theatre and has directed second year acting students at BOVTS for the last 7 years in devised and family theatre projects.

Liz also wrote and directed the BOVTS autumn season 2024 shows Little Wren & The Autumn Moon and Jack Frost & The Winter Freeze. She set up the Adult Company at Bristol Old Vic in 2013 and currently directs their community theatre group Oi Polloi. She also facilitates projects for companies such as Travelling Light and Tobacco Factory Theatres.

Students developing and growing in confidence during their time here, seeing their work reaching professional standards in approach and execution; a student who intends to be a stage manager producing a wonderful sound design; a first year student making a lovely recording of a song for their recording project; tracking the careers of former students and seeing them be successful; being able to find a job opportunity for a recent graduate. Frank Bradley, Sound Tutor