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

    Monday 1 – Friday 5 September, 2025

  • Tuition

    Full-time

  • Location

    Downside Road, Bristol

  • Cost

    £570

Apply

Overview

Applications for summer 2025 will open in the autumn. 

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.

The culture at BOVTS is encouraging, respectful, welcoming and empowering; the environment and buildings are beautiful and I found Bristol to be one of the most wonderful cities in which to spend summer! Lindy Yeates, Foundation Course Student