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2nd June 2026
MA Directing Student Bradley Lomond discusses Blackthorn and how is training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has shaped the process,
How has training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School helped with your preparation for this production?
Training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has really sharpened both my artistic and practical approach to making theatre. The course has pushed me to interrogate text deeply, develop my knowledge dramaturgically, and think carefully about the relationship between audience and performance. It’s also given me the confidence to lead a team collaboratively and trust my instincts as a director. With Blackthorn, that training has been invaluable in balancing the emotional realism of the piece with the more abstract and physical elements of the production.
What key research have you undertaken to help with this production?
A huge part of the research process has centred around Northern working-class communities, urbanisation, and the lasting impact of economic decline on younger generations. We have also had some lovely calls with the writer, Charley Miles, and went to Kilburn, where the play is set, to get a true grasp of where the play is set, have a true understanding of belonging and what it truly means to be from Yorkshire. We’ve also interrogated physical theatre and movement-based storytelling to help create the production’s more abstract sequences.
What’s been the biggest challenge with this production?
The biggest challenge has been finding the balance between intimacy and scale. Blackthorn deals with very personal emotions and relationships, but we also want the production to feel theatrical, visceral, and visually dynamic. Navigating that balance while working within the practical realities of theatre-making has definitely been demanding, but ultimately very rewarding.
What have you most enjoyed about the rehearsal process so far?
The collaboration. The cast has brought such honesty, intelligence, and generosity into the room, and it’s been exciting watching the piece evolve through discussion and experimentation. Some of the most rewarding moments have come from discovering new layers in scenes and living each moment as we are taken through the characters’ lives from the ages of six to their late twenties. There’s a real shared investment in telling this story with a real sense of honesty.
What can audiences expect from Blackthorn?
Audiences can expect a production that is emotionally raw, visually striking, and deeply rooted in its Yorkshire roots. Blackthorn explores identity, community, and the pressures facing young people today, but it also has warmth, humour, and humanity running through it. It’s a piece that aims to feel both intimate and urgent, and something that lingers with audiences long after they leave the theatre.