Directing

I have always been an actor or director when performing, so I never truly understood the importance of stage management, lighting and tech team as well as thinking about sets, props and costumes. Thinking about film from this perspective, changed my strategy of work and the intricacy behind decision-making, the entertainment and the logistical parts of it. This contrasts sharply with my role in the Theatre Society, where I work closely with actors who have the creative freedom to bring their characters to life and adapt to their strengths. Being a creative director has been fulfilling especially when your vision comes to life. That said, my work with The Last Call gave me an insight into the early stages of production, which allowed me to see how ideas and concepts take shape before the actors and the creative team’s involvement. It showed me the importance of detailed preparation which has helped me organise my director notes for my cast in Theatre Society.

Craig Collie - The Business Of TV Production

‘The producer is the cement that holds the production together through its long and often complex pathway. The producer brings an accumulation of experience insight and instinct that is central, indeed crucial to the production process. Without a competent producer, a production will always struggle to stay afloat’ (80).

During my work with the Theatre Society, I have been cohesively collaborating with the theatre producer, Thomas Hughes. Their role involves managing all aspects of a theatrical production and I felt they supported and guided me. The frequent communication and meetings after every rehearsal allowed me to focus on the creative aspects while still feeling supported with behind-the-scenes roles.

Directing All My Sons was a joyous experience which fostered genuine collaboration and gave us the space to be authentic and spontaneous without pre-decided ideas. Having regular rehearsals and meetings with my cast created stronger connections, therefore making it easier to work effectively as a whole group. For me, in-person interaction influenced my engagement and strengthened my direction capabilities as it gave me a chance to be fully present in the space and with the actors, as well as letting them breathe and use their own artistic license.

As a director the most important thing for me since the start was making sure everyone felt included and valued. I had never had complete control over a show before; therefore, I organised an icebreaker for our first session to get to know everyone. I’m aware this can be an awkward situation for people, but my goal was to make everyone feel silly and create a welcoming environment. I thought this would make it easier for my actors to ease into this idea of performance and performance energy. I want to emphasise the value of community in creative projects, as this enhances teamwork and enjoyment with both parties.

My role in Theatre Society has also involved contacting and coordinating with all the different teams including the lighting, tech, set, props and costumes through an organised structure and frequent communication. Their contributions are highly valuable in shaping our final production in April 2025. For All My Sons, we have been using a schedule since the start, this included weekly rehearsals (17:00-19:00) and shared these plans with the actors and all of the teams, making it an organised and efficient process. Being a director has taught me how important frequent communication is as well as managing multiple aspects of a production. I am truly grateful for all my teams in the Theatre Society and would be truthfully lost if I had to think about all behind-the-scenes aspects as well as direct my actors.

My experience with the Theatre Society have helped me gain a deeper appreciation of what it means to be in control as a director. Each experience has shaped my approach to collaboration and creative decision-making in distinct ways. Being a director allowed me to work closely with my cast, creating a positive environment and highlighting how a project is never possible without the important foundations for a project, the pre-production and the behind-the-scenes. This experience has strengthened my ability to adapt to different creative environments and balance multiple responsibilities. Moving forward, I will take these lessons into my future work, striving to create collaborative projects.

In the future, I hope to:

Develop my skills as a director and storyteller.
Expand my knowledge of television and film production.
Improve my collaboration and leadership skills – working with different teams, ensuring effective communication and organisation.
Gain practical experience in script development.
Build confidence in directing actors on screen and translate stage direction into on-camera performances.

Details: Written by: Kimberley Gomersall; Category: Directing

The Rehearsal Process

My rules:

The director takes charge – making it an organised environment.
Actors shouldn’t ‘play hard to get’ and be reliable to the director.
Be prepared for rehearsal!

Build your house first, then you can live in it!

Write down the important moments in every scene – this helps with your character’s intention
What happens in the scene that is crucial to the whole play? – make sure it shows clearly.
What do the characters know after that scene – has it changed them as a character?
Say and perform something else to what the script tells you to say – the writer has just given you the lines
Lines show how people behave – bring these words to life (what is the character covering up?)