The S Word: Contemporary Directions

The Contemporary Directions project, part of The S Word was a unique research project that explored the changing role of the director in 21st century theatre.

Originally established as a collaboration with Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe, this  project included lectures, seminars and master-classes, all of which have been open to the public and all of which were recorded to produce a unique research resource which will be available to all who are interested in the director’s role in contemporary theatre.

Launched in June 2012 by Sir Richard Eyre, the first event comprised a panel of leading British Directors talking about their work and their approaches to theatre-making. The panel, chaired by Colin Ellwood, consisted of Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, Royal Court, Young Vic, etc.), Natalie Wilson (Theatre Centre), Kristine Landon Smith (Tamasha), Sarah Esdaile (Birmingham Rep, West Yorkshire Playhouse, etc.), Stephen Unwin (The Rose, Kingston), Michael Walling (Border Crossings), James Dacre (National Theatre, New Vic, Globe, etc.), and Simon Usher (RSC, Royal Court, National Theatre, etc.). Subsequent contributors have included Tim Carroll, Maria Shevtsova, Philip Bird, Richard Eyre, Tom Cornford, Trevor Rawlins, and Tony Palmer.

In March 2013, a complementary strand was launched called Directing Forum, curated by Colin Ellwood and Simon Usher.  This presented a sequence of encounters between small groups of theatre directors. Sessions normally lasted between sixty and ninety minutes, and involved one or two guest directors in discussion with the curators. The focus was upon experiences and processes, with a view to exploring, mapping and advancing contemporary theatre directing practice.

Directors who have taken part included Sean Holmes (Artistic Director of The Lyric Hammersmith), Adrian Jackson (founder-director of Cardboard Citizens), James Dacre (Artistic Director of Royal and Derngate Theatres, Northampton) and Ramin Gray (Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company).