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Hi! My name's Deborah, I'm a theatre director, dramaturg and producer based in Hampshire, and one-third of The Lady Gardeners, a trailblazing trio of female artists with over eighty years' combined experience in theatre and the creative industries. But my journey to here has been anything but conventional....
My journey
Before working in theatre, I trained as a nurse, graduated with a business degree and spent many years working in the charity sector — three very different paths that, looking back, shaped me far more than I realised at the time.
My theatre career began just over twenty-two years ago when I joined the Nuffield Theatre as Development Officer during Patrick Sandford's tenure as Artistic Director. It was here that my love of theatre truly deepened, and by the time I left in 2013 I had worked my way up to Head of Fundraising and Development. Leaving to take up a place on the short directing course at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama was a huge leap of faith but I have never looked back.
My first professional directing opportunities came the following year, when I assisted on a touring project with Forest Forge Theatre Company and co-directed Muswell Hill by Torben Betts, which transferred from the White Bear in Kennington to London's Park Theatre for a four-week run — receiving rave reviews along the way. I've now been directing professionally for twelve years.
One of my proudest achievements during those early years was co-founding 10x10 in 2008 — one of the UK's earliest national playwriting festivals. I produced the festival for ten years, supporting emerging writers and championing new voices for the stage.
My work
My work has taken me across the country, and I'm proud that it has regularly received 4 and 5-star national reviews, with productions featured in The Guardian and The Stage's Top Ticket Picks. Highlights include My Children! My Africa! by Athol Fugard, African Gothic by Reza de Wet and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
I'm currently producing The Lady Gardener's UK Tour of our award-winning show In the Lady Garden and am thrilled to have just completed writing my first full-length play — now moving into the next stage of its development.
You can see my full directing credits here.
Training
I'm a firm believer in never stop learning. Over the years I've been fortunate to train through workshops and masterclasses with some of the most exciting directors working in British theatre today, including Katie Mitchell, Rebecca Frecknall, Lynsey Turner, Sally Cookson, Marianne Elliott, Melly Still, Lisa Spirling, Claire Lizzimore, Max Webster, Gbolahan Obisesan, Jonathan Boyle, Rikki Beadle-Blair and Jeremy Herrin, among others.
I've also taken part in workshops with Papatango, Frantic Assembly and writer James Graham — all of whom have influenced and inspired my practice in different ways.
I'm also a member of Young Vic Creators Programme and JMK Trust, and have served as a trustee for Forest Forge Theatre Company, Platform 4, Two Sheds and the Chesil Theatre.
Beyond the Stage
Theatre is at the heart of everything I do, but my experience runs wider than the stage. Alongside directing and producing, I bring over 25 years of experience as a strategic arts and business professional — encompassing project management, fundraising, bid writing, marketing, content creation, brand strategy, PR, copywriting, design, event management, stakeholder relations, governance and finance.
My career has spanned across the NHS, the charity sector, education and local government — where I project-managed a major public art commission — and most recently into politics, where I worked as a campaign organiser supporting a successful parliamentary candidate in the 2024 General Election.
If you'd like to discuss future collaborations or request a copy of my CV, I'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Hi! My name's Deborah, I'm a theatre director, dramaturg and producer based in Hampshire, and one-third of The Lady Gardeners, a trailblazing trio of female artists with over eighty years' combined experience in theatre and the creative industries. But my journey to here has been anything but conventional....
My journey
Before working in theatre, I trained as a nurse, graduated with a business degree and spent many years working in the charity sector — three very different paths that, looking back, shaped me far more than I realised at the time.
My theatre career began just over twenty-two years ago when I joined the Nuffield Theatre as Development Officer during Patrick Sandford's tenure as Artistic Director. It was here that my love of theatre truly deepened, and by the time I left in 2013 I had worked my way up to Head of Fundraising and Development. Leaving to take up a place on the short directing course at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama was a huge leap of faith but I have never looked back.
My first professional directing opportunities came the following year, when I assisted on a touring project with Forest Forge Theatre Company and co-directed Muswell Hill by Torben Betts, which transferred from the White Bear in Kennington to London's Park Theatre for a four-week run — receiving rave reviews along the way. I've now been directing professionally for twelve years.
One of my proudest achievements during those early years was co-founding 10x10 in 2008 — one of the UK's earliest national playwriting festivals. I produced the festival for ten years, supporting emerging writers and championing new voices for the stage.
My work
My work has taken me across the country, and I'm proud that it has regularly received 4 and 5-star national reviews, with productions featured in The Guardian and The Stage's Top Ticket Picks. Highlights include My Children! My Africa! by Athol Fugard, African Gothic by Reza de Wet and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
I'm currently producing The Lady Gardener's UK Tour of our award-winning show In the Lady Garden and am thrilled to have just completed writing my first full-length play — now moving into the next stage of its development.
You can see my full directing credits here.
Training
I'm a firm believer in never stop learning. Over the years I've been fortunate to train through workshops and masterclasses with some of the most exciting directors working in British theatre today, including Katie Mitchell, Rebecca Frecknall, Lynsey Turner, Sally Cookson, Marianne Elliott, Melly Still, Lisa Spirling, Claire Lizzimore, Max Webster, Gbolahan Obisesan, Jonathan Boyle, Rikki Beadle-Blair and Jeremy Herrin, among others.
I've also taken part in workshops with Papatango, Frantic Assembly and writer James Graham — all of whom have influenced and inspired my practice in different ways.
I'm also a member of Young Vic Creators Programme and JMK Trust, and have served as a trustee for Forest Forge Theatre Company, Platform 4, Two Sheds and the Chesil Theatre.
Beyond the Stage
Theatre is at the heart of everything I do, but my experience runs wider than the stage. Alongside directing and producing, I bring over 25 years of experience as a strategic arts and business professional — encompassing project management, fundraising, bid writing, marketing, content creation, brand strategy, PR, copywriting, design, event management, stakeholder relations, governance and finance.
My career has spanned across the NHS, the charity sector, education and local government — where I project-managed a major public art commission — and most recently into politics, where I worked as a campaign organiser supporting a successful parliamentary candidate in the 2024 General Election.
If you'd like to discuss future collaborations or request a copy of my CV, I'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch.