ABOUT

Thank you for visiting my website. I’m Deborah, a Hampshire-based theatre director, dramaturg, and producer, and one-third of The Lady Gardeners — a trailblazing trio of female artists who, between us, have over eighty years’ experience of working in theatre and the creative industries.You can read more about our award-winning show, In the Lady Garden — currently touring the UK -- [here].

Before beginning my theatre career, I trained as a nurse, graduated with a business degree, and spent many years working in the charity sector.

My theatre career began over 20 years ago at the former Nuffield Theatre, in Southampton, when I was appointed Development Officer under Artistic Director Patrick Sandford. By the time I left in 2013 to attend a short directing course at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, I had been promoted to the Nuffield's Head of Fundraising and Development.

My first professional directing opportunities came the following year, when I was assistant director on a touring project with Forest Forge Theatre Company and co-directed Torben Betts’ Muswell Hill (a Two Sheds production), which transferred from the White Bear, Kennington to London’s Park Theatre for 4-week run and received rave reviews. I’ve now been directing for eleven years.

I have loved theatre since childhood but my passion really deepened while I was working at the Nuffield, and in 2008 I co-founded 10x10, a new writing initiative that was one of the UK’s earliest national playwriting festivals. I produced the festival for ten years, supporting emerging writers and celebrating new voices for the stage.

My directing credits include A Streetcar Named Desire (Best Director nomination), The Seagull, African Gothic, Black Mass, and My Children! My Africa! — which transferred to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios and was named one of The Stage Review’s Top 5 Fringe Shows of 2015. In 2019, I co-directed my first opera, La Bohème. My work has regularly received ★★★★ and ★★★★★ national reviews, and has featured in The Guardian and The Stage’s “Top Ticket Picks.”[read the reviews here].

I’m currently producing The Lady Gardeners’ 2025–26 UK Tour of our ★★★★ award-winning show In the Lady Garden written by Babs Horton, and writing and developing my own first full-length play.

My training has included workshops and masterclasses with notable directors including Katie Mitchell, Rebecca Frecknall, Lynsey Turner, Sally Cookson, James McDonald, Marianne Elliott, Melly Still, Lisa Spirling, Claire Lizzimore, Max Webster, Gbolahan Obisesan, Jonathan Boyle, Rikki Beadle-Blair and Jeremy Herrin, among others, as well as with Papatango, Frantic Assembly, and writer James Graham.

I’m also a member of the Young Vic Creators Programme and the JMK Trust (Salisbury Group), and have served as a trustee for Forest Forge Theatre Company, Platform 4 Theatre, and Two Sheds Theatre.

Additional Skills & Experience
Alongside directing and producing, I also have over 25 years management experience as a strategic arts and business professional and creative leader. My additional skills include project management, fundraising, bid writing, marketing, content creation, brand strategy, event management, PR, copywriting, design, stakeholder relations, governance and finance.

My career spans the NHS, charity sector (including the British Red Cross and a children’s leukaemia research charity), education, and local government — where I project-managed a major public art commission. Most recently, I worked in politics as a campaign organiser, supporting a successful parliamentary candidate in the 2024 General Election.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like a copy of my CV or to discuss future collaborations. I’d love to hear from you.