The Watermill Theatre Announces Four New Associate Directors
Today, The Watermill Theatre announces the appointment of four new Associate Directors as part of its Associate Artist Programme. The four emerging directors have been selected to work with the producing theatre to develop their skills and build experience as they embark on the next phase of their careers. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Paul Hart, each will take on roles ranging from Assistant Directorships to fully directing productions, all with the aim of nurturing their talents and extending their knowledge. These new appointments are a part of The Watermill's continued commitment to supporting emerging theatre-makers and nurturing the talent of the future.
The directors selected are Lucy Betts, Robert Kirby, Sara Aniqah Malik and Georgie Staight. Three out of the four directors have already worked with The Watermill in various capacities - Robert Kirby was Associate Director on the theatre's national tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth and will continue this role for the upcoming London transfer to Wilton's Music Hall. He also recently directed A Mini Summer Night's Dream for the theatre. Lucy Betts was Associate Director of the recent summer musical Kiss Me, Kate, which received rave reviews including a five star recommendation by The Times. Georgie Staight directed the community project D-Day 75 and will direct the upcoming rural tour of Camp Albion. Sara Aniqah Malik is new to the theatre having been an assistant director at The Gate Theatre. Her play Salaam, which she also directed, received its premiere at The Vault Festival earlier this year.www.watermill.org.uk | Box Office 01635 46044
Lucy Betts
Lucy Betts is a freelance Director, Workshop Facilitator and playwright, specialising in work with young people and community theatre.
She directed Sleeping Beauty at Chichester Festival Theatre in December 2018 and will soon return to direct The Wizard of Oz as part of their 2019 season.
She was Associate Director on Kiss Me, Kate at the Watermill Theatre.
Lucy was Head of Performance at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, from 2015 - 2017, having previously been Youth Theatre Leader there from 2010. In addition to programming productions throughout the year, she directed a wide range of productions for the main stage and the Mill Studio, from large scale musicals to intimate Studio Productions.
Directing credits at the Yvonne Arnaud include The Railway Children (also regional tour of railway museums), The Wizard of Oz, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Silver Sword, The Borrowers, The Secret Garden (also Gilded Balloon/Edinburgh Fringe), 1984, Animal Farm, Private Peaceful, The Little Match Girl, The Sea Child (also Gilded Balloon/Edinburgh Fringe), Oliver!, The Wind in the Willows, Forever Young (also The Space/Edinburgh Fringe), James and the Giant Peach, Pinocchio, The Firework Maker's Daughter, Just So Stories (also Gilded Balloon/Edinburgh Fringe), Peter Pan, The Ghosts Of Tyneham, The War Of Jenkins' Ear, The Lark, Sophie Shadow (also Paradise Green/Edinburgh Fringe), Charlotte's Web, Fantastic Mr Fox, Lord of the Flies, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Romeo and Juliet.
As resident director with ChewBoy Productions: EUAN (IYAF award for Best Theatre - Brighton Fringe 2019). As Resident Director - Children's Theatre for Apollo Theatre Company: Just So Stories, The Show Queen (UK Tour)
Writing credits include Alice in Wonderland, from the novel by Lewis Carroll (musical adaptation), The Railway Children, from the novel by Edith Nesbit (musical adaptation), The Secret Garden, from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett (musical adaptation), Just So Stories, from the stories by Rudyard Kipling (musical adaptation), Sophie Shadow, inspired by the hidden children of World War 2).
Robert Kirby
Robert trained on the BA Acting course at Rose Bruford and as a director through the Young Vic Genesis Directors Network along with invite only workshops at the RSC. He is an associate artist at the National Youth Theatre, FLUX Gym and is a lead facilitator at the Old Vic.
Watermill credits Include: A Mini Summer Night's Dream (2019, as Director); A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth (2019 UK Tour, performed in rep, as Associate Director); Macbeth (2019, as Assistant Director); A Midsummer Night's Dream (2018, as Assistant Director); The Picture of Dorian Gray (2017, as Assistant Director).
Other credits include: Death Becomes Her (Canal Cafe).
In development and staged readings: Spaghetti by Mark Newnham (Devonshire Park Theatre & Brighton Fringe 2020), Baggage by Erica Murray (Wildcard Theatre) and Surgeons (Bunker Theatre).
Robert is the founder and director of training organisation People People. A Princes Trust Supported Business, the company partners with charities through to large multinationals using an actor toolkit to help employees of all levels increase the behavioural choices available to them.
Robert is delighted to continue his relationship with The Watermill by becoming Creative Associate. He is thrilled to be able to develop and grow in a place that balances being entirely nurturing and supportive with creating bold and irreverent work under the artist directorship of Paul Hart.
Sara Aniqah Malik
Sara Aniqah Malik is a director and writer interested in theatre as political activism. She trained as a Director at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and is a recipient of the Michael Grandage Company Futures Award for Directing. Her credits include as Assistant Director: Two Trains Running (Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre), Land Without Dreams (Gate Theatre), Wolfie (Theatre503), Nicholas Nickleby (Bristol Old Vic). As Director: Poison (The Wardrobe Theatre), Manual of Little Wars (RichMix), Salaam (Vault Festival 2019), Mary Stuart (Bristol Old Vic Studio).
Georgie Staight
Georgie trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (MA Directing). She is Joint Artistic Director of Flux Theatre.
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