Rachael Walsh

She/Her

Director and Dramaturg originally from the North East and working across the UK with a first class degree in Drama and Scriptwriting and an MA in Drama Directing. Artistic Director of FailSafe Theatre. JMK Victoria Wood bursary recipient (2021), RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award Longlist (2024).

Extensive experience of text-based and devised approaches to theatre making, drawing on training in improv and clowning to create a space where artists feel empowered to make bold, joyful and irreverent theatre.

A reliable and enthusiastic Assistant/Associate with experience of working with understudies and maintaining regional and touring productions.

Especially interested in creating work which supports and champions women to take up space onstage and in life.

Last Updated: October 2024

Credits

DIRECTING

Director, Two Sides of the Same Coin, Community Venues (In Association with Open Clasp), 6 performances, 2024
Director & Dramaturg, Kindle, VAULT Festival & South West Tour, 2023
Director, An Unexpected Christmas: The Improvised RomCom, Bristol Improv Theatre, 1 week, 2022
Co-Director, Great Expectations, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School - South West Tour, 2022
Director, It Takes Two, Live Theatre, 4 days, 2021
Director & Dramaturg, Cut Out, Theatre Royal Plymouth & Tour, 4 days, 2021
Director, Silk Road, The Wardrobe, 4 days, 2021
Director, The Taming of the Shrew, Alphabetti Theatre, 1 day, 2019
Director, Mortar, Live Theatre, 1 day, 2018
Director, A Very Mediocre Christmas, Alphabetti Theatre, 4 days, 2017


ASSOCIATE DIRECTING

Associate Director, Macbeth, English Touring Theatre, UK and International Tour, 15 weeks, 2023/24
Associate Director, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Northern Stage, 5 weeks, 2021

ASSISTANT DIRECTING

Assistant Director, The Parcel, Theatre Alibi - Primary Schools Tour, 2022
Assistant Director, Three Seagulls, Bristol Old Vic, 10 days, 2021
Assistant Director, Melva Online, Online Platform, N/A, 2020
Assistant Director, Landslide, Alphabetti Theatre, 1 day, 2018
Assistant Director, Wilfred, Alphabetti Theatre, 10 days, 2017

AUDIO

Director, The End of the Line: Martha, inkjockey, 2023

FILM

Director, White Dwarf (Short Film), BBC iPlayer, N/A, 2020
Writer/Director/Producer, Stiff (Short Film), Boston Women In Comedy Festival Official Selection, N/A, 2018

YOUNG PEOPLE/COMMUNITY

Director Mentor/Co-ordinator, RSC Associate Schools Programme: Much Ado About Nothing, Northern Stage, 1 day, 2022
Assistant Writer/Dramaturg, When the World is Loud, Spotify, N/A, 2020
Dramaturg/Assistant Director, Relentless (2020) Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company, 2020
Dramaturg/Assistant Director, I Weigh, Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company, 7 performances, 2019
Assistant Director, From the Ashes, Koast Radio, N/A, 2019
Co-Director, Out There, Prudhoe Riverside, 2 days, 2018
Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Freedom on the Tyne, Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside, 1 day, 2017

National Youth Theatre Associate (2018-Present)
Shakespeare Schools Festival Stage Director (2018 – Present)
Live Tales @ Live Theatre Facilitator (2018 – 2020)

DRAMATURGY/R&D

Script Reader: Theatre 503, London Playwrights, ETT, Victoria Wood Playwriting Prize for Comedy (2024), Funny Women Writing Award (2023)

Dramaturg/Writer in Room, Flux (Rework), Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company, 2023
Dramaturg/Writer in Room, Flux, Mortal Fools Ensemble Young Company, 2022
Dramaturg, Mother’s Ruin R&D, 2022
Lead Artist, Girl Beats World R&D, 2019

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

SCRIPT ASSISTANT – MEAN GIRLS LONDON (2024)
Pink Wednesday Ltd/Sonia Friedman Productions

CREATIVE ASSOCIATE (Nov 17 – Mar 18)
Seven Stories

YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROGRAMME MANAGER (Sep 15 – Jul 16)
New Writing North

TEACHER OF ENGLISH – Schools Direct (Aug 16 - Sep 17)
North Shore Academy

Training

Drama Directing MA
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (2021)

Le Jeu & Clown Summer Intensive
École Philippe Gaulier (2019)

Drama and Scriptwriting BA (Hons)
Northumbria University (2011)

Various JMK Workshops

Introduction to Devising/Physical Theatre & Intermediate Course, Frantic Assembly

BSL Levels 1 & 2, Sign it Hear