Kelly Thurston

I am a writer, dramaturg and director from Lancashire. Following my passion for telling stories, I have recently completed a masters titled Text and Performance, held in partnership with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Birkbeck College. This course focused on writing and directing as well as dramaturgy and performance practice. During the course, I developed my writing and dramaturgy skills, writing play reports, running rehearsals, directing both new and established texts, writing my own scripts whilst offering feedback on scripts too. Prior to this, I graduated from Lancaster University in 2017 (BA Hons Film, Media and Cultural Studies.)

I have six years professional experience in Marketing and Communications, working across the North West for various organisations, crossing artistic disciplines by working on marketing campaigns for theatre, film, music, art and more. I am currently working as a freelance marketeer, copywriter and graphic designer. Also, due to my love of theatre and script development, in my spare time, I work as a script reader for London Playwrights.

I am really passionate about crafting, supporting and championing new writing in particular. I have a particular interest in stories that are nuanced, have emotional depth and are character focussed. I would say I specialise in naturalistic dialogue, but also have a real interest in embracing the surreal too. I ultimately seek to find real and honest truth in my work, wherever it leads. Themes that often crop up in my work/practice are class, mental health, relationships and the human condition.

Credits

Writer, Director, Actor | Broken Images | short play, RADA | 2022
Writer, Director, Actor | Jaffa Cakes | short play, RADA | 2022
Director | Lungs by Duncan Macmillan | workshop, RADA | 2022
Co-director | The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster | workshop adaptation, RADA | 2022
Actor | Punt | short film, RADA | 2022
Assistant Director, Script Supervisor, Sound & Makeup Artist | The Empty Table | short film, RADA
Script Reader | London Playwrights | 2022 - present
Dramaturg | At The Hands of Women | Play | Low Door Productions | 2023 (work in progress)

Training

MA Text and Performance - RADA & Birkbeck College