Siobhan James-Elliott

Siobhan is a theatre director who focuses on sharing the stories that are not often given the stage. At school she had planned to be a Forensic Scientist and completed an Open University short course in the subject because she loved dissecting information, examining people and evidence, and presenting a case to a court for them to make a judgement. It never occurred to her that she could do a very similar job in theatre. Her drama teacher gave her Rebecca Pritchard’s Essex Girls, a play that follows the lives of young women from a deprived area of Essex who grow up far quicker than they are prepared for, and suggested she should direct a section for her exam. She recognised the story and characters for the first time, and felt an instant affinity to directing. She loves working with young people, people in psychiatric care and working class artists to help share their truths so that everyone feels like theatre is for them.
Pronouns: She/Her

Credits

DIRECTOR
Mermaids, King’s Head Theatre, Joanne Sherryden, 5 days, 2018
Rubber Ring, Regional Tour, James McDermott, 1-5 days per venue , 2017-2018
Rubber Ring, Pleasance Islington, James McDermott, 7 days, 2016

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
A Woman of No Importance, UK Tour incl. Cheltenham Everyman, Norwich Theatre Royal, The King’s Theatre, Dominic Dromgoole, 10 weeks, 2019
East, King’s Head Theatre, Jessica Lazar, 4 weeks, 2018
La bohème, Trafalgar Studios 2, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, 4 weeks, 2017-2018
The Retreat, Park Theatre, Kathy Burke, 4 weeks, 2017
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Wilton’s Music Hall, Benji Sperring, 2 weeks, 2017 (Co-Assistant Director)
Hamlet, Young Shakespeare Company, Christopher Geelan, 4 months, 2017

WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY
Low Level Panic, Trinity Catholic High School, Age 15-16, GCSE Drama Exams, Advisor & Director, 2018
Young Technicians, Royal National Theatre, Age 13-18, Engaging underrepresented young people in Technical Theatre, Assistant Facilitator, 2017
Drama Workshops & Showcases, Huntercombe Hospital Norwich, Age 13-18, Engaging Young People Sectioned under the Mental Health Act, Curator & Director, 2015-2016

UNIVERSITY/SCHOOL
Director, Half a Person, James McDermott, 2016
Director, The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler, 2015
Co-Director, The Laramie Project, Moises Kaufman & Tectonic Theatre Company, 2014
Assistant Director, The Little Shop of Horrors, Howard Ashman, Rob Ellis (director), 2014
Director, HerStory, Devised, 2012
Director, Essex Girls, Rebecca Prichard, 2011

Training

King’s Head Theatre, Trainee Resident Director, 2017-2018 -
University of East Anglia, BA Drama Honours, First Class, 2013-2016 (President: Minotaur Theatre Company)