Olivia Munk

I was born and raised in Queens, NYC, and I have been living in the UK since 2016. I am Artistic Director of Part of the Main Productions, a Pleasance London Associate Company and winner of the VAULT Festival Excellence in Accessibility Award. I'm also co-curator of The Miniaturists, London's longest-running short play night.

I'm interested in new plays and musicals that are political, provocative, and accessible.

Credits

DIRECTING

THE TINKER | 2023 | VAULT Festival
New play about morality, the home, and suspicion, developed with writer Olivia Foan. Long-listed for the 2020 Finborough ETPEP Award and finalist for Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass 2021 Pitch Your Play competition.

BLOODY MARY: LIVE! | 2019-2023 | Various venues in NYC & UK, incl. EdFringe ’22 & VAULT Festival ’23
New play about Mary Tudor performing standup as a teenager, developed with writer/performer Olivia Miller. Shortlisted for the 2020 Les Enfants Terribles Award; Guardian 'top 20 shows not to miss' at EdFringe 2022; Evening Standard ‘top show to see’ at VAULT Festival 2023; featured on BBC London; OffFEST Nominated 2023. 2024 UK tour forthcoming.

FUTURES FESTIVAL: BIOSPHERE | 2022 | The Pleasance
Directed work-in-progress of new play ‘Biosphere’ based on a 1991 experiment with writer Olivia Foan, exploring the extent to which capitalism can solve climate change. Curated week of fellow performances as part of Pleasance Associateship, considering radical ways to tackle the climate crisis.

GREEN & PLEASANT LAND | 2022 | Miniaturists 77, The Arcola
New short play by writer Olivia Foan about the inner lives of farm animals. Subsequently chosen to be next Co-Curator/Producer of The Miniaturists, London’s longest-running short play night.

BEG FOR ME | 2021-2022 | Mountview '21, Pleasance Main Stage '21, Camden People's Theatre '22
New play about January 6, 2021 insurrection on the US Capitol, developed with writer Rosa Maria Alexander. Worked closely with an intimacy coordinator for sensitive scenes.

THE END OF US and GOING OUTSIDE | 2020 | The Space TwoFest
Two new plays by Emma Fenton-Wells and Leon Fleming, performed at The Space Theatre for their duologue festival.

POPULIST | 2019 | Phoenix Arts Club R&D
New play for nightclubs about a political wife from the Roman Republic performed with drag kings in a '90s club night, developed with writer Emma Fenton-Wells. ACE-funded R&D and industry sharing.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTING / ASSISTANT DIRECTING / INTERNING / CREATIVE ASSISTANT

THE ARC: A TRILOGY OF NEW JEWISH PLAYS | 2023 | Soho Theatre Upstairs
Associate Director to Kayla Feldman on three new short plays about the cycle of contemporary Jewish life.

GENTELMEN | 2023 | Arcola Studio 2
Assistant Director to Richard Speir on new play bisexuality, class, and the limits of prestige at an Oxbridge college.

RIDE | 2022-2023 | Charing Cross Theatre, Leicester Curve, Southwark Playhouse
Associate Director to Sarah Meadows on hit new musical. Led understudy rehearsals, research and dramaturgy, noted performances, and oversaw production maintenance.

THE BLUE ROOM | 2019 | Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
Assistant Director to Jason Lawson on David Hare play for Graduate Diploma Actors.

TUMULUS | 2019 | Soho Theatre Upstairs
Assistant Director to Matthew Steinberg on new play by Christopher Adams about the ‘Grindr killer’ and chemsex in London's gay community.

HEATHERS | 2017-2022 | The Other Palace
Assisted creative team (director Andy Fickman, writer Kevin Murphy & composer Laurence O'Keefe) on off-West End workshop & performances (The Other Palace, 2017-2018). Production work as casting assistant & social media manager 2018-2022.

WAITRESS | 2015 | American Repertory Theatre
Directing Intern to Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus on world premiere of 'Waitress the Musical' in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA prior to Broadway performances.

Training

TRAINING

NORTH WALL ARTS CENTRE - CATALYST RESIDENCY | 2023
Developed and directed new plays ‘Torbaydos’ by Sam Parker and ‘Catastrophe’ by Sarah Isaac across 2 weeks, culminating in public showcase. Mentors: Ria Parry, John Hoggarth, Karim Khan, Tom Brennan & Sam Potter.

CLORE EMERGING LEADERS COURSE | 2023
Completed 5-day residential workshop for emerging leaders in the UK arts industry to explore Artistic Direction. Instructors: Elizabeth Mischler; Dan Simmons; Hilary Carty; Asma Shah; Emma Haughton; Prince Taylor; Ellen O’Hara; Dhikshana Pering; Claire Antrobus; Alia Alzougbi; Daisy Hale; and Sarah Cartwright.

ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND - DEVELOPING YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE GRANT | 2021-2022
Supported by ACE to expand understanding of Artistic Direction and creative access through mentorship & shadowing from Ria Parry (North Wall) and Rebecca Atkinson-Lord (An Tobar and Mull Theatre), learning BSL, training with Access All Areas, and undergoing Mental Health First Aider and Designated Safeguarding Lead training. Currently learning Audio Description from Roz Chalmers MBE.

CREATIVE FREELANCERS: SHAPING LONDON'S RECOVERY | 2021
Participated in 5-month programme to develop charter on improving working practices for arts freelancers. Member of Migrants Artists and Sustainable Career Development working groups, partnered with NPO A New Direction.

EUROPEAN THEATRE ACADEMY | 2021
Attended 5-day conference at Festival d'Avignon by European Theatre Convention. Instructors: Heidi Wiley, Rui Catarino, Dubravka Vrgoč, Serge Rangoni, Maria Aberg, and Herman Croux.

YOUNG VIC SPRINGBOARD FOR DIRECTORS | 2020
Attended 5-day directing training programme. Instructors: Rachel Bagshaw, Caitriona Shoobridge, Sacha Wares, Giles Taylor, Sue Emmas, Jo Tyabji, Grace Duggan, Debbie Hannan & Matilda Ibini.

EDUCATION

Harvard University, BA in English & Mind/Brain/Behavior (Cum Laude and High Honors in Field, 2016)
University of Oxford, M.St in English 1900-Present (2017)

AWARDS

-UK Global Talent Visa (Exceptional Promise)
-Longlisted for JMK Award 2022
-Shortlisted for VAULT Five 2022

Artistic Director of award-winning theatre company Part of the Main:
-2018-2019 Drayton Arms Resident Company
-2022-2024 Pleasance London Associate Company
-VAULT Festival 2023 Excellence in Accessibility Award
-Three Off West End Award Nominations for MOST PROMISING NEW PLAYWRIGHT; LEAD PERFORMANCE; OffFest (VAULT Festival 2023)
-Shortlisted for Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence (EdFringe 2022)