Sophie Austin

I am a theatre and film director based in the UK. She/Her.

I have over fifteen years experience creating large scale site-specific and community focused theatre.

From an epic new play by Beth Flintoff on Greenham Common to an all singing, all dancing show about the Arms Trade performed on the streets of London, I make theatre that collaborates directly with audiences and spaces to tell powerful and important stories.

I was Artistic Director of Teatro Vivo, a theatre company specialising in site responsive work, 2004 - 2019.

I am interested in new writing, political theatre, epic works and unusual challenges.

I love to collaborate and am happy to be an outside eye and offer support to companies and directors who are looking make work in unusual ways or for different spaces.

I also make theatre in theatres.


In 2020/21 I have made films, audio and theatre that explore our relationship with the natural world and offer ideas for alternative futures.

Rise Up - a series of five short films exploring the lives of five young people emerging out of the chaos of 2020 and finding their voice and activism.
These films are being streamed in classrooms across the UK as conversation starters for students and their teachers and are screening at festivals across the world.

Lore of the Wild - an audio storywalk created in collaboration with Bernadette Russell inspired by the more-than-human inhabitants of the ancient woodland at Lesnes Abbey Woods. Shortlisted for the Sound Walk September award by Walk Listen Create

Oh the Things We're For! - A collaboration between children's author Innosanto Nagara and Orchestra for the Earth, commissioned by Change Festival - a live musical performance for children underscored by Innosanto's inspiring story of action.

Credits

Director / The World We Made / Warwick Arts Centre, Farnham Maltings / 2 Weeks / 2019

Director / The Hunter's Grimm / Stratford Circus, Catford
Broadway / 3 Weeks / 2019

Director / Arming The World / Trafalgar Square, Underbelly, Chelsea Theatre, Stratford Circus, Green Belt, Brighton Festival/ 2017 - 2019

Director / Evelyn's Roots / Deptford Park / 3 Weeks / 2018

Director / Twistov / Rich Mix / 3 Weeks / 2017

Director / One Hundered Years of War & Peace / Greenham Common / 1 Week / 2017

Director / Adventures in Wonderland / Watermill Theatre, Story Museum, Charlton House, Catford Broadway /Touring from 2013 - 2017.

Director / Kingmaker - The Musical / St James Theatre / 1 Week / 2015

Director / Mother Courage and Her Children / Woolwich Arsenal / 3 Weeks / 2014

Assistant Director / Old Times / Harold Pinter Theatre / 18 Weeks / 2012

Director / The Odyssey / The Albany Theatre / 4 Weeks 2012

Director / Professor Vanessa's Wondershow / The Roundhouse / 3 Weeks / 2012

Associate Director / Absent Friends / The Harold Pinter Theatre / 18 Weeks / 2011

Associate Director / The One Thousand and One Nights / Edinburgh International Festival & Toronto Luminato Festival / 6 Weeks / 2010

Training

2020 Hightide Script Writing Course with Dawn King

2017 Raindance Film School
Virtual Reality Training

2006 – 2007
Richmond Theatre, Script Writing Course with Emma Rosoman

2003 – 2004
National Theatre Business Course: Enterprise & Business Skills

2001 – 2004
2:1 BA in Theatre Directing
Rose Bruford College, London