Ollie Norton-Smith

I am a director, writer, assistant director and artistic director of multi-award winning ensemble physical theatre company Spies Like Us. I also work extensively with young people as a facilitator, director and movement director. With a diverse array of skills and experience I tell big stories with style. I am passionate about new writing, adaptation, working with ensemble casts, working with young people, and I am a specialist in creating devised physical theatre.

Credits

AS DIRECTOR:
DIRECTOR, WRITER, 'MATCH' (R&D), New Diorama Theatre, 5 dats, 2024.
DIRECTOR, The Plague Slayer (Rapid Write Response, Theatre 503, 2 days, 2023.
DIRECTOR, Clementine, Underbelly Cowgate/Soho Theatre, 5 weeks, 2023.
DIRECTOR, Our Dog (Rapid Write Response), Theatre 503, 2 days, 2022.
DIRECTOR, WRITER, Speed Dial, Pleasance King Dome/ Pleasance Islington/Forge/VAULT Festival (WIP), 6 weeks, 2020-22.
DIRECTOR, Why We Love Woody, Vault Theatre, 1 week, 2021,
DIRECTOR, WRITER, Murder on the Dancefloor, Pleasance Courtyard/Pleasance Islington, 4 weeks, 2019.
DIRECTOR, ADAPTER, Woyzeck, Pleasance Dome/Pleasance Islington/Loko Klub, 5 weeks total, 2018-19.
DIRECTOR, ADAPTER, Our Man in Havana, Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance London, Artistree Hong Kong, 7 weeks total, 2017-19.

AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, If You Can't Say Something Nice, Swiss Church, 1 week, 2021.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, A Grave Situation, Pleasance Courtyard, 4 weeks, 2019.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, All Quiet on the Western Front, Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance London, SoHo Playhouse New York, Pleasance Dome, 8 weeks total, 2016-17.

WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE:
DIRECTOR, Western, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2023.
DIRECTOR, Once, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2023.
DIRECTOR, A Special Christmas Carol, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2022.
DIRECTOR, WRITER, The Hound of the Baskervilles, TheSpace on North Bridge, 1 week, 2022.
DIRECTOR, Aristocats, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2022.
DIRECTOR, The Mouse and His Child, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2022.
DIRECTOR, School of Rock, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2022.
DIRECTOR, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Emanuel School, 1 week, 2021.
FACILITATOR, Multiple freelance projects, Orange Tree Theatre/National Youth Theatre/Arts Centre Hounslow/Pauline Quirke Academes/Stagecoach, various durations, 2019-present.
WRITER, Finding the Folio, Dulwich College, 1 week, 2023.
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR, The It (NT Connections), White City Youth Theatre, not performed due to covid, 2019-20.
VISITING PRACTITIONER, Hornsby House/Dulwich College, n/a, 2016-20.

OTHER:
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Spies Like Us Theatre, 2017-present ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, YesIndeed, 2024
PRODUCER, The Sobcentre, Brockley Jack Theatre, 2024
CURATOR, Fringe Futures Festival, Pleasance Theatre/VAULT Festival, 1 month, 2021.
DIRECTOR IN RESIDENCE, Emanuel School, 2021-23.

TRAINING:
DIRECTOR'S MENTORSHIP TRAINING SCHEME, JMK Trust, 2021-22
ASSOCIATE COMPANY, Pleasance Theatre, 2020-2022 (with Spies Like Us)
EMERGING COMPANIES, New Diorama Theatre, 2019-2020 (with Spies Like Us)
ENGLISH LITERATURE & DRAMA (1:1), University of Manchester, 2016-19

Training

JMK Director's Mentorship programme 2021-22
Pleasance Theatre Associate Company 2020-22 (with Spies Like Us)
New Diorama Emerging Company 2019-20 (with Spies Like Us)