Lou Corben

I’m the Artistic Director of Marvellous Machine Theatre Company and am currently an Artist in Residence at Battersea Arts Centre. My work has been described as “plush and captivating”, “atmospheric, beautifully choreographed”, “Gaspingly good”, and “Witty, inspiring, moving, musically smashing".

I’ve trained with prestigious directors including Emma Rice, Robert Icke, Lyndsey Turner and Rebecca Frecknall. I regularly work with musicians and am experienced in supporting d/Deaf and Disabled artists, and LGBTQ+ artists in particular. I’m interested in theatre that forefronts women’s stories and Queer stories, often with a magic realist or folkloric spin.

Strengths
Support and care for actors, understudies, and wider team | Working with live music and original composition | A rigorous researcher | Working with underrepresented artists | Working on largescale projects and festivals | Attention to detail | Q-Lab | Trained in inclusion practices | Experience working with Understudies | Administration | Sense of humour and a light touch

“I felt held [throughout the run] and it meant the world” - Kat Harrison, Actor on I’m F**king my Agent.

Credits

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Little Red, HOME Theatre, Theatre Porto, 4 weeks, 2023

DIRECTOR & PRODUCER, Morveren, Barons Court Theatre, Arts at the Old Fire Station, the Space Theatre, 4 weeks, 2023

DIRECTING TRAINEE SHADOWING MATTHEW XIA, Hey Duggee: The Live Theatre Show, South Bank Centre & UK Tour, 9 months, 2022

WARDROBE ASSISTANT, The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, Battersea Arts Centre, 1 week, 2022

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO MADDY MOORE, Evelyn, Southwark Playhouse, 3 weeks, 2022

DIRECTOR , Hopes & Beans, Theatre503, 2 nights, 2022

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO YASMEEN ARDEN, Tapestry, Milton Keynes Gallery, 3 nights, 2022

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR I'm F**king My Agent, Golden Goose Theatre, 1 week, 2022

DIRECTOR/CREATOR Masque, Digital (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch), 1 week, 2021

DIRECTOR Operating Systems, Baron's Court Theatre, 1 week, 2021

DIRECTOR Closer to God, Belsize Community Library and streaming, 1 night, 2021

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, The Unbirthday Party, The Story Museum, 1 day, 2021

DIRECTOR, Extract of Orlando for Virginia Woolf Gala, Zoom, 1 day, 2020

CO-HOST, Cowley Road Virtual Carnival, Zoom, 1 day, 2020

DIRECTOR, One Night Stand (How to Say I Love You), Omnibus Theatre, 3 nights, 2020

DIRECTOR, The Clown, The Front Room Croydon, 1 night, 2019

DIRECTOR, Dream Lover, Drayton Arms Pub & Theatre, 1 night, 2019

DIRECTOR, Thing, The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 1 night, 2019

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT, PROPERTY, New River Studios, 1 week, 2019

DIRECTOR, Womb to Tomb, The Drayton Arms Pub & Theatre, 1 night, 2019

DIRECTOR, Red as Rubies Theatro Technis, 3 nights, 2019

DRAMATURG, British Vogue, Burton Taylor Studio, 1 week, 2019

DIRECTOR, Edge, Southwark Playhouse, 1 night, 2019

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR / TECH OPERATOR / STAGE MANAGER / MUSICIAN, ORLANDO, Burton Taylor Studio /
The Warren: The Hat / Arts at the Old Fire Station / Theatro Technis, 4 weeks, 2018/19

R&D DIRECTOR, Ten Fat Sausages (R&D), The Story Museum, 1 day, 2018

REHEARSED READING DIRECTOR, Playwriting students’ rehearsed reading, Goldsmiths University, 1 day, 2017

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR / STAGE MANAGER / WRITER, The Tiger’s Bride, Burton Taylor Studio /
St Aldate’s Tavern, 2 weeks, 2017/16

REHEARSAL ASSISTANT, Jane Eyre, Oxford Playhouse, 3 nights, 2017

Training

2021
Developing Your Directing Practice
Rebecca Frecknall, Almeida Theatre

2020-2021
Directing Theatre
Robert Icke & Lyndsey Turner

2020
Adapting and Directing for Emerging Directors
Emma Rice, Wise Children

2020
Directing Theatre
Lisa Cagnacci, Morley College

2018
Building Ensemble with Simon Harvey, Kneehigh
The JMK Trust

2018
Things to Do Before We Die: Creating Inclusive Environments & Experiences
Farnham Maltings

2018
An Introduction to Inclusive Carnival Arts
The New Carnival Company

2018
Physical Theatre: Meyerhold and Biomechanics
Future Learn & University of Leeds

2010
B.A. (Hons) Drama
University of Lincoln