Khushboo Shah

I am an emerging theatre director with an extensive background of over half a decade in directing drama and movement in youth spaces.

I graduated with an MA in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) in 2022 specialising in leading youth theatres. My practice has mainly involved using myth to produce new stories as well as reinvigorating classical tales with a focus on building process-based goals like performance skills, confidence, and personality development. Environment and feminism are running themes in my work.

As a former Indian classical dancer-teacher, movement has been crucial to my theatre-making process. Besides directing stylised Indian mythological dance dramas, I create physical theatre and facilitate physicality in performances influenced by Western practitioners.

I am looking to expand my practice to direct naturalistic plays in commercial theatre spaces. To meet this aim, I recently completed two short courses- Directing with Katie Mitchell at RCSSD and A Practical Approach to Directing at Yale Summer School. They enabled me to form a clear and intentional directorial process grounded in skill and knowledge.

I am interested in being part of productions that subvert power structures in a sardonic vein, that reveal the dualities of mankind with a good laugh, and that leave the audience feeling provoked, empathetic and light all at once.

My preferred pronouns are she/her.

Credits

Director-Facilitator, I am a Woman (by Women with Refugee Status), The British Red Cross Refugee Fest, one-off, UK 2023

Director-Facilitator (Highlight, RCSSD youth theatre), Spirit of the Forest, Embassy Theatre, one-off show, UK 2023

Intimacy and Movement Facilitator, The Tana Project, Bar Soho, Camden and Edinburgh Fringe, 5 weeks, UK 2022-23

Assistant Director-Facilitator (placement, RCSSD), Rocket Family (co-created with Arcola Youth Theatre), Acrola Outside, one-off, UK 2022

Deputy Stage Manager (placement, RCSSD), The Wonderful, Theatre Peckham, 4 weeks, UK 2021

Assistant and Movement Director, A Woman Alone, Prithvi Theatre, one week, India 2021

Director, Choreographer, Performer, Elixir (Thespo 22-online youth fest), one week, India 2020

Director-Choreographer, Performer, Prem Svarupa (Dance Theatre), ISCKON Fest and The Juhu Fest, one week, India 2019

Choreographer, The Lion King (Musical), The Gateway School of Mumbai, 2 shows, India 2019

Director, Choreographer, Performer, Mahabharata (Dance Theatre), Intrinsic Expressions, Sangit Mahabharati, one week, India 2018

Cofounder, Artistic Director, Performer, Arham Dance Production Company (Indian Classical Dance- Highlights)
Kirtankars, ASPEE Auditorium, CIDCO Auditorium, and various, India 2017-19
Mahavir Jeevan, JITO Lifestyle Expo, Hitex Exhibition Centre, and various, India 2018

Solo Performer, Writer, Svarupa- The True Nature of Being (Indian Classical Dance), Navinbhai Thakkar Auditorium, Mysore Association and various, India 2017-19

Resident Performing Artist, Shivoham Institute of Performing Arts (Indian Dance- Highlights)
Natyotsav, Sri Subramania Samaj, one-off show, India 2018
Shakti, Shivali Cultural Dance Festival- Mysore Association, one-off show, India 2017
Elements for Marico Evenings, The Bandra Promenade, two shows, India 2017
Folk Dances of India for Indian Chapter of International Model United Nations Opening Ceremony, one-off show, India 2015

Training

A Practical Approach to Directing, 10-day residential intensive, Yale Summer School, USA Jul’23

Directing with Katie Mitchell (on bursary), 10-day intensive, RCSSD, UK Jun-Jul’23

Child Protection & Safeguarding Training – Basic level, Polka Theatre, UK Feb’23

Monthly Masterclass Series on different aspects of theatre-making by industry experts, Kiln Theatre, UK Nov’22 onwards

Gecko Theatre Workshop in devising physical theatre & performance techniques, UK Nov’21

Discover your Clown, 4-days residential clowning workshop, Red Nose Entertainment, India Jul’21

Contemporary Dance Training (online), The Danceworx, India Oct’20 to Dec’22

Associate of Trinity College London (Diploma- Speech & Drama), India Sept’18

Advanced Performance Certificate (Performing Arts), Trinity College London, India Feb’18

Nritya Visharad (Diploma- Bharatanatyam), Nrityalika Institution of Bharatanatyam & Cultural Dances, India May’16

Source of Performance Energy, 10 days residential, Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts & Research, India Dec’15

Associate of Trinity College London (Diploma- Communication Skills), India Oct’15

Laban Movement Training, Fats Thearts, India (May’15)