Nathan Crossan-Smith

I’m a director and practitioner from Manchester, based in London. I direct new writing and devised pieces and work with music, movement and lyricism, increasingly making work within an access aesthetic.

I'm Associate Director for site specific, immersive theatre company Hydrocracker Theatre and run the youth justice project tipping point (teaching grime lyrical in prisons and PRUs). I am a National Theatre Connections Director and an NYT Associate.

I received the Runner Up Award for the JMK Award in 2017 for a proposal of debbie tucker green’s random with producer Tobi Kyeremateng and am a 2019 Finalist for the Genesis Future Directors Award at the Young Vic.

Credits

:::Directing includes:::

Director, At Any One Time Other Than This, You Would Be My Friend, Written by Titilola Dawudu, made in an access aesthetic, Ovalhouse, June ‘19

Director, The Coat of Two Colours, Created by Oliver Vibrans (composer) and Pat Winslow (storyteller), with a chamber orchestra, Royal College of Music, April ‘19

Director for R&D, Strangers on a Train Set, by Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding, integrating BSL LipService, Oldham Library Sept. ’18

Director, Before it Rains (a Twelfth Night lyrical remix), by Thea Gajic and devised with the company tipping point x National Youth Theatre at Rose Bruford, July-Aug. ’18
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Director, Feather by Feather, Written by Sonali Bhattacharyya, music by Cassie Kinoshi Old Vic Connect NOW, Old Vic Rehearsal Room July ’18

Director, Hurricane Protest Songs, Devised with Graeae Ensemble, dramaturg Chloe Todd Fordam, made in an access aesthetic, Graeae at RADA Studio & Rich Mix, July ’18

Co-Director, lternative Musicals: 140bpm, devised with the company and choreographer Rachael Nanyonjo, National Theatre Studio, Oct. ’17 Co-Director, Space to Create, devised with the company and choreographer Rachael Nanyonjo, National Theatre (site specific), July ‘18

Director, tipping point, devised piece and Youth Justice Project, Contact (Dec ’14), Platform Southwark (Aug ’15), BAC (‘Oct ’17) In partnership with: ODD Arts, Lincoln Secure Unit & Drive Forward Foundation
Director, The Prince and the Pillars, by Janet Sate, Site specific: Brighton Unitarian Church, March ‘18

Director, Kids Co Writers Showcases with industry panels led by Ian Rickson, Criterion, Southwark, Jermyn St. Dec. ’14-Jul ’15

Short plays for with writers including Jerusha Green, Danielle Pearson and Georgia Fitch for Hightide Festival, Southwark Playhouse, Vault, Hackney Showrooms, Other Palace, Wiltons, across ’15-’18




:::Assistant and Associate directing includes:::

Associate Director: You Can Save Me (R&D process) by Hydrocracker & Steph Street.
Dir. Jo Mcinnes, Hydrocracker & Royal & Derngate, July ’19, March ’18

Associate Director, Operation Black Antler, devised by Hydrocracker & Blast Theory, Dir. Matt Adams (Blast Theory), Southbank Centre April ’19, HOME, June ’17 Brighton Festival, Ideas Test Kent, April-June ’16

Assistant Director, Gratitude (R&D) Dir. Rachel Bagshaw, National Theatre Studio, Feb ‘19

Associate Director, Strangers on a Train Set, by Maggie Fox & Sue Ryding, Dir. Lawrence Till, LipService national tour Spring ’19 & Autumn ‘20, Feb ’19

Second AD, Bloodyminded, by Matt Adams, Dir. Matt Adams (Blast Theory), 14-18 NOW Film Commission, Oct. ‘18, Europe’s first live interactive feature film "

Assistant directing placements at LAMDA with:

Max Stafford-Clark (Greenwich Theatre), Philip Breen (LAMDA Linbury Studio) and John Bashford (Moscow Arts Theatre).

:::Projects as director, artist (movement, lyricism) & practitioner:::

Theatre: NYT (Like the Water), National Theatre Wales (dreamscape, fire in the youth), LAMDA (Much Noise by Roy Williams) 20 Stories High (20 Stories of Home, Gender Re:mixed) The Yard (Transmission Space R&D), Contact (Under the Covers R&D).

Teaching: National Theatre: Let’s Play, Drama Teacher Conference, Producers Course, Connections; Royal Court, Young Vic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, LAMDA (Short Courses, Widening Access), MMU (film directing), Salford University (devising).

Other: ODD Arts (prison arts projects), Synergy (on knife crime), Gate, Red Cross, WHY? Festival, RECLAIM, Brit, Blast Theory.

Training

The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art [One Year PG Director’s Course, 2013-2014]
High 2:1 Birmingham University [Drama and English Literature 2009-2012]