Lydia McKinley

Lydia is a theatre director and dramaturg, who works mainly in the development of new-writing in London & the South-West. Her work often centres around the female experience, interpersonal relationships, and the climate crisis.

She is Literary Assistant for the Finborough Theatre.

She graduated from an MA in Drama Directing at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School last year.

She is a facilitator, running workshops for retired actors with Open Age.

Credits

DIRECTOR / Anything But Chardonnay / The Old Red Lion / 3 shows / 2024

DIRECTOR / The Project / Brockley Jack Theatre / 3 shows / 2024

DIRECTOR / 855-For-Truth / Rehearsed Reading / Bristol Old Vic Weston Studio / 3 shows / 2023

DIRECTOR / Out of Love / The Wardrobe Theatre / 5 shows / 2023

DIRECTOR / Taxi / R+D / 3 days / 2021
DIRECTOR / Taxi / R+D / 3 days / 2020
DIRECTOR / Taxi / R+D / 3 days / 2019

DIRECTOR / The Night - FFS / The Space / 4 nights / 2019

DIRECTOR / The Effect / Stage@Leeds / 3 nights /2017

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR / Clybourne Park / The Park Theatre / 6 weeks / 2020 (postponed - completed 3 weeks of rehearsal)

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / This House / Tobacco Factory / 2 weeks / 2023
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / Hunger / Arcola Theatre / 4 weeks / 2019
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / How Love Is Spelt / Southwark Playhouse / 4 weeks / 2019
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / Nuns / Tristan Bates Theatre / 2 weeks / 2019
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / The Monkey’s Paw / Bread & Roses Theatre / 3 days / 2018
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / Constellations / The Hen & Chicken’s Theatre / 3 days / 2018

Training

MA Drama Directing (2022-23) - Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

BA English Literature & Theatre Studies - University of Leeds (2015-2018)

She is part of the Director's Club, run by Director's Cut in association with Southwark Playhouse.

Trained in Devising under Young Pleasance - 2010 - 2015