Richard Speir

Richard won the John Fernald Award for directors in 2023. He is a director from London interested in new plays, classics and opera. He particularly enjoys working with text, verse and music.

Visit directorrichard.com for more

Credits

DIRECTOR, Gentlemen (World Premiere), Arcola Theatre, 4 weeks, 2023
DIRECTOR, Broken Lad (World Premiere), Arcola Theatre, 4 weeks, 2021
DIRECTOR, Claw Hammer, SparkHaus, 1 performance, 2019
DIRECTOR, Byron: Angel & Outcast (World Premiere and international tour), Cadogan Hall & Astana Philharmonic Concert Hall, Kazakhstan, 2 performances, 2018/19
DIRECTOR, Spun (World Premiere), by Rabiah Hussain, Arcola Theatre, 5 weeks, 2018
DIRECTOR, Stevie, SLAM, 1 performance, 2017
DIRECTOR, Moments (World Premiere), Hen and Chickens, 4 performances, 2017
DIRECTOR, The Inevitable Disappearance of Edward J. Neverwhere, STAR, 1 performance, 2016
DIRECTOR, Checkout, Arcola Theatre, 2 performances, 2015
DIRECTOR, BREAKNECK, Old Red Lion, 2 performances, 2015
DIRECTOR, PLAY 2, Longfield Hall, 2 performances, 2015
DIRECTOR, The Nine o’Clock Service, Theatre 503 (RWR), 2 performances, 2015
DIRECTOR, DEADLOCK, Theatre 503 (RWR), 2 performances, 2015
DIRECTOR, Flare Path, St Luke’s, Newcastle, 3 performances, 2013
DIRECTOR, Twelfth Night, Culture Lab, Newcastle, 3 performances, 2012

Rehearsed Readings & Dramaturgy:

DIRECTOR, London/Budapest, PlayWROUGHT, 2017
DIRECTOR, CHAIR, PlayWROUGHT, 2015/16
DIRECTOR, Mona’s Room, PlayWROUGHT, 2015
DIRECTOR, What Happens When You Click On It?, PlayWROUGHT, 2015


ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall, Eleanor Lloyd Productions, dir. Lucy Bailey, 2021


ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Scene from The Great Swimmer, Short Film, dir. Sean Patrick, 2022
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall, Eleanor Lloyd Productions, dir. Lucy Bailey, 2019 (Duties included directing understudies and weekly show-watches)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, New Nigerians by Oladipo Agboluaje, Arcola Theatre dir. Rosamunde Hutt, 2017
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Kenny Morgan by Mike Poulton, Arcola Theatre, dir. Lucy Bailey, 2016
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Gariné, an operetta, Arcola Theatre, dir. Gerald Papasian, 2015


Work with Young People:

Workshop Leader | Casting Administration Introduction, June 2020
Devised and led lockdown workshop for early career directors and producers on basic casting principles, including a resource package.

Youth Theatre Facilitator | Arcola Theatre, 2014–2018
Coached 13-18-year-olds from Hackney to develop their confidence in performance, collaboration, and public speaking.

Workshop Devisor | Witness for the Prosecution, October 2019
Devised and led introductory workshop for 14–15-year-olds on the world of the play, and basics of an immersive 1950s court drama.

Training

Shakespeare - University of Oxford, Department for Continuing Education