Sharon Willems

Hi folks, I’m the artistic director of Kibo Productions, which specializes in staging intimate, political theatre from unheard voices from around the world.

We are the programming managers of the Barons Court Theatre in W14, and I program all of the shows at the theatre as well as lead on literary work and artist development.

I’m also a freelance script reader and dramaturg passionate about developing new work from underrepresented artists.

I rarely remember to update my profile here, but you can see more about the work I'm programming and developing at www.baronscourttheatre.com.



she/her

Credits

As Director

Off the Record Southwark Playhouse/Slackline Stories Safaa Benson-Effiom 24-hour play event 2020

Parched Criterion Theatre/Criterion New Writing Showcase Eva Edo Showcase 2019

To the Depths Theatro Technis/Kibo Productions Shannon Murdoch 4-days 2019

They Theatro Technis/Wayward Productions S.I. Witkiewicz 1-week 2019

Jonah
Various, London/US Tour/Romanian Cultural Institute
Marin Sorescu 2-days (London)
1-week (US tour DC/NYC) 2017, 2019

The Big Things Barons Court Theatre/Kibo Productions Mike Heath 3-weeks 2018

And Now You Don’t Southwark Playhouse/Little Pieces of Gold Alice Allemano Showcase 2018

Indignitas Criterion Theatre /Criterion New Writing Showcase Jonathan Skinner Showcase 2017

Come Die With Me Southwark Playhouse/Little Pieces of Gold Vicky Connerty Showcase
(Published in Nov 2019 as part of Short Plays with Great Roles for Women, ed Suzette Coon) 2017

Tussy Southwark Playhouse/Little Pieces of Gold Jaki McCarrick 2-days
(Published in Nov 2019 as part of Short Plays with Great Roles for Women, ed Suzette Coon) 2016

Herman Barons Court Theatre/Kibo Productions Pericles Snowdon 2-week 2015

Tea Set Pleasance Theatre/Kibo Productions Gina Moxley 2-weeks (London)
4-weeks (Edinburgh Fringe)
4* Guardian Lyn Gardner’s ‘Picks of the Fringe’; 5* & multiple 4* reviews 2014, 2015

Against the Law Barons Court/Kibo Productions Tina Jay 1-week
2013

Much Ado About Nothing Rose and Crown/Tales Retold William Shakespeare 1-week 2012

Birthday Waterloo East Theatre /Kibo Productions Crystal Skillman 2-week
(Published in 2013 by Samuel French with a foreword from the director) 2011,
2012

As Dramaturg/Reader

Dramaturg// Unpack by Catalina Florescu, dir Leo Bacica // February 2021-March 2021
Unpack will perform in the Stage on Screen International Festival being held in March at The Main in Santa Clarita, CA

Dramaturg // You won't believe it (Working title) by Kate Webster // November 2020
Provided dramaturgical support to develop Kate’s pitch for the Box of Tricks Screen/Play Award; she was shortlisted in late 2020

Dramaturg // Tell Me A Story devised by Hannah Stacey and ensemble // Aug - Sept 2020
Provided dramaturgical support during the development of the zoom play experiment

Dramaturg // Everyone Likes Ice Cream by Tom de Val // July 2020
Provided a feedback report and dramaturgical support on the book and select songs from Tom’s new musical

Dramaturg // Apocalypse Wow by Naila Mansour
2-week R&D with a 2-day Development Showcase, Bread and Roses, 2019

Reader // Little Pieces of Gold New Writing Showcase
Producer Suzette Coon, Southwark Playhouse, 2017

Dramaturg // To The Free by Olga Nikora
Rehearsed Reading, Off West End Adopt A Playwright Award Winner, Unicorn Theatre, 2017

Dramaturg // Wild by Crystal Skillman
Led a 3-week development workshop with a rehearsed reading showing, Southwark Playhouse, 2013

Assistant Dramaturg/Production Assistant, Potentials by Dominic Mitchell // Papatango, Tristan Bates Theatre
Provided dramaturgical and operational support for the inaugural Papatango Award winning production

Training

BFA Theatre Studies, The Theatre School at DePaul University

- Dramaturgy Workshops with Katie Mitchell, Lyndsey Turner, and Stewart Pringle
-Translation for the stage with Chris Campbell,
- Designing Dear Elizabeth with Ellen McDougall and Moi Tran at The Gate,
- Theatre of the Oppressed with Mojisola Adebayo for Tamasha,
- Dramaturgy with George Turvey of Papatango
- Voice short courses at CSSD,
- Movement with Peader Kirk at Citylit.