Stephen Unwin (director)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Unwin is an English theatre director. He completed his studies at the University of Cambridge
in 1981, and has since directed over 50 professional productions and 12 opera
s. He was initially Assistant Director at the Traverse Theatre
in Edinburgh (where all his productions, of which 6 had London transfers, were new writing) until 1988. He launched the English Touring Theatre
in June 1993, and directed for it until 2008, when he became the second Artistic Director (after Sir Peter Hall) of the Rose Theatre, Kingston
. He has also directed in Europe and in British repertory theatre
.
He was joint winner of the 2003 Sam Wanamaker Award
with Barrie Rutter
, and in autumn 2003 was Judith E Wilson Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University.
Stephen Unwin is currently Artistic Director of The Rose Theatre
in Kingston, Greater London.
In September 2010 Stephen directed Noel Coward's Hay Fever, a Rose Theatre production starring Celia Imrie, which received great critical acclaim.
Stephen will be directing Shakespeare's As You Like It in February and March 2011 at the Rose.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1981, and has since directed over 50 professional productions and 12 opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s. He was initially Assistant Director at the Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
in Edinburgh (where all his productions, of which 6 had London transfers, were new writing) until 1988. He launched the English Touring Theatre
English Touring Theatre
The English Touring Theatre is a touring theatre company in England. It is England's only touring company to receive a government subsidy for producing work for larger theatres, which is its main work...
in June 1993, and directed for it until 2008, when he became the second Artistic Director (after Sir Peter Hall) of the Rose Theatre, Kingston
Rose Theatre, Kingston
The Rose Theatre, Kingston is a theatre on Kingston High Street in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The theatre seats 899 around a wide, lozenge shaped stage....
. He has also directed in Europe and in British repertory theatre
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
.
He was joint winner of the 2003 Sam Wanamaker Award
Sam Wanamaker Award
The Sam Wanamaker Award or Sam Wanamaker Prize is an award established in 1994 for pioneering work in Shakespearean theatre. It is awarded by Shakespeare's Globe and named after Sam Wanamaker.-Winners:...
with Barrie Rutter
Barrie Rutter
Barrie Rutter is an English actor and the founder and Artistic Director of the Northern Broadsides theatre company based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England....
, and in autumn 2003 was Judith E Wilson Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University.
Stephen Unwin is currently Artistic Director of The Rose Theatre
Rose Theatre, Kingston
The Rose Theatre, Kingston is a theatre on Kingston High Street in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The theatre seats 899 around a wide, lozenge shaped stage....
in Kingston, Greater London.
In September 2010 Stephen directed Noel Coward's Hay Fever, a Rose Theatre production starring Celia Imrie, which received great critical acclaim.
Stephen will be directing Shakespeare's As You Like It in February and March 2011 at the Rose.
Books
- "So You Want to Be a Theatre Director?" By Stephen Unwin
- Faber Pocket Guide – Shakespeare
- Faber Pocket Guide – Twentieth Century Drama
- Faber Pocket Guide – Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg
- A Guide to the Plays of Bertolt Brecht Methuen, London. 2005. ISBN 978-0413774163