Date: February 1st
Location: Actors' Guild Hub at Spotlight, 7 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7RJ
Time: 18.00 - 21.00

One of the UK's most respected directors, Stephen Unwin, leads a workshop on acting Noel Coward - working with members on the substance beneath the style - with reference to HAY FEVER, THE VORTEX and THIS HAPPY BREED.

Please have a look at the three plays before the workshop and bring in your copies.

Stephen Unwin

Stephen is a very experienced director whose work has been seen across Britain and Europe.

From 2008 - 2014 Stephen was Artistic Director of the Rose Theatre in Kingston. His productions there included Hay Fever with Celia Imrie, The Importance of Being Earnest with Jane Asher, The Lady from the Sea with Joely Richardson, The Vortex with Kerry Fox and Day in the Death of Joe Egg with Ralf Little.

Stephen has written 10 books on theatre, drama and related subjects for Faber and Faber, Methuen, Nick Hern Books and Oberon, as well as numerous articles for newspapers and journals. He has also written four plays and numerous translations.

Stephen founded English Touring Theatre, for whom he directed more than 30 productions of classical and new plays, including award-winning productions of Hamlet with Alan Cumming, Hedda Gabler with Alexandra Gilbreath, Henry IV Parts One and Two with Timothy and Samuel West, King Lear with Timothy West and Ghosts with Diana Quick and Daniel Evans.  These transferred to the Donmar and Old Vic Theatres.  He produced two plays by Jonathan Harvey and Peter Gill’s award-winning The York Realist as well as Peter Hall’s production of Uncle Vanya.

He spent much of his early career at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh where he directed a mixture of Scottish and European plays with a range of remarkable actors, including Tilda Swinton, Simon Russell Beale, Alan Cumming, Karin Cartlidge and Ken Stott.  Many of these productions were seen in London theatres, including the Royal Court, the Donmar and the Almeida.   He was also Resident Director at the NT Studio and directed several Studio Nights at the Cottesloe as well as The Magic Carpet, the first play for the under fives at the NT. 

Stephen has also directed 15 operas, at the Almeida Music Festival, Opera 80, Garsington, Buxton, ENO and the Royal Opera House.  

Stephen’s second son has Severe Learning Disabilities and he is active in campaigning for the rights of disabled people.