Top Directors and Creatives of the Decade

Top Directors and Creatives of the Decade Dec 28, 2019 11:37:19 GMT via mobile

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Post by David J on Dec 28, 2019 11:37:19 GMT

First if this should go in the Performers and Creatives section then fine. This is really recognition of some of the most creative productions of the past decade thanks to people you never see on stage

And if anyone missed it here’s the Top Performers of the Decade thread theatreboard.co.uk/thread/7501/top-performers-decade

This be can for people including directors, designers, choreographers and so on. I’ve only included productions I’ve seen so do point out any other brilliant productions these people created

First are some teams I can’t single out because together they’re practically dream teams. One is Matthew Warchus, designer Rob Howell and lighting designer Hugh Vanstone who are responsible for Ghost, Matilda, Groundhog Day and the Old Vic’s Christmas Carol

Second is Maria Aberg, Laura Marling and designer Naomi Dawson for the most joyous As You Like It I’ve ever seen back in 2013. Particularly Marlings songs which left me grinning

If there was a team that represent what fringe theatre can do it would be director Luke Fredericks, choreographer Lee Proud designer Stewart Charlesworth and lighting designer Catherine Webb for somehow fitting R&H’s Carousel into the tiny Arcola. One of the most imaginative and intimate productions I’ve seen, perhaps exemplified after the fair scene when a tree made out of cloth was pulled out of a box and hung above the stage with the lighting shining through

Others include the RSC’s “randy fiesta” that was The Rover thanks to director Loveday Ingram, designer Lez Brotherston, lighting designer Tim Lutkin, and Grant Olding for the energetic music. Also director Amy Leach and designers Haley Grindle and Joshua Carr for bringing Bertolt Brecht to young audiences in the Unicorn Theatre’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Both respectful to Brecht’s non naturalistic style of theatre and very imaginative

Top Directors and Creatives of the Decade Dec 28, 2019 12:16:05 GMT via mobile

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Post by David J on Dec 28, 2019 12:16:05 GMT

Here’s some directors that stood out

Jeremy Herrin - what I would call an ensemble director because he brings the best of everybody in his casts, particularly in This House, the globe theatres Much Ado and The Tempest, Wolf Hall/Bring out the Bodies, People Places and Things and Uncle Vanya at Chichester. Also a shout out to the Nether and The House They Grew Up In

Marianne Elliott - needs no introduction. Gave us some defining productions including Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Angels in America and Company

Howard Davies - glad to have seen some beautifully performed productions of For Services Rendered and An Enemy of the People before he passed away

Simon Godwin - Officially my favourite Shakespeare director for bringing us his African Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Antony and Cleopatra and Timon of Athens. Also he made GBS’ notorious act in Man + Superman one of the most hilarious scenes of the decade. Shame we’re loosing him to the Chicago Shakespeare Company

Timothy Sheader - For bring us Into the Woods, Crazy for You and Jesus Christ Superstar at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. Also To Kill a Mockingbird and for bringing Neverland Rob WW1 in Peter Pan

Rupert Goold - His Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice were just outstanding. Also for headlining productions at the Almeida including King Charles III, Richard III, American Psycho and Ink. He also directed Made in Dagenham

Dominic Drongoole - the globe theatre was blessed with his productions of Henry IV and Henry V As well as The Duchess of Malfi, The Changeling, Pericles and The Tempest at the Sam Wanamaker

Robert Icke - He does divide people, perhaps exemplified by The Wild Duck with an first act that dragged. But the second act showed that when he gets it right it goes down a storm and he can direct some outstanding performances. Particularly Andrew Scott’s defining performance as Hamlet

Nicolas Hyntner - for his work at the NT including Collaborators, Timon of Athens, Othello and One Man two Guvnors. And now he brings Shakespeare to promenade theatre with the bridge theatres Julius Caesar and Midsummer

Thom Southerland - if there’s one thing this guy proved, It is that the best of musical theatre isn’t necessarily found in the west end. Particularly with Titanic, The Woman in White, Ragtime and Grey Gardens

In fact there’s were a number of outstanding musical productions produced in the fringe and regions. Thanks to Luke Shepard (In the Heights, Working, Murder for Two), Nikolai Foster (White Christmas, Calamity Jane, Sunset Boulevard), Gary Lloyd (Carrie), Derek Anderson (Twickenham Theatre’s Sweeney Todd), Tom Morris (The Grinning Man) and Michael Webborn (The Clockmaker’s Daughter)

Other mentions include Phyllida Lloyd, Justin Audibert, Jonathan Munby, Jonathan Kent, Jonathan Church, Emma Rice, Blanche McIntyre and (pre-2013) Gregory Doran