Emily Oulton | Director
Emily Oulton is a UK-based director of theatre & audio.
Currently, I am Associate Director on the West End production of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, directed by Jethro Compton, Assistant Director on The History Boys UK Tour, directed by Seán Linnen and Associate Director on A Christmas Carol at Birmingham Rep, directed by Adam Penford. Recently I directed work-in-progress performance of my play Green and Pleasant at Arts Ed for their development week and I co-run theatre and audio company Obscura Theatre with sound designer/writer Patch Middleton. In 2022, we were runners-up for the Charlie Hartill Award and shortlisted for the Untapped Award for our new musical A Shanty for an Atomic Town. In October 2024, Songs and Stories at the Atomic Town, a stripped-back version of the show will play at Theatre by the Lake.
Previously, I have worked as Resident Director on Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall directed by Lucy Bailey, Associate Director to Adam Penford on Nottingham Playhouse/Eleanor Lloyd Productions' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Mark Gatiss, which transferred to Alexandra Palace for the Christmas season in 2023. I have also been Associate Director to Jeremy Sams on Roman Holiday at Theatre Royal Bath and Resident Director on Nikolai Foster's West Side Story and My Beautiful Laundrette tour. I have also worked extensively as a creative facilitator, having worked with NSDF and Curve & Royal Exchange's Young Companies, and having spent 2020/21 lockdowns working in care homes.
I trained as a Young Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester before embarking on the MFA Theatre Directing at Birkbeck. I have since been working as a director, dramaturg, facilitator and producer developing and working on musicals, new writing and audio theatre across the UK and Ireland.
Represented by HOST Talent Group.
Credits.
As Director: Maple Hall (second year project, Arts Ed), soundlandscape: All the Boggles of Derwentwater (Obscura Theatre, Theatre by the Lake), The Luck of Edenhall (Audio, Theatre by the Lake), Not Something that Other People Do (Curve, short film), Leicester Writers' Showcase (Upstairs at the Western), The Best Play Ever (Delicious Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe), Little Shop of Horrors (Delicious Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe), Private Lives (John Thaw Theatre), Psychosis (John Thaw Theatre), Table for Six (Royal Exchange Theatre), Into the Woods (Footlights Theatre).
Emily has directed workshops and R&Ds at Pleasance Islington, the Royal Exchange Theatre, International College of Musical Theatre and Accidental Theatre Belfast.
As Associate, Resident & Assistant Director: Witness for the Prosecution - Lucy Bailey (Eleanor Lloyd Productions at County Hall), A Christmas Carol - Adam Penford (Nottingham Playhouse, Eleanor Lloyd Productions at Alexandra Palace) Roman Holiday - Jeremy Sams (Theatre Royal, Bath), West Side Story - Nikolai Foster (Curve), My Beautiful Laundrette - Nikolai Foster (Curve, Tour), The Entertainer - Sean O'Connor (Curve), Mixtape - Matt Hassall (Royal Exchange Theatre).
As Producer: Painting the Town (workshop, New Wimbledon Theatre), The Coffee Shop Musical (Foundation MCR, Leo&Hyde), But What If You Die? (Camden People's Theatre), I Know I Know I Know (DONOTALIGHT, Southwark Playhouse).
2024.
Associate Director, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, West End
Assistant Director, The History Boys, Theatre Royal Bath & UK Tour
Associate Director, A Christmas Carol, Birmingham Rep
Director, Songs and Stories from the Atomic Town, Theatre by the Lake & Obscura Theatre
Director, Green and Pleasant, Arts Ed Development Week
Resident Director, Witness for the Prosecution, County Hall (Eleanor Lloyd Productions)
