Elizabeth is a theatre and opera director and also works with writers and companies developing plays and productions. She is an Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, for whom she has directed many productions, as well as working in a freelance capacity on both new plays and classics. She has a particular interest in climate-aware theatre-making and is the co-author of two books about theatre and climate change: 100 Plays To Save The World and Performing Shakespeare on an Endangered Planet.
Theatre & Opera
Awards
Broadway World UK nomination
2019
Nora: A Doll's House
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow Tramway
Best Direction of a New Production of a Play
Herald Angel Award
2012
The Rape of Lucrece
Edinburgh International Festival
Credits
PERFORMING SHAKESPEARE ON AN ENDANGERED PLANET
2025
Cambridge University Press
Co-Written with Katherine Steele Brokaw
THE TEMPEST
2023
Royal Shakespeare Company
Director
THE WIND IN THE WILTON'S
2022
Wilton's Music Hall
Director
100 PLAYS TO SAVE THE WORLD
2021
Nick Hern Books
Co-Written with Jeanie O'Hare
NORA: A DOLL'S HOUSE
2020
Young Vic
Director
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
2019
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory
Director
MUSICAL CONFUSION
2019
Northern Opera Group
Director
CROOKED DANCES
2019
The Other Place, Royal Shakespeare Company
Director
NORA: A DOLL'S HOUSE
2019
Glasgow Citizens Theatre
Director
QUEEN MARGARET
2018
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Director
HENRY V
2018
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory
Director
THE RAPE OF LUCRECE
2018
Gate Theatre, Dublin
Director
HOUSE AND GARDEN
2017
Watermill Theatre
Director
AS THE CROW FLIES
2017
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
THE HAY PLAY
2016
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
HERE I BELONG
2016
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
FROM LAND TO MOUTH
2015
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
THE LONE PINE CLUB
2015
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
EACH SLOW DUSK
2014
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
MILKED
2014
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
IN THIS PLACE
2013
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
STAND UP DIGGERS ALL
2013
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
BLUE SKY
2012
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
FOR ONCE
2011
Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company
THE RAPE OF LUCRECE
2012
Royal Shakespeare Company, Edinburgh International Festival and international tour including Sydney, Melbourne, Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Poland, The Hague, Derry, Cork Opera House, Dublin and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre London
Director
ENDLESS LIGHT
2012
Southwark Playhouse
Director
A GLORIOUSLY MUCKY BUSINESS
2011
LAMDA
Director
NIGHT MUST FALL
2011
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Director
BODY COUNT
2011
ONO Theatre, Tour
Director
ROCKET FUEL
2011
ONO Theatre, Tour
Director
VOLPONE
2010
Greenwich Theatre
Director
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI
2010
Greenwich Theatre
Director
RAGTIME
2010
Urdang
Director
TOP GIRLS
2009
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Director
DR FAUSTUS
2009
Greenwich Theatre
Director
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
2009
Greenwich Theatre
Director
HERE LIES MARY SPINDLER
2009
Royal Shakespeare Company
Director
THE TRAVELS OF THREE ENGLISH BROTHERS
2009
British Museum
Director
THE TRAGEDY OF THOMAS HOBBES
2008
Royal Shakespeare Company
Director
ROMEO AND JULIET
2008
Shakespeare’s Globe, European and UK Tour
Director
SKELLIG
2008
ONO Theatre, Tour
Director
THREE SISTERS
2008
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Director
THE WATER HARVEST
2008
Theatre503
Director
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
2007
RWCMD/Royal Shakespeare Company
Director
SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR
2007
Central School of Speech and Drama
Director
SKELLIG
2007
ONO Theatre, Tour
Director
OTHER PRODUCTIONS INCLUDE
LEFT ON CHURCH STREET | Bridewell Theatre
OIL HEART MOTHER | Nabokov
FLAMINGOS | Nabokov
POOR HENRY | Old Red Lion
PIGEONS | Theatre 503
COURSE IN A RESTAURANT | Old Vic (New Voices: 24 hour plays)
AS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS | dir. Jeremy Herrin | St Ann’s Warehouse, New York
THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE | dir. Sean Holmes | Filter/National Theatre UK tour
AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
MARKET BOY by David Eldridge | dir. Rufus Norris | National Theatre
A NEW WAY TO PLEASE YOU by Middleton and Rowley | dir. Sean Holmes | RSC
SPEAKING LIKE MAGPIES by Frank McGuinness | dir. Rupert Goold | RSC
BELIEVE WHAT YOU WILL by Philip Massinger | dir. Josie Rourke | RSC
FUN HOUSE by Catherine Johnson | dir. Phyllida Lloyd | Old Vic 24 hour plays
LOYAL WOMEN by Gary Mitchell | dir. Josie Rourke | Royal Court Theatre
SUNDAY FATHER by Adam Pettle | dir. Rupert Goold | Hampstead Theatre
VIA DOLOROSA by David Hare | dir. Stephen Daldry | Royal Court Theatre / Tour
THE TRESTLE AT POPE LICK CREEK | dir. Raz Shaw | Southwark Playhouse
NAVY PIER by John Corwin | dir. Abigail Morris | Soho Theatre
RADIO INCLUDES
THE MATCHMAKER by J B Keane | Radio 4
THE LUNEBERG VARIATION by Paulo Maurensig | Radio 4
THE OTHER MAN by Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie | Radio 4
WAR WITH THE NEWTS by Karel Capek | Radio 3
THE PAPERS OF A J WENTWORTH (Retd) by H F Ellis | Radio 4
A CHILE CHRISTMAS by Peter Searles | Radio 4
WATER SCULPTURES by Dawn King | Renosance
RING AROUND THE BATH by Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson | Radio 4
BAGGY TROUSERS | Radio 4
FABULOUS FLOPS and MORE FABULOUS FLOPS | Radio 4
THE MEL AND SUE THING | Radio 4
Elizabeth has developed plays and projects for many companies. She trained at Rose Bruford College and the National Theatre Studio. She has a PhD from the Shakespeare Institute.
Elizabeth Freestone
Director & Writer
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