R&D CALL OUT / UPDATE
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to apply for my R&D.
Over the last few days, I’ve been working my way through more than 1,000 submitted profiles and showreels.It has been genuinely inspiring to watch them all.
Because we are only looking for 6 performers this time, I have decided to keep a file of all the people I would be interested in working with in the future, from this wave of applications.
So, if you see another call-out from me over the next year, please know that I will already have your details, you will automatically be considered, and you won’t need to put that time into applying again. If you would prefer me not to retain your details, just let me know (email richrusk@hotmail.co.uk).
For now, I will only be emailing the people I am inviting to take part in this particular R&D. If you don’t hear from me, please know that I am enormously grateful for your time, interest and generosity. I hope our paths cross again, and I wish you the very best with all your creative adventures.
THEATRE DIRECTOR
Rich is an award-winning international theatre maker, writer, deviser, and movement director.
Since 2000, his ambitious and visually arresting ensemble theatre productions have been performed in over 25 countries, from Canada to New Zealand.
Throughout his career, Rich has collaborated with leading arts organisations, creating original devised shows, delivering masterclasses, and working with theatre companies to craft engaging visual theatre.
He has created over 250 works for small and mid-scale tours, collaborating with renowned devising companies such as Hoipolloi, Les Enfants Terribles, and New International Encounter.
For over 12 years, he served as Associate Director at Gecko, working on productions including THE OVERCOAT, MISSING, INSTITUTE, THE WEDDING and THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
As an experimental devising director Rich has collaborated on the creation of over 35 five-star Edinburgh Fringe productions.
He has a strong partnership with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, where he writes and directs mid-scale touring productions, teaches, and supports with international collaboration through UK COLLAB.
In 2025 Rich worked with Mind The Gap in Bradford to make THE INVITE for Bradford City of Culture. He has just finished remounting METAMORPHOSIS which he adapted and directed with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre in 2025, the show will tour in China in 2027 before expanding internationally.
In the past decade, Rich has worked mostly with international ensembles to develop productions that blend local traditions with contemporary cultural themes. Rich also specialises in working with companies who have never devised before.
2026 / 27 projects in development include;
THE HUMAN PROJECT a new immersive experience inspired by the award winning novel The Vegetarian built around a single question; Can a human being exist without participating in violence?
SNOWFALL an adaptation of Edo period Japanese folktales set in a village overrun by ghosts.
WILDMAN a top secret theatre show inspired by Bigfoot, created by artist Alan Clay.
CHASING TIME a large scale devised project adapted from the work of food delivery driver / poet Wang Jibing.
THE SEA COOK a radical action-packed musical adaptation of Treasure Island for outdoor spaces.
KIDS TV a devised theatre show for young audiences set in a film studio. The multi-talented cast simultaneously perform their show to an audience in the room and to audiences watching at home via YouTube. Celebrating the creativity at the heart of all good content.
2027 | THE HUMAN PROJECT
| IN DEVELOPMENT
2027 | CHASING TIME |
IN DEVELOPMENT
Chasing Time began in May 2026 and will go into rehearsal in December before beginning its tour in May 2027.
A cast of 10 performers telling true stories inspired by the poetry of celebrate food delivery driver / poet Wang Jibing.
2026 / 27 | IN DEVELOPMENT SNOWFALL
2026 / 27 | METAMORPHOSIS
WORLD TOUR
2026
ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY
Exploring the relationship between film and performer. Ordinary Extraordinary is a project with experimentation at it's core, we are trying to push our practice in the rehearsal room to find things that we have never seen done before. Story is everything, and we hope that by combining movement, film and live music we can create an unusual multidimensional storytelling experience. I expect the show to go into rehearsal in the summer of 2027, touring 2027/28.
