Theatre Work
Rich is an award-winning international theatre maker, writer, deviser and movement director. Since 2000 his highly ambitious, visually arresting ensemble theatre work has been performed in over 25 countries from Toronto to Aukland.
Rich has collaborated with leading arts organisations throughout his career delivering practical masterclasses, making shows and collaborating with theatre companies to make original, engaging visual theatre.
As part of creating over 200+ original works for small and mid-scale touring, Rich has worked with top devising companies including Hoipolloi, Les Enfants Terribles, New International Encounter and for over 12 years as Associate Director at Gecko, during this time Rich has been involved in the creation of over 35 five-star Edinburgh Fringe productions.
Current Projects include - A mandarin adaptation of Metamorphosis opening in Shanghai March 2025 and an epic outdoor immersive project opening in May 2025.
A bit more history, incase you're interested...
Rich's early work usually involved touring original children's theatre across the UK. Regular venues included The Lyric Hammersmith, Battersea Arts Centre and Cambridge Junction. Rich was Associate Director at Cambridge Junction for 3 years, running young companies and developing new mid-scale touring work for young audiences. Rich continues to work regularly with young people as a writer, director and workshop facilitator and he continues to run his physical theatre master-classes with young companies and artists across Europe, China, America and the UK.
In 2008 Rich began making and touring work with physical theatre pioneers, Gecko Theatre. As an Associate Director for Gecko, Rich has worked on 'The Overcoat', 'Missing', 'Institute', 'The Time of Your Life' and 'The Wedding’. He toured internationally for over 10 years, throughout Europe and in countries including China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Mexico. The experience of sharing work with audiences across the world has given Rich a unique perspective on communicating ideas and has inspired him to find themes in his work that are universal and innately human.
In 2016, Rich directed 'The Dreamer' in Shanghai. The show is a co-production between Gecko and The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre commissioned by the British Council. The original physical theatre production for midscale touring, performed across China and Internationally.
Rich is currently developing his third large scale devised show in Shanghai alongside developing a new devised show in the UK for 2024.
Professional commissions include straight text, drama school showcases, site specific, immersive, puppetry, children's theatre, physical theatre, dance, interactive, digital, festival experiences, street theatre, musicals, circus and film.
The core values of Rich’s theatre making process are:
-Make work which inspires, excites and challenges audiences to be imaginative.
-Make bold, brave decisions which push boundaries for performers and audiences.
-Make theatre for everyone, tell stories which mean something to audiences from all backgrounds.
These are core values that Rich now also applies to his film projects.
Rich is from a working class background and has worked hard throughout his career to keep the arts accessible for all.
