Intro to Directing

From creating your vision for a piece, to working with a cast to bring a play to life, this is a workshop for anyone looking to develop their practice and for the curious – no experience necessary.

Andy Barry is a theatre director based in Manchester. He trained on the MFA in Theatre Directing at Birkbeck College and is currently the Associate Director (Interim) at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Recent directing credits for the Royal Exchange include: Acts of Love (2024) Wit & Wisdom (2021), A Funny Thing Happened In Isolation Film (2020), Moments That Changed Our World (2018). Other recent directing credits: The Man Who Planted Trees (Hebden Bridge Arts Festival), Nothing (Salford University), The Lost Spells (UK Tour), A Christmas Carol (Goblin/Royal Naval College).

Alongside his directing work, Andy has led Manchester’s Royal Exchange Elders programme since 2014, which promotes creativity into later life and challenges ageism. In 2018 and 2019, Andy travelled to Japan and Korea with the British Council to present on his work in the Creative Ageing sector. In 2020 Andy was listed in The Stage 100 for his creative work with older people during lockdowns. The list celebrated individuals who went above and beyond in helping the theatre industry survive the Covid 19 crisis.

This is a Pay What You Can workshop, suitable for everyone aged 12+. 

This workshop is ticketed (see below for dates and times). If the event is sold out, please feel free to come along as we have several walk-up tickets available on the day.