Gemma has directed productions and lead workshops across the top drama conservatoires in the UK, including RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA, CSSD, Rose Bruford, East 15. She draws on both her expertise in devising and a rigorous love of text, developed at Cambridge University.

‘Gemma opens up areas of imaginative possibility with flair and generosity and offers rigorous and structured training, which is clear and accessible but which always urges theatre students on towards work that is notably daring and original.’
(Matthew Lloyd - Senior Lecturer - East15)

‘Gemma created a beautiful, funny piece of evocative text-based work, rich in the company’s own mythology and wonderfully accessible to the audience. All the students shone in a piece that stood in it’s own right as a great piece of theatre, made from scratch with a large diverse cohort over 6 weeks.’
(Ian Morgan - Head of Course - RADA)

DIRECTING - Full length Productions for Drama Schools:

  • EAST 15 - MA International Acting : THE WELKIN by Lucy Kirkwood 2024

  • LAMDA - BA Acting : graduation public production : ALICE by Laura Wade 2024

  • ROSE BRUFORD - BA European Theatre Arts : graduation public production : THE TABLE 2023
    Director / Designer / Writer
    Devised with the company (20 actors)
    Inspired by work of Tadeusz Kantor

  • LAMDA - MFA Acting : graduation public production : THE WELKIN by Lucy Kirkwood 2022

  • DRAMA STUDIO - BA Acting : first year internal production : BLOOD WEDDING by Lorca 2022

  • EAST 15 - MFA Acting (International) : internal production : THE REST WILL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU FROM CINEMA by Martin Crimp 2022

  • EAST 15 - MFA Acting (International) : graduation public production : ORLANDO by Sarah Ruhl 2021

  • RADA - MA Theatre Lab : graduation public production : CHANGELING 2019
    Director / Writer
    Devised with the company (18 acting students)
    Inspired by the Middleton/Rowley play
    In collaboration with SBooth and Tamsin Stanley

  • FOURTH MONKEY - BA Acting : first year public production : RUCKUS 2017
    Devised with the cast (38 students)
    Inspired by LA DISPUTE by Marivaux
    In collaboration with Silvia Mercuriali and Hannah Ringham

  • ITALIA CONTI - BA acting : third year public production : TIME AND THE CONWAYS by JB Priestley 2014

Workshops and Courses:

  • GUILDHALL

    • Project director (4 weeks) : Creation of self-led solo work (BA actors, 2nd year) 2022 & 2021

  • DRAMA STUDIO LONDON

    • Scene studies (3 weeks) : Scene studies in naturalism (BA actors) 2024

    • Scene studies (3 days) : Introduction to absurdism - Ionesco & Beckett (BA actors) 2022

    • Workshop leader (3 days) : Embodiment for actors in space (BA actors) 2022

    • Workshop leader (4 days) : Techniques for R&D process (MA directors) 2022

    • Workshop leader (1 day) : Devising from source (MA actors) 2022

  • CAMBERWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS

    • Workshop leader (1 day) : Introducing visual art students to time-based performance (Summer School) 2022

  • ROSE BRUFORD

    • Workshop leader (1 day) : Devising and use of space (MA performers) 2022

  • EAST 15

    • Module Director (6 week course) : Adaptation (MA directors) 2022 & 2020

    • Workshop leader (4 days) : Devising from myth (MA directors) 2018

  • CENTRAL ST MARTINS / DRAMA CENTRE LONDON

    • Workshop leader (1 day) : Devising from source material (BA directors) 2018

  • CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA

    Since 2005, I have taught and mentored many students at Central. Work includes:

    • Workshop leader : Devising methods (MA actors) 2010-2022

    • Mentor : End of course devised productions (MA theatre-makers) 2008-10

    • Workshop leader : Devising for theatre (BA writers) 2019

    • Shared research courses with : Wendy Hubbard, Melanie Wilson, Hannah Ringham and Silvia Mercuriali.

  • LAMDA

    • Workshop leader (4 hours) : Generating performance for non-theatre spaces (MA directors) 2008

  • NATIONAL CENTRE FOR CIRCUS ARTS (CIRCUS SPACE)

    • Workshop Leader (1 week full time towards public showing) : Shunt and immersive theatre (BA circus students) 2010

  • BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY & RSC

    • Workshop leader (3 days) : Writing techniques for theatre devising (BA writers) 2017

    • A series of panels and workshops on my RSC show - KINGDOM COME

  • CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

    • Workshop with Zoe Svendsen on interaction in theatre

  • ITALIA CONTI

    • Course leader (for 3 year course) : Contextual studies 2004-7

    • Workshop leader (across a full term) : Collaboration and devising (BA actors) 2008

    • Consultant : For immersive productions of Shakespeare 2006

    • External Marker : For final year self-generated projects 2006-2021

  • FOURTH MONKEY

    • Workshop Leader (1 week) : Collaborative devising (BA actors) 2016

  • BAC

    • Workshops on experiential theatre for BAC young artists 2013