OV Masterclasses (Early-career)

Wed 20 May, 2–4pm, Greene Studio

Join Saffeya Shebli, Casting Associate at the Royal Court, and Ruby Gilmour, Casting Assistant at The Old Vic, for a unique insight into the world of theatre casting. Find out how casting professionals work with directors, producers and writers to bring a production to life.

This masterclass will provide insight into the work of casting professionals. As well as those who want to build a career in casting, it might also be useful for early-career writers, directors and actors to gain insight into how they can work successfully with casting professionals.

About Saffeya Shebli

Saffeya is Casting Associate for the Royal Court, where she casts the Upstairs productions, and works as associate on the Downstairs productions. She was previously Casting Associate for The Old Vic, working across main stage shows, tours, readings, workshops and events.

Casting Director credits include P*rn Play, Are You Watching? (Royal Court); Anansi the Spider (Unicorn/Regent’s Park Open Air/Birmingham Rep). Casting Associate credits include A Christmas Carol, The Brightening Air, The Real Thing (The Old Vic); The Unbelievers (Royal Court).

About Ruby Gilmour

Ruby Gilmour is Casting Assistant at The Old Vic, where she supports casting across productions, workshops and development projects. Most recently, she was Associate Casting Director on Arcadia.

Previously, Ruby was Producer at Bristol Old Vic, where she led on main house productions, oversaw the studio programming and managed in-house casting processes, delivering projects from early development through to opening night.

Mon 15 Jun, 6–8pm, Clore Learning Centre

Join The Old Vic’s current Baylis Director Lilac Yosiphon and Florence Kleiner bursary recipient Omar Khan to explore the early stages of becoming a professional theatre director. This session will cover where to find Assistant Director opportunities, how best to prepare for rehearsals and the role of an Assistant Director. The masterclass will culminate in a Q&A. The session is ideally suited to those who are looking to take their first formal steps into directing.

About Lilac Yosiphon

Lilac is a writer-director and the Baylis Director at The Old Vic, runner up for the Peter Hall Award 2023, recipient of the inaugural Annie Castledine Award and an MGCFutures Bursary 2021.

Lilac is currently the staff director & BSL director on Summerfolk at the National Theatre and the Young Company Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Directing credits include: Kiss Me Quickstep (Derby Theatre); Scenes from RENT (Leicester Curve); Kaleidoscopes (West End); Oh What A Lovely War (Leicester Curve/De Montfort University);  I Want to Live (Theatre Royal Stratford East).

Associate/assistant directing credits include: Mary Page Marlowe, Oedipus, The Real Thing (The Old Vic); The House of Bernarda Alba (National Theatre).

About Omar Khan

Omar is a director, facilitator and writer based in the Midlands. His work is deeply rooted in contemporary cultural discourse and collaboration sits at the heart of his process.

He is the current recipient of the Florence Kleiner Bursary at The Old Vic. Previously, he was a recipient of RTYDS’s 18 Month Residency, where he was placed at Derby Theatre and directed the regional premiere of Mr Burns: A Post Electric Play.

Directing credits include: Mr Burns: A Post Electric Play (Derby Theatre); The Trials (Nottingham Playhouse); A Beginner’s Guide to Widowhood (UK Tour).

Associate/assistant directing credits include: A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic); PUNCH (Young Vic/Apollo Theatre/UK Tour).

Mon 13 Jul, 2–4pm, Clore Learning Centre

Explore the work of a Movement Director with Ira Mandela Siobhan, from process to production. Movement direction is crucial to a show’s impact, identity and storytelling, and forms a central part of the creative process.

This masterclass will provide insight and practical tips for movement directing. It might also be interesting for aspiring or early-career directors, writers and actors to gain insight into working with a movement director.

About Ira Mandela Siobhan

Theatre as performer includes: Equus, The Wind in the Willows (West End); Mlima’s Tale (Kiln); Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written, Running Wild (Regents Park Open Air); My Brilliant Friend (Rose Theatre, Kingston/National Theatre); Everyman, Macbeth, Can We Talk About This?, Fela!, To Be Straight With You (National Theatre); The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Leeds Playhouse); Imogen, Othello (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable (Punchdrunk); A Season in the Congo, Feast (Young Vic). Theatre as Movement Director includes: Born with Teeth (West End); The BFG (RSC); Hamlet, Mosquitoes, The Grapes of Wrath (National Theatre).