Associate Director

Role

An Associate Director assists the director, helping him/her realise their creative vision. For this reason they are sometimes called Assistant Directors. Depending on the scale of the production and size of the team, an Associate Director may lead separate understudy rehearsals, undertake research for rehearsals and complete administrative duties. Many progress to being directors. 

Key Skills

• People skills – i.e. an ability to interact with and manage a range of personalities.
• Excellent communication.
• A creative vision, including the ‘big picture’ and the smallest detail.
• Good at problem solving.

Training

Many courses in directing for theatre are now available. These are often post-graduate courses and students have already studied a first degree, directing productions at university as part of a drama course, or separate to their studies as an active member of a drama society. Early productions might be staged at festivals, such as the Edinburgh Fringe in the UK, or small fringe venues. Assisting established directors or getting a traineeship within a theatre is a good way to progress to the next level, learning from experienced practitioners whilst developing a network of contacts. 

Courses

• BA Theatre Arts – Theatre Directing – Middlesex University Click Here
• MA Theatre Directing – Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Click Here
• MA Directing – Central Saint Martins Click Here
• MA Theatre Directing – Text and Production – University of East Anglia Click Here
• MA Drama Directing – Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Click Here
• MA in Directing - London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Click Here

Other courses are available. Those above represent a sample from various drama schools and universities.