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Theatre, Film and TV
Lily Williams
+44 (0)20 7393 4452
Email Lily Williams
James
Grieve
Director for Theatre
James is a freelance director.
He was Joint Artistic Director of Paines Plough, the UK’s national theatre of new plays for ten years
In James' tenure alongside George Perrin, Paines Plough produced more than 45 world premieres on tour to over 230 places across the UK and internationally by playwrights ranging from debutants to Olivier, Tony and BAFTA winners, staged in historic proscenium arch playhouses and student union bars, at music festivals and The National Theatre, in village halls, Off-Broadway, on BBC Radio and televised on HBO. In 2014 they launched Roundabout, the world's first pop-up plug-and-play theatre to tour new plays to underserved places.
For Paines Plough James has directed new plays by writers including Mike Bartlett, James Graham, Kate Tempest, Tom Wells, Penelope Skinner, Elinor Cook, Nick Payne, Anna Jordan, Brad Birch, Marie Jones and Sam Steiner.
As a freelance director James’s credits include the new musical The Assassination Of Katie Hopkins for Theatr Clwyd which won Best Musical Production at The UK Theatre Awards 2018. He directed a brand new production of Les Miserables for Wermland Opera in Karlstad, Sweden, which played for nearly two years in two theatres. His production of Brian Friel’s Translations for Sheffield Theatres, English Touring Theatre and The Rose Theatre Kingston won Best Production at The UK Theatre Awards 2014.
James was Associate Director at The Bush Theatre from 2008-2010 where his credits included The Whisky Taster by James Graham, 66 Books: A Nobody by Laura Dockrill, St Petersburg by Declan Feenan and Psychogeography by Lucy Kirkwood.
In 2001, James founded the new writing company nabokov with George Perrin and Ric Mountjoy. The company forged an international reputation for presenting theatre events everywhere from pubs to warehouses to music festivals to Off-Broadway, including James’ production of Mike Bartlett’s Artefacts.
James trained as assistant and associate to Josie Rourke, and as staff director to Howard Davies at The National Theatre, and on The National Theatre Directors Course.
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Theatre, Film and TV
Lily Williams
+44 (0)20 7393 4452
Email Lily Williams
CV
Theatre
Director
World Premiere of David Baddiel's debut play.
Science and religion go head-to-head in a ferociously funny battle for power, sex, fame and followers.
World Premiere of Sam Steiner’s hopeful new play about the end of the world.
World Premiere of Anna Jordan’s celebration of love and pop music with integrated British Sign Language and captioning.
A smart, witty new musical about truth, celebrity and public outrage.
A tense psychological thriller about betrayal and forgiveness by winner of the Harold Pinter Commission Brad Birch. Part of Paines Plough’s Roundabout Rep 2017.
A tale of friendship, love and rivalry over thirty years from award-winning playwright Elinor Cook. Part of Paines Plough’s Roundabout Rep 2017.
A larger than life story of family, friends and fitting in for ages 7+. Part of Paines Plough’s Roundabout Rep 2017.
New production of the classic musical which ran for nearly two years in two Swedish theatres.
World Premiere of Tom Wells’ new play with songs by Matthew Robins.
World Premiere of James Graham’s thriller about a young urban guerilla group that mobilises against MPs, embassies, police and pageant queens.
World Premiere of Mike Bartlett’s razor sharp comedy about friendship.
Revival of the Brian Friel classic.
World Premiere of Kate Tempest’s incendiary play about love and redemption.
A new version of Gorky’s play by Guy Jones.
Royal Court transfer of Mike Bartlett’s hit play.
Part of A Play, A Pie and A Pint
Part of Sixty-Six Books, an epic performance cycle featuring over 100 artists from across the globe responding to each book of the King James Bible.
Kate Tempest’s exhilarating debut play about life, love and losing your mind.
Hilarious new comedy from Stones In His Pockets writer Marie Jones. Two care workers are tempted when one of their patients wins on the bookies and isn't around to collect the winnings.
World Premiere of James Graham’s play about two Generation Y-ers who fall in love at an advertising agency.
Love in a time of austerity: Cheryl does seduction on a budget to avoid another weekend of tedium with her disinterested boyfriend.
World premiere of David Eldridge’s short play about a family coming to terms with the loss of their matriarch.
Staging of Martin Figura’s autobiographical poetry collection.
Centrepiece of The Broken Space Season.
Late night horror short.
World Premiere of Patrick Marber’s short play.
Radio
Director
A new play for radio commissioned to celebrate Paines Plough’s 40th anniversary.
Broadcaster BBC Radio 3