Workshop with Directors UK: Directing from stage to screen with Josie Rourke and Thomas Hescott

Directors Josie Rourke and Thomas Hescott share their experiences of working across both theatre and screen. Having directed one of the episodes of the BBC’s recent Talking Heads series Josie is able to share her experiences of directing screen under COVID conditions, as well as talking about her journey between stage and screen.

Thomas will talk about going from directing theatre to directing TV having gone through the BBC’s mentoring scheme and on to many of their long running dramas.

Speaker

After 20 years directing theatre, Thomas Hescott moved into TV through the BBC's mentoring scheme. He has subsequently directed multiple episodes of EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty, as well as two short films. He is currently working on his first feature with New Sparta Productions which is due to shoot at the end of the year.

Josie Rourke’s first feature film, Mary Queen of Scots, was released in 2018, produced by Working Title and Focus Features. It was Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated. Her recent production of Alan Bennet’s Talking Heads: Her Big Chance screened on BBC1 in July. Josie is currently working on a new feature film for Working Title with James Graham. From 2007 to 2019, Josie was artistic director of The Bush Theatre, and then The Donmar Warehouse. Josie has directed 19 productions for The Donmar, including the Olivier-winning City of Angels, The Weir, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Coriolanus, Privacy and The Vote, which was broadcast live on television on the night of the 2015 General Election, and nominated for a BAFTA. She has directed plays for The National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Court, The Public Theater in New York, and Chicago Shakespeare. Her productions have transferred to the West End and to Broadway.

This event is supported by the ScreenSkills Television Skills Fund which invests in training for the freelance television workforce thanks to contributions from the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

It is part of a ScreenSkills programme managed by the Indie Training Fund to support freelancers to upskill and stay connected, helping keep the industry resilient in these difficult times.

Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,500 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK.

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘get ticket’ to reserve your place: you must login or register before you are able to get a ticket for this event. A booking confirmation with a joining link to the session will be sent to you via email.

If you are no longer able to use your ticket, we ask you to please contact support@screenskills.com  so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.