Director
A director is the person (or people) in charge of all creative aspects of a show’s production. They also often have a major role in the show’s admin, tech, and publicity. Most shows have one director, but a significant number have two or more ‘co-directors’ who work in collaboration on an equal footing. Other shows may have other structures, such as a creative or artistic director.
The director generally works with everyone on the show. They work with actors, casting them for the parts, giving them notes on characterisation and blocking, leading rehearsals, and generally preparing them for the show. They work with designers to design an onstage environment that fits with their shared vision, and technicians to make the designs a reality. They work with publicity designers and publicists to market the show. Finally, they work with various members of the production team (producers, assistant directors, production managers, and welfare representatives) to ensure everything runs smoothly and cohesively. They may also have a larger creative team, such as a musical director, accent coach, or choreographer. They will also usually have assistant and/or associate directors to help them out.
To apply to direct, keep an eye on the Producer/Director roles and show applications of the Camdram vacancy page, or sign up to the CUADC director/producer mailing list. To pitch a show to the ADC/Corpus Playroom as a director, check this page
Assistant and Associate Directors
Many shows have one or more assistant and/or associate directors. The scope of their role can vary depending on the show in question. Assistant directors usually come to most (if not all) rehearsals and provide a second opinion to the director. Associate directors typically come to a handful of rehearsals and sometimes provide more specialist advice on particular aspects of the show.