HAL CHAMBERS
THEATRE DIRECTOR
'The Talented Hal Chambers' The Guardian
'Hal Chambers' inspired direction' The Stage
about
'Shakespeare for the OMG generation? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, when it’s as good as this’.'
★★★★★
The Times on Hal's Romeo & Juliet
Video content: Around the World in 80 Days (Theatre by the Lake & Hull Truck) & Ragnarok (Eastern Angles)
stage director
Hi, I'm Hal. I am an award-winning director based in Crystal Palace, south London. I also have experience in producing, dramaturgy, facilitation and puppetry direction.
I have a passion for making theatre with an epic swirl, powered by bold movement, a love of music and a tangible sense of spirit. My best work is made when working in a collaborative atmosphere. I am a positive, curious maker, 15 years in the game. I am passionate about making theatre that has a strong sense of place.
I grew up in High Wycombe, Bucks. I was a proud member of the Wycombe Swan Youth Theatre. My artistic soul was forged in the fires of Brighton, where I went to university and immersed myself in the city's vibrant scene. My career has taken me across this wonderful country and has led me to meet brilliant people along the way. I now live in Crystal Palace, South London.
Over my career I have directed work around the UK, for the likes of Theatre by the Lake, Hull Truck, RADA, Rabble Theatre - Reading, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, York Theatre Royal, Eastern Angles, Polka Theatre and The Barn Theatre Cirencester. I spent two epic years working with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
I recently directed AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, a co-production between Theatre by the Lake & Hull Truck in Spring 2023.
I am the proud Associate Director of RABBLE in Reading, with whom I directed HENRY THE FIRST OF ENGLAND by Beth Flintoff for in the Summer of 2023. It was selected at one of five productions in The Telegraph's 2023 Theatre shows of the year.
Oh, and my production of YIPPEE KI YAY by Richard Marsh has recently toured the US, America and Australia. It was featured in The New York Times. It recently won Best Comedy Performance at the London Pub Theatre Awards.
Press for the show: ★★★★The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph, The Stage, The Scotsman, The Mail on Sunday
education facilitator
I am an experienced facilitator and feel the nurturing of new talent is incredibly important. I have made many years of working with young people at Shakespeare's Globe Education, Eton College, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School's Youth Company, Mountview and many others.
drama school director
I have a passion for acting training and have led projects and directed shows for a number of leading drama schools across the UK. Credits include: Oxford School of Drama, RADA, LAMDA, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, ALRA, Year Out Drama Company, Identity School of Acting, Rose Bruford and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
puppetry director
I've been lucky enough to work extensively with puppetry elements in my productions. I enjoy working collaboratively with puppet designers and puppeteers. I have also led puppetry direction on musicals, stage plays and education workshops.
I was the Artistic Director of critically-acclaimed touring puppetry company, Tucked In, for 14 years.
CV
training
University of Sussex
Directing Course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
National Theatre Studio Directing Course 09
cv
current/upcoming
Yippee Ki Yay by Richard Marsh
Director & Dramaturg
Seabright Productions / UK & US Tour
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in a version by Michael Wicherek
Director
Box Clever
Love & Money by Dennis Kelly
Director
London Southbank University
theatre credits:
Around the World in 80 Days by Laura Eason, adapted from Jules Verne
Director
Theatre by the Lake & Hull Truck co-production
Henry I by Beth Flintoff
Director
RABBLE at Ready Abbey Ruins, Winchester Great Hall & Actor's Church, Covent Garden
The Ballad of Maria Marten by Beth Flintoff
Director
Eastern Angles in association with Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough & Matthew Linley Creative Projects, Wilton's Music Hall and major UK Tour
Sea Things by Hassan Abdulrazzak
Director
Southwark Playhouse
Macbeth by William Shakespeare in a version by Michael Wicherek
Associate Director
Box Clever
Jekyll & Hyde in a version by Michael Wicherek
Associate Director
Box Clever
Flare Path by Terrence Rattigan
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Director
Drama Studio London
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
Assistant Director to Phillip Breen
Royal Shakespeare Company
'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Director of Research & Development
The Swan, Royal Shakespeare Company
Michael Morpurgo's Shakespeare Tales
Director
Royal Shakespeare Company
Tales for Winter Festival
Assistant Director to Erica Whyman
Royal Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare's Snapshots (Outdoor Theatre Event)
Curator
Royal Shakespeare Company
13 by Mike Bartlett
Director
The Oxford School of Drama
Hansel and Gretel Adapted by Anna Wheatley from Brothers Grimm
Director
RABBLE Theatre / South Street Arts Centre, Reading
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Director
RABBLE / Reading Minster Church (Site-Specific)
Henry V by William Shakespeare
Director
Barn Theatre Cirencester
The Bear Adapted from the book by Raymond Briggs by Pins and Needles
Co-Director with Emma Earle
Pins and Needle / Polka Theatre, Extensive UK and World Tours
Ruff Guide to Shakespeare by Toby Hulse
Director
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School / Regional Tour / Edinburgh Fringe
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Director
RADA / Gdansk Shakespeare Festival, Poland
Howl's Moving Castle adapted from Diane Wyn Jones' novel by Simon Harris
Director of R&D
Wales Millennium Centre/Lucid/Theatre Clwyd
Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs: The Magic Cutlass
Director
Let Petit / Queen Elizabeth Hall @ Southbank Centre, UK Tour and West End
A Christmas Carol Adapted by Anna Wheatley from Dickens
Director
RABBLE Theatre / South Street Arts Centre, Reading
Henry II by Beth Flintoff
Director
RABBLE / Reading Minster Church (Site-Specific)
Knights of the Rose
Puppetry Director
Arts Theatre, West End
Polstead by Beth Flintoff
Director
Eastern Angles
Electra adapted from Sophocles by Frank Mcguinness
Director
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Finding Victoria by Beth Flintoff
Director & Producer of Research & Development
Tucked In / Historic Royal Palaces
Iris and the Land of Words by Zoe Lewis
Director of R&D
Winchester Theatre Royal
Matilda: The Empress by Beth Flintoff
Director
RABBLE / St James' Church, Reading (Site-Specific)
Heaven and Earth: The Musical
Puppetry Director
R&D for Arena Tour
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig
Director
Eastern Angles / Tour
Crack Cocaine verbatim play by Patrick Tolan
Director of R&D
Streatham Space Project/Southwark Playhouse/Audacity
The Lights by Howard Korder
Director
Royal Court Theatre / Oxford School of Drama
The Merchant of Venice
Director
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Henry the First of England by Beth Flintoff
Director
RABBLE / St James' Church, Reading (Site-Specific)
Leaper: A Fish Tale by Hal Chambers, devised by Tucked In
Creator, Producer & Director
Tucked In in association with Lyric Hammersmith / Greenpeace / UK Tour
Romeo & Juliet By WiIliam Shakespeare
Director
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Vanity Fair Adapted by Declan Donnellan from the novel by William Makepeace Thackeray
Director
Middle Temple Hall
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Director
RABBLE / St James' Church, Reading (Site-Specific)
Tommy Foggo: Superhero by Martin Riley, starring Matthew Sharp
Director
Gulbenkian/UK Tour Autumn
Richard II by William Shakespeare
Co-director with Jimmy Tucker
Shakespeare's Globe Higher Education
Ratchet by Gareth Jandrell
Director
Soho Theatre/Oxford School of Drama
Prudence Tanner: Publicy Traded Person by Bea Roberts
Director of R&D
Bush Theatre
Ragnarok by Charles Way
Director
Eastern Angles at the Hush House
Helver's Night By Ingmar Vilquist
Director
Company of Angels/York Theatre Royal - WINNER OF YOUNG ANGELS AWARD 2014)
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Internal Project Director
LAMDA
Tainted by Kat Lantaigne
Director of Rehearsed Reading
Vicky Graham Productions
The Merchant of Venice By William Shakespeare
Internal Project Director
LAMDA
Children of the Sun By Maxim Gorky
Director
Oxford School of Drama
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
Director
RABBLE / Reading Minster Church (Site-Specific) / Greenwich Theatre
Lobsters by Luke Barnes
Director
pilotLight/Natural Shocks - PEEP @ Latitude Festival
The Magical Playroom by Cerrie Burnell
Director
UK Tour
Huis Clos by Jean Paul Satre
Assistant Director to Paul Hart
Donmar Warehouse
Sam Rose in the Shadows by Hal Chambers, devised by Tucked In
Creator, Producer & Director
Tucked In / Greenwich Theatre / UK Tour
The Sandman By ETA Hoffman, adapted by Hal Chambers
Writer & Director
Year Out Drama Company, Stratford-upon-Avon
Wild Honey By Anton Chekhov
Director
Director Oxford School of Drama
Romeo & Juliet By William Shakespeare, Adapted by Toby Hulse & Hal Chambers
Director
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Tour/ Edinburgh Fringe & UK Tour
Twelfth Night By Shakespeare
Director
RABBLE / Reading Minster Church (Site-Specific)
The Golden Cowpat by Hal Chambers & Robin Hemmings
Producer and Director
Tucked In and Greenwich Theatre co-production / UK Tour
Tim and Light by Hal Chambers, devised by Tucked In
Creator, Producer and Director
Tucked In in association with Rich Mix / UK Tour
Three Sisters By Anton Chekhov
Director
Oxford School of Drama
Anna Karenina By Helen Edmundson / Tolstoy
Director
The Oxford School of Drama
Robbie Wakes by Archie Cornish
Director, Producer & Puppetry Director
Edinburgh Fringe
Cymbeline By William Shakespeare
Director
Eton College
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Director
Eton College
The Caretaker by Harold Pinter
Assistant Director to Mark Babych
Bolton Octagon
Dare Me To The Desert By Michael Ross
Director
King’s Head Theatre
The Elephant in the Room By Oliver Bevan
Director
New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
The Tale of Lady Stardust By Bea Roberts
Director
Edinburgh Fringe
The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Toby Hulse
Co-Director with Toby Hulse
Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal
The Fastest Clock in The Universe By Philip Ridely
Director
Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol
Jackajack by Hal Chambers, devised by Tucked In
Creator, Producer & Director
Tucked In / NSDF / UK Tour
Radio By Al Smith
Director
Brighton Fringe
press
'An extraordinary adventure... a joyful production'
★★★★
The Guardian on Around the World in 80 Days
'Superbly directed...A revolutionary and ambitious production of Much Ado'
★★★★★
The Stage on Much Ado About Nothing
'Move over War Horse, this polar puppet is magic....a sumptuous production'
The Guardian on The Bear
'Hal Chambers’s fleet-footed, verve-filled and lucid account of the play achieves an Agincourt-like victory’
★★★★
The Telegraph on Henry V
'A lively, feminist take on historical true crime'
★★★★
The Times on The Ballad of Maria Marten
‘The history books are re-written in this luminous, compassionate production. Unexpectedly joyous.’
★★★★
The Guardian on The Ballad of Maria Marten
“A glorious piece of folk theatre... a beautifully honed, all-female ensemble”
★★★★
The Telegraph on The Ballad of Maria Marten
'Shakespeare for the OMG generation? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, when it’s as good as this’.'
★★★★★
The Times on Romeo & Juliet
'Intoxicating… I was as bewitched as was my four-year-old'
Simon Stephens, Playwright, on Tim & Light
'Hal Chambers has a natural affinity for visual storytelling.'
The Scotsman
'The talented Hal Chambers'
Lyn Gardner
video content:
The Ballad of Maria Marten (2020)
education facilitator
I am an experienced drama facilitator and have worked all around the country with a young people between the ages of 3 - 21.
I feels my work is equally as important as my professional work and I find young people very inspiring.
I have worked for numerous education companies, highlights include:
- Shakespeare's Globe Education (Lively Action Workshops, Southwark Projects, Young Actor's Summer School, International Workshops and Globe Youth Theatre)
- Bristol Old Theatre School (The co-leader of the popular Summer Youth Company Programme for over 10 years)
- Royal Shakespeare Company (multiple workshops with education and events department, chaired post-show Q&A's, talks and discussion panels)
- Box Clever (I am an Associate Director for this NPO funded company that tour work to teenage audiences across the country)
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Director, Young Performer's Company)
- Director-in-Residence at Eton College in 2009-10 where he directed
Cymbeline, Lords of the Flies and new play, Robbie Wakes. As well as managing a football team I also ran regular workshops in New Writing, Shakespeare and Devised Theatre Also led the Chinese Summer Schools.
video content:
Shakespeare's Globe Youth Theatre
