Charlotte Westenra

http://www.charlottewestenra.com

Charlotte is a stage director and dramaturg specializing in political theatre and new writing, with an emphasis on the development of British musicals. She is currently working several new pieces including; The Wicker Husband by Darren Clark (music and lyrics) and Rhys Jennings (book) which was featured at the 2018 National Alliance of Musical Theatre festival in New York, having won the inaugural MTI Stiles & Drewe Award in 2017; a contemporary musical fable by Michael Conley and Dylan Schlosberg, for Neil Marcus Productions and Liberty Square, a love story set in the 50s by Tim Sanders (book and lyrics) and Charles Miller (music) after their successful collaboration on The Return of the Soldier. She is also developing Shaken, a new play by Louise Page and Chris Hawes and a state of the nation play with award winning playwright Owen McCafferty.

After graduating with first-class honours for Drama at the University of Manchester and training at Augusto Boal’s Centre of the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro, Charlotte’s career started at the Donmar Warehouse, where she was the Resident Assistant Director between 2004-2005. For the Donmar she directed Kiss of the Spider Woman and Lower Ninth. Charlotte was also associate director on Frost/Nixon to Michael Grandage and Piaf to Jamie Lloyd for both the Donmar West End transfers at the Gielgud and Vaudeville respectively. 

Credits include: The Return of the Soldier (Hope Mill Theatre, New Wolsey), Talking Heads (Gala Theatre, Durham), Shangri-La (Finborough Theatre); Venice Preserv’d (Spectators’ Guild); Brazil and Casablanca (Secret Cinema); The Incredible Doctor Guttman (Karen Simpson Productions); Sunset Baby (Gate Theatre); Titanic; Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioner’s Enquiry (Mac, Belfast); Zephaniah, 2 John, Ezra (all as part of the Bush Theatre’s 66 Books); Decade (503); My Dad’s A Birdman by David Almond (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield); Honk Honk You Donky Donk by Jack Thorne, as part of the Celebrity 24 Hour Plays 2011 (Old Vic); About Bill (Landor Theatre); Blair’s Children (Cockpit Theatre); Gladiator Games (Sheffield Studio and Theatre Royal Stratford East); When Five Years Pass (The Arcola); How Long is Never, Bloody Sunday and Justifying War with Nicolas Kent (Tricycle) and Waiting for Lefty (Battersea Arts Centre). 

She co-wrote the synopsis for Christopher Wheeldon’s new ballet Strapless for the Royal Opera House.

Charlotte has been recognized for numerous awards, including a 2006 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre as associate director to Nicolas Kent for Bloody Sunday – Scenes from the Savile Inquiry. She received a nomination for a 2006 Whatsonstage Theatregoers Choice Award for Gladiator Games; the same play was part of a season at Stratford East, which was nominated for the 2007 Olivier Award for outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. Waiting for Lefty was a finalist for 2003 James Menzies Kitchin Award for Young Directors (BAC).