Helen Tennison

My recent work includes site-specific productions for Creation Theatre and numerous Shakespeare productions for Honey-Tongued / Midsummer Scene, of which, Twelfth Night transferred from Fort Lovrjenac, Croatia to Vienna's English Theatre and the Bermuda Festival, back in the UK, the offie nominated Wuthering Heights, which I adapted and directed, opened at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud before embarking on a mid-scale tour.  As part of my role as Artist in Residence at the University of South Florida, I worked with writer Kate Kerrow to devise the multi-media production Ravens, exploring female identity and race in American History. I am currently working with various young writers, developing work for the Edinburgh Festival and London venues.  Click here for more information on my current projects.

My experience also includes work for the following: Oxford Playhouse, Theatre Royal Winchester, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Drama Studio London, Southwark Playhouse, Rosemary Branch, BAC, ICA, Old Vic, Barefeat Physical Theatre (Artistic Director) and Shakespeare’s Globe.

I am committed to re-evaluating theatre's role within the community, inspired by my outreach and education work for, amongst others, Belgrade Theatre and Drama Studio London, where I was Co-Artistic Director, Head of the Two Year Acting Course 2015-17.  I am passionate about building more links between professional and community theatre, working in prisons, with refugee groups, running projects for those with mental health issues and other adult community groups, youth theatres and drama schools. I recently created Theatre Foundry, running workshops designed to empower emerging creatives Read more about my outreach and education work here.

I have a background in physical theatre and dance coupled with a rigorous approach to text analysis, both of which influence my work.  I believe that the best work is created within supportive yet challenging environments.  I am interested in investigating the meeting point between naturalism and the abstract, in creating work that is socially relevant, funny and beautiful to watch.