Luke Sheppard is an Olivier award winning director based in London. His productions can currently be seen on Broadway, in the West End and around the world.
After studying for a first class honours degree in Drama: Theatre, TV and Film at the University of Bristol, Luke subsequently received the inaugural NoĂŤl Coward Trainee Director Award at Salisbury Playhouse. He also participated in the National Theatre Directors Course.
Luke is the director of the new musical PADDINGTON at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. Based on the beloved books and films, the show has opened to critical acclaim and sold out houses. It won seven Olivier awards, including Best Director, and a record breaking nine Whatâs On Stage awards, including Best Director. The show also won the Criticsâ Circle Award for Best Musical.
Luke directed the international hit musical & JULIET which is currently playing on Broadway, on tour in the USA, in Toronto, with further productions soon to open in the Netherlands and Germany. The show won six WhatsOnStage Awards and three Olivier awards. On Broadway it received nine Tony Award nominations.
His new production of STARLIGHT EXPRESS continues to run in London in a purpose built auditorium. It won seven WhatsOnStage Awards and received three Oliver Award nominations, including Best Revival. An international tour is planned for 2027.
Luke began his professional directing journey with BYMT as an Assistant Director through its Creative Work Placement (CWP) scheme, an initiative designed to support emerging theatre-makers at the start of their careers. As Assistant Director on the CWP Scheme, he was mentored by director John Nicholson on BYMTâs 2007 production of Force 9½. He then went on to direct numerous BYMT shows including Terry Pratchettâs Mort in 2012, Terry Pratchettâs Soul Music in 2013 & 2014, Jabberwocky in 2017 and Help Get Me Out of this Musical in 2018. His return to the company as its Patron highlights the impact of BYMTâs commitment to nurturing young talent both on and off stage.
Other Credits Include: Just For One Day (Old Vic/West End/Toronto); The Little Big Things (West End); In Dreams (Leeds Playhouse/Toronto); My Sonâs A Queer But What Can You Do? (West End, Turbine Theatre & Edinburgh Fringe), The Da Vinci Code (UK Tour); Whatâs New Pussycat (Birmingham Rep); Rent; Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre); The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3â4: The Musical (West End, Menier Chocolate Factory & Leicester Curve); Billionaire Boy (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton); In The Heights (Kings Cross Theatre & Southwark Playhouse); Newsies (Arts Ed); Peter And The Starcatcher (Royal & Derngate); Night Must Fall (Salisbury Playhouse & UK Tour); Stig Of The Dump (UK Tour); Oliver! (Watermill Theatre); Working; Casa Valentina; Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse); Jet Set Go (Jermyn Street & Theatre 503).
