ABOUT ME

Hi everyone. I am a year into my freelance adventure after 25 years leading theatres. I am developing several exciting projects for major stages, I've become the proud Chair of Improbable, I am a Visiting Fellow at Wadham College Oxford, and I've embarked on an MA in Philosophy with the Open University. I am especially happy to be collaborating with the community in the Leys, Oxford on an annual festival which we revived and re-launched in July 2024.

Below are some words about what I do, and below that you can get a sense of of my work on stage. Next up is a revival of Ben and Imo at The Orange Tree in Richmond Ben and Imo - Orange Tree Theatre

I am a sensitive and effective facilitator, an experienced coach and mentor, and I can support you or your organisation think through, plan and achieve strategic change, embark on cultural transformation, or clearly define and walk confidently towards your goals.

I have a powerful track record in fundraising and business planning. I am passionate about radical, long-term engagement of communities and places in creative work, and a confident influencer of policy. I enjoy inspiring and enabling teams and networks to work better together.

I have led significant organisational change esepcially in equity, justice and inclusion and can guide you through active listening, strategy setting and action planning to embed these values in your work and/or your organisation .

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CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

2021-2023

Acting Artistic Director, Royal Shakespeare Company

I restored the RSC’s artistic and financial confidence after the turbulence of the pandemic, resulting in significant, bold and sustained success onstage including My Neighbour Totoro (winner of six Olivier Awards 2023), Hamnet and Cowbois.

2013-2021

Deputy Artistic Director, Royal Shakespeare Company

I programmed more diverse new commissions than ever before, and directed daring new work and hugely popular contemporary takes on Shakespeare. I re-opened The Other Place with ground-breaking festivals, overhauled the RSC’s approach to equity, justice and inclusion, including transforming leadership and governance. I dramatically increased ambition in learning, participation and national co-created work, establishing Shakespeare Nation.

2005-2013

Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Northern Stage

I led major cultural change, completed a complex capital development, found an entirely new audience, opened the doors to local, national and international artists, exponentially increased income, established a unique collaboration between the city’s cultural organisations and claimed our place in a national conversation.

2000-2004

Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Gate Theatre, Notting Hill

I secured first ever regular funding, produced a daring international programme, and negotiated the Equity Fringe Theatre agreement, ensuring artists were paid for their work for the first time in 21 years

1998-2000

Artistic Director Southwark Playhouse

I put what was then a tiny theatre on the map, creating an immersive, distinctive programme which transformed its ambitions and reputation.

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SELECTED DIRECTING CREDITS

The Gate

Tear from A Glass Eye by Matt Cameron,

(nominated for an Evening Standard Award)

Les Justes by Albert Camus tr. by Gillian Hanna,

Ion by Euripides adapted by David Lan

The Flu Season by Will Eno

Witness by Cecilia Parkert

(winner of the inaugural Gate Translation Award)

National Theatre

The Shadow of a Boy by Gary Owen

Oxford Playhouse

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde starring Dominic Rowan, Maggie Steed and Sally Phillips.

Sheffield Crucible

The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee starring Sian Thomas & Jasper Britton, co-produced with Northern Stage. Designer Soutra Gilmour

(Nominated for best director UK Theatre Awards.)

“Entirely fresh in Erica’s whip-smart revival” Times

“Lethally funny” Telegraph

Northern Stage

Son of Man by Dennis Potter

Look Back in Anger by John Osborne

The Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen adapted by Frank McGuinness

Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron

Our Friends In The North by Peter Flannery

(25th anniversary and its only revival)

Oh What A Lovely War! by Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop, co-directed w/Sam Kenyon

(nominated for Best Musical Revival UK Theatre Awards)

Oh, The Humanity by Will Eno,

Northern Stage and Soho Theatre

RSC

Revolt She Said, Revolt Again, by Alice Birch

The Ant and the Cicada by Timberlake Wertenbaker

The Christmas Truce by Phil Porter, design Tom Piper

“Makes it resonate so powerfully I can’t see it being bettered” Telegraph

Hecuba by Marina Carr, starring Ray Fearon & Derbhle Crotty, music Isobel Waller-Bridge

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Play For The Nation (Ayesha Dharker, Lucy Ellinson, Chu Omambala, Jack Holden) RST, Northern Stage, Blackpool, Bradford, Canterbury, Truro, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham, Norwich, Barbican.

“Erica’s delightful Dream comes dusted with magic, & a sense that we can dream a better world” Guardian

Seven Acts of Mercy by Anders Lustgarten (Tom Georgeson, Patrick O’Kane)

Earthworks by Tom Morton Smith

Romeo and Juliet (Bally Gill, Karen Fishwick) RST, Barbican, Norwich, Nottingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Bradford, Blackpool, Glasgow. Designer Tom Piper.

‘fresh, fleet, blade-sharp’ Telegraph

Miss Littlewood by Sam Kenyon (Clare Burt, Dawn Hope), choreography Lucy May Hind

‘Pulsatingly entertaining’ The Times

The Museum in Baghdad by Hannah Khalil

The Winter’s Tale, made in the pandemic for the BBC, lighting Prema Mehta, music Isobel Waller-Bridge

FAITH, City Of Culture, a 24 hour city-wide event including four plays & a Ceremony of Light written by Chino Odimba, Chris O’Connell & the people of Coventry

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti. Starring Madeleine Mantock and Tom Varey. Sold out run in the Swan theatre followed by packed houses at the Garrick Theatre

‘Pure theatre gold’ Daily Mail.

Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill starring Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates

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