Drama Staff - Rob Marsden

r.j.marsden@staffs.ac.uk

Tel. 01782 294483

Personal Blog: www.rmyork.blogspot.com

Robert Marsden specialises in Drama Practice at Staffordshire University. He is also busy as a freelance theatre director and has worked extensively in both commercial and subsidised theatre in the UK. Robert is currently undertaking an MA in Professional Practice at Middlesex University.

Recent professional work includes They Called It Passchendaele (Belgium); The Savonarola Debate (Florence, Italy) and Jack and the Beanstalk starring Lynne McGranger (Home and Away) and Frazer Hines. He is currently developing a new documentary play for 2010 and the pantomime Beauty and the Beast (Porthcawl).

In repertory, he has worked at the Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, Stephen Joseph Scarborough, Bolton Octagon, Southwark Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse and Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Robert also spent 5 years at the local New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme as an assistant then associate working on over 25 productions for mainstage, studio and Borderlines outreach. Productions ranged from working with Alan Ayckbourn on his play Sugar Daddies (National No 1 Tour) and productions such as Harvest (devised), Some Enchanted Evening, A Broadway Songbook, Carmen, Cabaret, Outside Edge, Sweeney Todd and Romeo and Juliet.

Commercially, he has been Staff and Associate Director on The Extra Factor with Kevin Kennedy and Antony Costa, The Naked Truth with Lisa Riley and Julie Buckfield and Over the Rainbow (all National Touring) as well as productions for Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Since 1999, Robert has been heavily involved in pantomime, and has written and directed several productions in Stoke on Trent, Crewe Lyceum, Wrexham, Ickenham (London) and Belfast, Northern Ireland and for producer Stephen Boden at Wish Theatre Ltd. Recent pantomimes include Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast with Craig Phillips and Lara Sacher (Neighbours).

He is also Artistic Director of his own company, Reveal Theatre where he has produced and directed over 13 productions in the Midlands, London and touring including Am I Not a Man and a Brother? (National Tour and re-launch in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), They Called It Passchendaele (Belgium), The Savonarola Debate (Florence, Italy) Singin’ in the Rain, Sticks and Stones, (Tour) Hitting Town, Trench Kiss, Two, the documentary play On The Home Front, Charley’s Aunt and Teechers, and recently secured Arts Council and Home Office funding for touring productions and projects, including commissioning and developing a new play King Macbeth. He is also director of ‘Under Wraps’, a new initiative for new writing in North Staffordshire.

Robert combines his professional directing work with lecturing and guest directing at Universities and Drama Schools such as The Arden, Manchester Metropolitan, Keele University, Staffordshire University and Aberystwyth University.

Writing has included A Sense of (re)Direction and The Story of Mrs M (New Vic) as well as numerous pantomimes. He is a member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain and has had articles published in Direct magazine and The Stage and has worked for BBC Radio 4 Drama and Television.