Alex Howarth
Theatre Director and Writer
★ ★ ★ ★
'bursts with life and quirkily observed truths; it's guaranteed to break your heart'
Lyn Gardner, The Stage
Alex is an award winning theatre director and writer from the North West, represented by Berlin Associates.
He was named one of 'Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For' by The Guardian and is the first director in history to have his work performed at the United Nations.
Coming from a background of working in care, Alex is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices. His debut play Cassie and the Lights was based on a true story and interviews with children in the care system and is currently being developed for television. Nominated for the BBC Writer's Room Popcorn Award and the SitUp Award for social change, it was in The Stage critic's Best Shows of Edinburgh Fringe. It is published by Nick Hern Books.
In 2026 he has directed The Soaking of Vera Shrimp at Holden Street Theatres Australia winning the Adelaide Critic's Circle Award, and Lifeline at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, an original Scottish musical with a chorus of sixty real life medical professionals which became the second biggest selling show in the venue's history. His second play, You and Me (and Whoever Comes Next), co-written with disabled performer and activist Keron Day and actor Helen Chong, inspired by Keron's true story and Alex's experiences working in care, will open at Summerhall at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe as the winner of the Mary Dick Award, supported by Hall for Cornwall.
A former support worker for the charity Sense, he has worked extensively with disabled artists, and recently co-created one man show Strictly Lawrie with performer Lawrie Morris (Growing up Downs, BBC). We Live By the Sea, a play with live music about a girl with autism, received Critic’s Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in the New York Times, and won the Grahame F. Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre.
Alex has worked as an associate director for Richard Eyre, David Thacker, Polina Kalinina and Jeff Clarke, at venues including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He regularly directs at drama schools including Arts Ed, Italia Conti and Central School of Speech and Drama. He is the Artistic Director of multi-award winning Patch of Blue, who create original theatre pieces with live music for festivals and touring.
He strives to create ensemble-led theatre that is playful, fresh and moving.
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
European Premiere- Drayton Arms © scarab pictures
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
"Alex has a commitment to creating inclusive, accessible and refreshing work, with a focus on empowering artists from minority groups to influence and lead his work, so that the
results are truly authentic."
Flo O'Mahony- Artistic Director, Zoo Co
“Alex is a truly gifted director. He inspires his actors to excellence with intelligence and kindness, and he has a stunning gift for finding the perfect visual expression of any play. It was an honor to watch how he brought my play to life.”
Jacob Marx Rice- Writer
"Alex is the most talented director I have ever worked with. He is very funny and a good listener."
Lawrie Morris- Actor
"I suggested the play Chemistry to Alex and he did me proud with a magnificent production of it at the Finborough Theatre. I very much look forward to him returning in the very near future."
Neil McPherson- Artistic Director, Finborough Theatre
“Working with Alex is an absolute privilege. The time and detail he puts into his work shines through each and every performance. I've had the pleasure of working with him on multiple occasions and I feel supported, appreciated and encouraged every time.”
Helen Chong- Actor
"Alex was an extremely supportive and inventive assistant on Orpheus in the Underworld. He was extremely adept at problem solving, had a real and perceptive grasp of the concept and the style, and was thoroughly supportive, tireless, and fun to work with all the way through."
Jeff Clarke- Artistic Director, Opera Della Luna
"Alex puts his whole heart into every single show I've worked with him on and creates super safe environments for new ideas. I have always loved being a part of his creative team and I'm inspired
by his limitless imagination and
seemingly endless patience.'"
Alice McNicholas- Designer
"Alex is a conscientious director who thinks about the people making the work as much as the work itself. He brought out the true heart of our play
A Partnership and was an inspiring collaborative force to work with, bringing the best
out of everyone on the team.'"
Rory Thomas-Howes- Artistic Director, Paper Mug
“Alex Howarth's direction is precise, detailed and full of heart. My students adore working with him and it's easy to see why. His ability to cultivate characters and present narratives on stage is intuitive, thought-provoking,
and ultimately life-affirming."
Andrew Wright- Resident Producer at
University of Chichester Conservatoire
"Alex is an inspiring, encouraging and supportive director. He has great ideas for what works onstage and is a pleasure to work with."
Ruth Redman- Actor
Alex has worked with
