Alex Howarth
Theatre Director
and Writer
★ ★ ★ ★ 'bursts with life and quirkily observed truths; it's guaranteed to break your heart'
Critic's Top Shows of Edinburgh Fringe 2022- Lyn Gardner, The Stage
Alex is an award winning theatre director and writer based in London.
He was named one of 'Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For in 2023'
by The Guardian.
Coming from the North West and a background of working in care, Alex is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices. His 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 ran at 59E59 Theaters, Off Broadway New York in 2023.
A former drama therapist for the charity Sense, he has worked extensively with disabled artists, and recently co-created one man show Strictly Lawrie with disabled artist Lawrie Morris. His play about a girl with autism We Live By the Sea received Critic’s Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in the New York Times, won the Best Theatre Award and the Critic’s Choice Award at Adelaide Festival, and the Grahame F. Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre, and was nominated for the Fringe First and the Off West End Awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble.
He was the assistant director on La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and regularly directs at drama schools including Italia Conti, Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview, and Chichester Conservatoire. He adapted and directed the world stage premiere of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside the movie's writer and director, Oscar nominee Peter Hedges.
He is the Artistic Director of multi-award winning Patch of Blue, who create original theatre pieces with live music for festivals and touring.
Directing a video shoot for Strictly Lawrie at The Globe in 2022
He strives to create ensemble-led theatre that is playful, fresh and moving.
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts - PG (Dip) Theatre Directing
Chichester Conservatoire
Chichester Conservatoire
Liverpool Theatre School © Barry Mills
Chichester Conservatoire
TESTIMONIALS
"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'Mahoney- 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
"I suggested the play Chemistry to Alex and he did me proud with a magnificent production of it at the Finborough Theatre. I was delighted to with work
him again during lockdown, and very much look forward to him
returning to the the Finborough in the very near future."
Neil McPherson- Artistic Director- Finborough Theatre
“I produced Misterman and needed a director that could bring something new and original to the creative process. Alex did just that and so much more.
Not only was I proud to put my name to the production,
I am hugely excited to collaborate with Alex again in the future.”
David Ball- Producer
“Alex Howarth is a fantastically gifted director who creates work with imagination and flair, whilst running a disciplined, creative and fun rehearsal process.”
Dr. Jez Colclough- Programme Leader B.A. (Hons.) Acting- Institute of the Arts Cumbria
"Alex was an extremely supportive and inventive assistant on Orpheus in the Underworld. He contributed much to the final result and 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 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 is an inspiring, encouraging and supportive director. He has great ideas for what works onstage and is a pleasure to work with."
Ruth Redman- Actress
“a tight, imaginative
staging, creating an
expansive world out of
very little"
— The New York Times
