Force It Into Existence

Theatre is a hugely competitive industry. Formal training is inaccessible to many. So how can you get your foot in the door? This book reveals the secrets of starting, developing and sustaining a career as a theatre director. In 100 short, entertaining notes on everything from fundraising to failure, award-winning artistic director James Grieve uncovers the steps you need to supercharge your career. It's not what you know or who you know - it's how much you want to know. In this entrepreneurial guide you will learn: - how to get started as a theatre director without formal qualifications - how to develop your craft on your own terms - how to become an unstoppable force in the face of setbacks and failures - how to navigate every step of production from rehearsal prep to press night - how to grow as a leader, manager and CEO of your own career - how to deploy practical techniques and inspirational ideas to sustain you as a director and artistic director Don't wait for the phone to ring. Get cracking. Be the director of your own destiny and force it into existence. It starts here.

James Grieve MBE is an award-winning theatre director. He was formerly Artistic Director of the UK's national theatre of new plays Paines Plough where he oversaw 49 world premiere productions on tour to more than 300 places across the UK and internationally, and launched Roundabout; the world's first pop-up plug-and-play theatre. He has directed new plays by some of the UK's leading writers including Mike Bartlett, James Graham, Kae Tempest, Tom Wells, Penelope Skinner, Elinor Cook and Sam Steiner. His acclaimed productions of new plays, classics and musicals have been seen in the UK, North America and across Europe. James was formerly Associate Director at the Bush Theatre and founder of new writing company nabokov. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to theatre.

Introduction Start-up Force it into existence Entrepreneurialism If it didn't exist you'd have to invent it Invent the future Showbusiness Inspiration Grow Practise Taste Slate Kleptomania Things you can do to become a better director Training Assisting Get a proper job Stay on the fucking bus Always learning Failure Production Research Concept Creatives Casting Casting Thank you cards Prep Fear First days Readthrough Rehearsal Body language Notes I don't know Runs Tech Perspective Contradiction Dress Previews Cuts Press night cards Press night Reviews The show must go on? Life Work/life balance Sacrifice Realism Drinking (with actors) Fitness Flow Antisocial Skills You're only one skill in the room Job description Leadership v management Fergie or Wenger? Delegation Clarity Consistency Transparency Responsibility Resilience Patience Dynamism Tenacity Running the show Artistic Directorship Strategy Values Culture Recruitment You can do anything (but not everything) Fundraising Consultative selling Managing up Media Debrief Wisdom Mentors Always work with people better than you Don't work with the same people Only do the jobs you really want to do Undeniability No excuses Don't put things off Quotes Just do the play Don't be a dick The colour wheel Notes to writers Flattery Luck Exhortations Find your tribe Boldly go Imposter Syndrome Advocate Excellence Pass it on Empathy Diversity The Netflix standard Non-negotiables Kindness Epilogue Acknowledgements Notes on the Notes Bibliography Productions