Helen Tennison

Helen is a multi-award winning director and theatre-maker working in the UK and internationally. Her work spans devised and site specific theatre, new writing and classics, always with humour, truth a sense of the poetic and a quirky edge. 

Her recent directing work includes the Edinburgh Fringe First Award Winning, Everything I Say I Swallow featuring aerial rope performance, Much Ado About Nothing for Creation Theatre, an actor-muso production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Navigating Margaret, a new piece of writing by Helen about living with Dementia for a large cast of professional and community actors. Other favourite jobs include directing Shirley Valentine for Teatret ved Sorte Hest (Copenhagen Culture Award Winner) the surreal comedy of Bang Average in Dirty Corset (The Pleasance & tour, Juries Choice Award Bergen Fringe) directing the first female Hamlet in the Balkans, adapting and directing Wuthering Heights for Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud & UK tour and creating Doggerland, her interactive solo lecture-performance (Best show of the Festival nomination STOFF, Stockholm).

Helen was previously Co-Artistic Director of Drama Studio, London where mentored students through their actor training and into the professional world. She has directed graduation shows for numerous drama schools and universities including East 15, Royal Academy of Music and University of Birmingham. She was Associate Lecturer, Shakespeare in performance, Goldsmiths University has worked at Shakespeare’s Globe and led community workshops for Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and The Old Vic. 

Helen worked as an actor before moving into directing, she brings her understanding of how it feels to be the person in the spotlight to her passion for teaching and facilitation.

“I create a fun, focused, safe and inclusive space with plenty of positive feedback to help you reach your full potential. I’ll encourage you to be brave and embrace failure as part of the journey to success!”