FRANCESCA GOODRIDGE
Director
Agent: Sam Day @ Inter Talent | Sam@intertalentgroup.com | +44 (0) 2074275681
Francesca is a Welsh, working class theatre director and the previous Associate Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd. She was the first recipient of the Carne Traineeship for Directors in Wales, mentored by Tamara Harvey and prior to that the Trainee Director at The Other Room theatre in Cardiff. Francesca creates multi discipline, non-naturalistic theatre that champions unheard voices. She is interested in extraordinary real-life stories from everyday people. She enjoys working with new writing and reimagined classics. Her work usually incorporates music and movement. Francesca has recently been selected on the inaugural Warner Bros. Discovery Access programme in partnership with Waterloo Road and the BBC, mentored by directors Jude Weng and Jesse Quinones focussing on directing for TV.
TRAINING
2024 | WBD Access x Waterloo Road | Directing for TV
2024 | RSC | Artist Development | Directing with Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod (Cheeky by Jowl)
2023 | RSC | Artist Development | Directing Shakespeare with Robert Icke
2022 | National Theatre Directors Course
2019 | First Recipient of Carne 18-month Traineeship for Directors in Wales at Theatr Clwyd
2011-2014 | BA Honours Acting, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (Awarded Acting Prize)
LIST OF PRODUCTIONS
2025 (Upcoming)
CONSTELLATIONS | Director | RWCMD
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN | Director | Leeds Conservatoire
NYE | Revival Co-Director with Rufus Norris | The National Theatre
SNAKE IN THE GRASS | Director | Co-production with Theatr Clwyd & Bolton Theatre.
2024
RAPUNZEL | Director | Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre
ROPE | Director | Theatr Clwyd
NYE | Associate Director | Director: Rufus Norris | Olivier Stage, The National Theatre, and WMCRope by Patrick Hamilton at Theatr Clwyd
2023
SLEEPING BEAUTY ROCK N ROLL PANTO | Director | Theatr Clwyd, Big Top (1000 seat venue)
BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF | Associate Director | Director: Kate Wasserberg | Liverpool’s Royal Court
A GREASY SPOON | Director | Liverpool’s Royal Court
TRUTH OR DARE | Director | Theatr Clwyd
SORTER | Director | Swansea Grand Theatre (Nominated for a Stage Debut Award)
FAUSTUS: THAT DAMNED WOMAN | Director | Storyhouse Theatre
MISS WALES | Director and co-creator | R&D Recipient of The Generate Programme by The NT Studio & BEAM showcase
2022
THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF MARIAN AND ROBIN HOOD | Director | The Barn Theatre
FAMOUS FIVE THE MUSICAL | Associate Director | Director: Tamara Harvey | Chichester FT & Thear Clwyd
PRETTY SHITTY LOVE | Director | Theatr Clwyd
POSH | Director | LIPA
2021
THE BROTHERS GRIMM PRESENT CINDERELLA | Director | The Barn Theatre
REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN. | Director | LIPA
ISLA | Associate Director | Director: Tamara Harvey | Theatr Clwyd & The Royal Court
CAROUSEL | Director | Mountview
Previous Productions
2020 | ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS | Director | Theatr Clwyd
2020 | PHILISTINES | Director | LIPA
2019 | THE CROCODILE | Cornerstone Theatre
2017 | ADAM, EVE AND STEVE | The Kings Head Theatre
2015 | SHOUT! THE MOD MUSICAL | Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre
Previous Selected Associate/Assistant Productions
SINNERS CLUB | Associate Director | Director: Titas Halder | The Other Room
PAVILION | Director: Tamara Harvey | Theatr Clwyd
MILKY PEAKS | Associate Director | Director: Alex Swift | Tour
FOR THE GRACE OF YOU GO I | Director: James Grieve | Theatr Clwyd / Tour
A CHRISTMAS CAROL | Director: Liz Stevenson | Theatr Clwyd
Curtain Up | Directed by Tamara Harvey | Theatr Clwyd
Other
Visiting Director at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Leeds Conservertoire, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Mountview and LIPA.
Work in Development
MISS WALES | A new all-female musical and recipient of the National Theatre Studio's Generate Programme. It will open at Theatr Clwyd for full production in 2027 . Selected for BEAM 2023.
WITHOUT YOU: THE BADFINGER MUSICAL | Supported by Arts Council Wales
References (contact details available on request)
Tamara Harvey Joint Artistic Director of RSC.
Rufus Norris Artistic Director of The National Theatre