About Richard
This page uses shorter sentences and simpler words.
Portrait: Brad Wendes
Who I am
My name is Richard Bland.
I am a theatre director.
A director works with actors and other artists to make a play.
I live in the East of England.
I come from a working-class background.
I am a neurodivergent artist. This means my brain works differently from some other people’s brains.
The theatre I make
I work on new plays and older plays.
I want audiences to feel something and discover new ideas.
I am interested in stories about people facing difficult times.
I also look for hope, humour and imagination.
Working together
I want actors to feel safe, respected and heard.
We share ideas and try things out together.
We use play and humour to help us explore.
My training
I studied acting at Guildford School of Acting.
I studied directing at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
I also completed the Mercury Theatre Directors Programme.
Helping people make theatre
I started Stage Craft @ in Essex and Suffolk.
It helps people learn acting skills, meet other artists and make theatre.
I work with adult actors and young actors.
Some people are performing for the first time.
Other ways I work
I help writers develop their plays. This work is called dramaturgy.
I also coach actors. We can work on a character, a scene or an audition.
Contact me
You can email me to talk about working together.
Read about my productions in easy-read text →
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