Elizabeth Newman is the Octagon Theatre’s Associate Director. Her post is sponsored by The University of Bolton.  She runs our new writing department, co-ordinates BoltON (our supplementary season of events and activities) and directs main auditorium productions. Her role at the Theatre also includes developing creative partnerships and managing our professional placements.

Elizabeth trained at Rose Bruford College. She graduated from the Directing BA (Hons) in 2007. Since then she has worked as a freelance director, lecturer and casting director. She was named finalist for the Young Achiever of the Year Award for Arts and received the Oguntê Make a Wave Award for women of social leadership in 2008. She became Associate Artist of Southwark Playhouse in 2008 and Acting Artistic Director for six months in 2009. Elizabeth remains Artistic Director of Shared Property Theatre Company.

Elizabeth was on the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme. She was mentored by David Thacker and completed her traineeship in 2010. At the end of her training she was appointed the Octagon Theatre’s Assistant Director. This post was also sponsored by The University of Bolton. 

Since being at the Octagon Theatre Bolton Elizabeth has directed Sweeney Todd, David Copperfield, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Should Love Hurt This Much?,  The Nose, A Thing Called Love Season, White Nights, Smoking Is Bad for You, Seven Jewish Children, First Dates Season and our Poetry on a Plate recitals. During her traineeship Elizabeth assisted David on a number of productions including All My Sons, Ghosts, The Enemies Within, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Comedians and The Hired Man.

Before arriving at the Octagon Elizabeth had directed numerous productions for Shared Property Theatre Company and other theatres including King’s Head Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Warehouse Theatre, Old Red Lion, Oxford Playhouse, Old Vic (New Voices), Arcola Theatre, BAC, Hampstead Theatre and Theatre503.