Biography
Iain graduated with a First Class Honours degree from the Paul McCartney-inspired Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts – Iain received his degree from Sir Paul himself! Winner of the Philip Holt prize, Iain has directed and performed in a diverse range of productions throughout the UK to critical acclaim, including new musicals, classic plays and workshop performances.
Iain has had over 15 years experience in teaching and is currently a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. He has been a guest lecturer at some of the most prestigious conservatoire drama schools in the UK including Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama (now RCS) and The Birmingham School of Acting. Iain lectures in Directing, Improvisation, Narrative skills and Acting Technique. Although Stanislavski-based, his teaching & directing combine a variety of influences and styles. Iain was a selector and workshop leader with the National Student Drama Festival for seven years and has worked for the Princes Trust, helping young people with their performance skills.
Some of his directing credits include; Lotty’s War (Giddy Ox, UK Tour); Vincent in Brixton (BAC); The Glass Menagerie (Gale Theatre of London and Barbados), Mathew Miller, (Northcott Theatre); The European Premiere of the new musical Flight of the Lawnchair Man (BAC), About Face, (Cardiff Search For New Musicals), Tiny Tiny Tales (Stephen Joseph Theatre).
Credits for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival include: Confessions of Julian Po (European Premier and nominated for Musical Theatre Matters Awards, a part of the Fringe First Awards), Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Blues In the Night and the European premiere of 3hree. Others include Fathers and Sons (RSAMD), Hitchcock Blonde, (The Crescent Theatre), The House of Yes, The Memory of Water (The Old Joint Stock Theatre) The Libertine (The Birmingham Old Rep), Guid Sisters, Trips (BSA); A Small Family Business, August Osage County, They Shoot Horses Don’t They, Oleanna, A Man of No Importance, Good, Twelfth Night, 12 Angry Men, Time and the Conways, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Crucible (LIPA).
He has directed several productions for Edinburgh Napier: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Plaza Suite, the European premieres of The Secrets Hidden Behind the Beatles RockBand, and Fault Lines.
Time out called Lotty’s War “…An object lesson in Naturalism for the fringe stage”.
Musical Theatre Matters commented on Confessions of Julian Po, “… I had heard good things prior to my visit and it didn’t disappoint.”
Claire Smith from the Scotsman said about 3hree “WOW. And there was me thinking that I didn’t like musicals.”
Iain has extensive experience working as a facilitator and actor for a number of corporate clients such as BP, Simmons and Simmons, Osmosis, Identity and the Passport Service, Department of Health, DEFRA, Food Standards Agency, Hyder Consulting, ERM, Medical Research Council, Stephenson Harwood Solicitors and The Abbey National.
He is also a qualified photographer and while training he specialised in film. He has directed a number of short films and is a keen filmmaker.