Annie Kershaw is a Theatre Director who strives to make striking, innovative and accessible theatre. She is often drawn to stories that are led by queer and/or female characters.
Her approach to making theatre is highly sensory and instinct-driven, often focused on drawing out moments of symbolism. Annie prioritises building collaborative environments in the rehearsal room, where the cast and creatives can feel comfortable to offer and explore, try new ideas and accept failure as a part of the process. Through interrogating the text rigorously and exploring the ideas from the play extensively, her work aims to be intricately layered, clearly intentioned and cohesive.
She is proudly self-trained as a director, having studied BA Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, before developing her directing practice through workshops, reading, observing, rehearsed readings and assisting brilliant directors such as Jeremy Herrin and James Macdonald.
Annie was the Associate Director of James Graham’s Best of Enemies in 2022 at the Noël Coward Theatre following her role as the Jerwood Assistant Director of the Young Vic production.
She was the 2024 winner of the Genesis Future Director’s Award, for which she directed Girl In the Machine by Stef Smith at the Young Vic Theatre in October 2024. This was supported by the Genesis Foundation. From 2023 to 2024, Annie served as the Carne Deputy Director at Jermyn Street Theatre. Annie is also a facilitator with experience in leading theatre workshops for young people and adults with learning disabilities.
Theatre work includes; (as Director): Private View (Soho Theatre), The Maids (Jermyn Street Theatre, Reading Rep), Girl In The Machine (Young Vic), Light (Five Shorts, Young Vic), Hedda Gabler, Safe (Reading Rep Theatre); (as Associate Director): Best of Enemies (Noël Coward Theatre); (as Assistant Director): Juniper Blood (Donmar Warehouse), Jekyll and Hyde, Dorian (Reading Rep Theatre), Best of Enemies (Young Vic), and Henry II (Rabble Theatre).
Annie’s next production is Educating Rita by Willy Russell, which she will be directing. Performances start in February and run until March 2026 at Reading Rep Theatre.