Hatch – The Sea by Edward Bond
Biography
Annabel graduated in European Theatre Arts from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance and the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático [2011–14] with BA [Hons] First Class. She was appointed Director-in-Residence at Eton College [2015–17] and Harrow School [2017–20] where she directed classic, contemporary and devised works along with curation of the London Primary Tour and initiation of the Harrow Fringe Festival. In 2019, she undertook further study in Text and Performance with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art [RADA] and Birkbeck College, graduating with MA [Distinction] in 2020. That same year, she founded Children’s Theatre Digital. Annabel taught Drama at Notting Hill & Ealing High School [2023–25] and currently teaches Drama at Cranleigh School [2025 to date].
A passionate advocate for integrating digital media within the performing arts, Annabel believes the digital sphere offers a vital opportunity for the children’s theatre sector not only to survive but to thrive. Her work explores how combining live performance with digital accessibility can benefit both artists and audiences—expanding reach, enhancing engagement, and creating more inclusive theatrical experiences.
Annabel founded Children’s Theatre Digital as a platform dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging and established theatre makers from the UK and around the world. Designed to make high-quality, engaging theatre accessible to young people and families globally, the platform leverages creative digital media capturing the imagination of children and adults alike. Open to all without the need for sign-in or subscription, Children’s Theatre Digital serves teachers, families and anyone passionate about the arts.
Alongside her work with Children’s Theatre Digital, Annabel is the Artistic Director of Todos Teatro, a physical theatre company that uses clowning techniques to inspire young audiences to explore themes of ecological change. Her work with the company is focused on creating immersive, thought provoking experiences for young minds.
Career & Training
2025 – Present
Teacher of Drama, Cranleigh School
2023 – 2025
Teacher of Drama, Notting Hill & Ealing High School
2020 – Present
Founder & CEO, Children’s Theatre Digital
2019 – 2020
MA [Distinction], Text & Performance, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) / Birkbeck College
2020
Freelance Outreach Practitioner, The Watermill Theatre
Oxford Playhouse Associate Artist with Todos Teatro [Shortlisted for Evolve]
2018 – Present
Artistic Director & Head of Education, Todos Teatro
2018
Visiting Speaker, Rwanda – Developing the Arts & Youth Empowerment Scheme [The First Lady’s Foundation]
2017 – 2021
Director-in-Residence, Ryan Theatre, Harrow School
Founded the Harrow Fringe Festival and curated the London Primary Tour
2015 – 2017
Director-in-Residence, Farrer Theatre, Eton College
2015 – Present
Co-Founder & Affiliate Director, To&Fro – New Writing & Training Company
2015
Company Member, The Pappy Show
2013 – 2015
Performer, Bred in the Bone Theatre Company
2014
Participant, Young Vic Directors’ Programme
Performer, Oxford World Theatre & Gallery Drama
Trainee, European Centre for Theatre Practices, Gardzienice
2011 – 2014
BA (Hons) First Class, European Theatre Arts
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance / Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático, Creación
2011 – Present
Member, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
2009 – 2011
Trainee, Peer Productions Youth Arts Training Programme
Directing Credits
2025
- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Notting Hill & Ealing High School
2024
- The Dream Collector by Fin Kennedy
Notting Hill & Ealing High School
2023
- Ghost from a Perfect Place by Philip Ridley
Rose Bruford College
2022
- The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
The Old Harrovian Players
[Rehearsed; performance cancelled in respect for HM Queen Elizabeth II]
2021
- Rabbit by Nina Raine
Rose Bruford College, Studio 1
2020
- Assassins – Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by John Weidman
The Rattigan Society Musical, Ryan Theatre
2019
- Turtles Don’t Like Plastic – Devised with Bethan Screen
Brighton Fringe, International Youth Arts Festival, Beijing with Nagashenme - Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner
Ryan Theatre - Land of Nod – New Writing/Devised
Ryan Theatre / London Primary Tour & Harrow Fringe Festival
2018
- The History Boys by Alan Bennett
The Rattigan Society, Ryan Theatre - The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
Harrow Fringe Festival - Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre [adapted by Tanya Ronder]
Ryan Theatre - Eva and the Wolf by Matt Boyd [Workshop]
- Elleker and the Sugar Coated Emporium – Devised
Ryan Theatre / London Primary Tour
2017
- The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Ryan Theatre - A Little Blue Birdy Told Me – Devised with Sean Hollands
Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh Festival - The Chase for the Golden Meteor – Devised [inspired by Jules Verne]
Caccia Studio - The Sea by Edward Bond
Caccia Studio - What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton – Associate Director with Joe Hancock
Caccia Studio
2016
- Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco
Farrer Theatre
[Director of Music: Jonathan Woolgar] - Radpole – Devised, Double Edge Drama
Edinburgh Festival - Guerrilla Street: The Ballad of Eddie – Devised
Caccia Studio - Eight by Ella Hickson – Assistant Director
To&Fro Theatre Company, White Bear Theatre
2015
- The Tempest & Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Oxford World Theatre, Freistadt Shakespeare Festival - Woyzeck by Georg Büchner
Caccia Studio - Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Oxford World Theatre, Slovakia Tour - Romeo & Juliet / Treasure Island by William Shakespeare / R.L. Stevenson
Gallery Drama, Sicily Tour - Antigone by Sophocles – Assistant Director [dir. Hailz Osborne]
Farrer Theatre
2014
- Tiger! Tiger!, Gulliver’s Travels, Don Quixote by Kipling / Swift / Cervantes
Oxford World Theatre, Russia Tour - Liberation – Assistant Director [dir. Luke Clark]
The Place & ZOO Venues, Main Space [2014–15] - Phases of Her – Devised
Istropolitana Festival, Bratislava
2013
- Herons by Simon Stephens
Rose Bruford College, Studio 1 - Slightly South of Weymouth – Assistant Director [dir. Flick Fernando]
The Company, The Rose Theatre
2013–2014
- 21 Windmills – Assistant Director
New Writing, Cervantes/Shakespeare [dir. Matthieu Leloup-Bellon]
2012
- Parkview Apocalypse – Assistant Director / Film Editor [dir. Jason Orbaum]
- SuperMentals – Assistant Director / Film Editor [dir. Jason Orbaum]
Related Experience
2015
- Facilitator, Persephone [dir. Bea Holland]
Step Out Project, The Scoop, London
2014
- Deviser, Oedipus on the Road [R&D]
Bred in the Bone Theatre Company, Théâtre de Ménilmontant, Paris - Puppeteer, Beneath a Broken Self [Naptrap]
Istropolitana Festival, Bratislava - Actor/Practitioner, Riders to the Sea [dir. Amanda Collins]
Bred in the Bone, RBC Symposium Festival - Actor/Practitioner, She Is Macbeth [dir. Mathieu Leloup-Bellon]
Bred in the Bone, RBC Symposium Festival - Performer/Deviser, Against Nothingness [dir. Teresa & Andrzej Welminscy]
Pulse 53, The Barn Theatre
2012
- Performer/Deviser, The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca [dir. Luis Campos]
RBC, Studio 1 - Musician/Deviser, The Adventures of Prince Achmed [Musical Director: Arun Ghosh]
Rose Bruford College, The Rose Theatre - Performer/Deviser, The Marriage by Witold Gombrowicz [dir. Anna Makrzanowska]
RBC, Studio 1 - Deviser, Naked Sound [dir. Dominic Cooper]
The Barn Theatre - Performer/Deviser, London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Team Welcoming Ceremonies [dir. Paul Roseby]
National Youth Theatre, Olympic Park - Deviser, Pigeon English [R&D, dir. Miranda Cromwell]
Bristol Old Vic / NYT, NYT Studios
2009–2010
- Performer/Deviser, The Projects [dir. Nina Lemon]
Peer Productions, UK Tour - Performer/Deviser, Into the Woods [dir. Nina Lemon]
Peer Productions, UK Tour - Actor/Practitioner, New Writing [Rehearsed Reading]
Nuffield Theatre - Assistant, The Barre [dir. Kate Tydman & Stuart Neal]
Tarnbrisk Pictures, Short Film