Dave Spencer
director
(theatre & Opera)
'Distorted realities have always been my cup of tea.'
Virginia Woolf
about
Freelance theatre director & producer.
Dave is particularly interested in a style of theatre that he developed with his colleagues in Another Soup, the theatre company he founded in 2010. This style of theatre is called 'Brechtian immersion' and seeks to invite audiences into convincing, immersive, and involving theatrical settings, whilst also giving them opportunities to remember that what they are witnessing is theatre.
Dave graduated from the King's Head Theatre's Directing Programme in July 2016 and has since become Co-Producer and Associate Director of The So & So Arts Club.
In February, he directed The Soul Of Wittgenstein, which was the headliner of Omnibus Theatre's 96 Festival, and returned to the theatre in June 2018 to direct the headliner of their Summer Season, The Yellow Wallpaper.
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Dave Spencer - Director (Stage & Opera)
Director | Producer | Writer | Theatre Maker
Directing Credits
Professional Showcases
Identity School of Acting - Director
Apr 2019 - Identity
ALL STOPS TO EAST BEDLAM by Stewart Permutt
The So & So Arts Club - Director
Apr 2019 - The So & So Arts Club
THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by Ruby Lawrence
Another Soup - Director
Jun 2018 - Omnibus Theatre
THE SOUL OF WITTGENSTEIN by Ron Elisha
Another Soup - Director
Feb 2018 - Omnibus Theatre
STOLEN YEARS by Peter Lantos (rehearsed reading)
The So & So Arts Club - Director
Feb 2018 - Tristan Bates Theatre
LA BOHEME by Giacomo Puccini
King's Head Theatre West End - Associate Director
Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 - Trafalgar Studios
SIX BY ONE by Tommy Kearney (staged readings)
Regent's University and The So & So Arts Club - Director
Oct 2017 - Marylebone Theatre
WINDOW by Ron Elisha
Another Soup - Director
Aug - Sep 2017 - The Bread & Roses Theatre
POSSESSION by Caroline Loncq (rehearsed reading)
The So & So Arts Club - Director
June 2017 - So & So At The Bridge
DISTORTING MIRRORS by Peter Lantos (rehearsed reading)
Embassy of Hungary - Director
Oct 2016 - Hungarian Cultural Centre
LA BOHEME by Giacomo Puccini
(dir. Adam Spreadbury-Maher) - Associate Director
Aug - Sep 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
THE SOUL OF WITTGENSTEIN by Ron Elisha
Festival 46 - Director
Jul 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
THE MARVELLOUS ADVENTURES OF MARY SEACOLE by Cleo Sylvestre
(dir. Sarah Berger) - Assistant Director
Jun - Aug 2016 - So & So Arts Club (Women and War Festival)
FAMILY TREE by Roses Urquhart
The Night Kitchen Cabaret - Associate Director
Jun - Jul 2016 - GBS Theatre, RADA (RADA Festival 2016)
COSI by Louis Nowra
(dir. Wayne Harrison) - Assistant Director
Feb 2016 – March 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
THE LONG ROAD SOUTH by Paul Minx
(dir. Sarah Berger) - Assistant Director
King William Productions and So & So Arts Club
Nov 2015 – Jan 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
VICTORIAN & GAY by Bethany Greenwood and Steffi Walker
Another Soup - Director
Oct 2015 - Dec 2015 - The Hope Theatre
LOVETT + TODD by Dave Spencer and Idgie Beau
Another Soup - Director
May – Aug 2015 - King’s Head Theatre
DORIAN GRAY by Dave Spencer and Steffi Walker
Another Soup - Director
Jan – Apr 2015 - King’s Head Theatre
VICTORIAN VICES by Dave Spencer and Idgie Beau
Another Soup - Director
Jan – Sep 2014 - The Space on Niddry Street, Edinburgh
SWEENEY TODD & THE STRING OF PEARLS by Dave Spencer
Another Soup - Director
Jan – Jul 2013 - Indoor Market, Durham
VIRGINIA WOOLF'S THE WAVES by Dave Spencer
Another Soup - Director
Sep – Nov 2012 - Bede Chapel, Durham
THE JUNGLE BOOK by Dave Spencer
Another Soup - Director
Apr – Jul 2012 - The Empty Shop, Durham
SLEEPING BEAUTY by Dave Spencer
Another Soup - Director
Jan – Sep 2011 - The Space on North Bridge, Edinburgh
A DOLL'S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen (trans. Samuel Adamson)
Another Soup - Director
Aug – Sep 2010 - Fountains Hall, Durham
Other Theatrical Work
THE SO & SO ARTS CLUB
Co-Producer and Associate Director
Dec 2016 - present
CRY HAVOC by Tom Coash
Marketing Manager
Mar - Apr 2019 - Park Theatre
Jeannie by Aimée Stuart
Marketing Manager
Nov - Dec 2018 - Finborough Theatre
WOMEN AND WAR: EXODUS
The So & So Arts Club - Co-producer
Jul 2017 - Streatham Hill Theatre
THE CHEMSEX MONOLOGUES by Patrick Cash
Dragonflies Theatre - Producer
Aug 2016 - King's Head Theatre
WOMEN AND WAR FESTIVAL 2016
The So & So Arts Club - Associate Producer
Jun - Jul 2016 - 6 Frederick's Place
PHOEBE by A.C. Smith
Festival 46 - Producer
Jul 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
TRAINEE RESIDENT DIRECTOR PROGRAMME
Mentor: Adam Spreadbury-Maher
Jun 2015 - present - King’s Head Theatre
KING'S HEAD THEATRE
Box Office Supervisor
Dec 2015 - present - King’s Head Theatre
COSI FAN TUTTE by Mozart
(dir. Paul Higgins) - Assistant Producer
Nov 2015 – March 2016 - King’s Head Theatre
NOBODY'S BUSINESS by Sylvia Freedman
(dir. John Adams) - Assistant Stage Manager
Sep – Oct 2015 - King’s Head Theatre
FUCKING MEN by Joe DiPietro
(dir. Geoffrey Hyland) - Assistant Stage Manager
Aug – Sep 2015 - King’s Head Theatre
TAKEOFF FESTIVAL
Winner of Small Size Bursary
Theatre Hullabaloo
Oct – Nov 2012 | Oct – Nov 2011 - Durham
THESPACEUK
Box Office Assistant
Jul - Aug 2012 - Edinburgh
BROADWAYBABY
Reviewer
Jul - Aug 2012 - Edinburgh
24:7 THEATRE FESTIVAL
Office Assistant
Mar – Apr 2011- Manchester
FIREBIRDS
(dir. Uwe Kohler) - Performer/collaborator/ensemble
Theatre Titanik
Jun – July 2010 - Chester-le-Street
OFF THE GROUND YOUTH THEATRE
Youth Tutor
Sep 2007 - Jul 2009 - West Kirby, Wirral
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
‘Dave Spencer’s tightly wound production features striking performances.’
JULIA RANK, The Stage, June 2018
‘A suffocating, tense atmosphere is expertly created by director Dave Spencer.’
LOUISE GILL, Everything Theatre, June 2018
‘Mr Spencer [...] doesn't put a foot wrong in bringing this moving story to life [...] I rarely feel motivated to see the same production of a show, but I would readily see this again tonight ... and perhaps even the next night.’
PETER BROWN, ActDrop, July 2016
‘Director, Dave Spencer, ensures the interaction between the two characters is constantly playful, creating a graceful harmony which lends itself to the events of the play.’
ROSIE SNELL, Scatter Of Opinion, July 2016
‘Comedy and pathos are blended perfectly in Dave Spencer’s impeccably acted production.’
STEPHEN BATES, The Reviews Hub, July 2016
‘Director Dave Spencer’s magic matches that of Saint Nicholas with this medley of narratives, portrayed seamlessly as if you were a wiseman at the scene after Virgin Mary popped out the crucifix-lounger.’
THABIAN SUTHERLAND, TheGayUK, December 2015
‘Dave Spencer has ensured that there is a clean break between the farce and their set pieces which aids their stories and the audience interaction perfectly. Spencer, much like the company, has had a lot of fun with Greenwood and Walker text and he's connected so well to the humour and sadness of the play and has kept the flow balanced.’
NIGER ASIJE, The New Current, December 2015
‘an ingenious production’
ALINE WAITES, Islington Gazette, December 2015
‘It’s usually the case in theatres above pubs that the noise from the banter downstairs creeps into the room upstairs. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a situation where the opposite was the case. Until I came out of Victorian & Gay. I am reliably informed that the audience’s laughter was loud enough that some of the punters in the bar wondered what they were missing out on. Don’t be one of them: join the party, and be assured of a Merry Christmas. “Good tidings and gin”? I’ll drink to that.’
CHRIS OMAWENG, London Theatre 1, December 2015
'Spencer, also directing, really makes sure that the pace never drops, and constantly makes sure the action never lets up, letting the cast push it with the energy of their performances; there is never a moment where the energy sags. Building in moments that interact directly with the audience certainly help, drawing on the fact that Lovett + Todd started life as a promenade production. Yet, Spencer does allow for variation as not to burn the audience out too quickly, but also to let more of the darker and more intimate moments come through, meaning that it you’re losing attention it’s not at all to do with the direction or pacing. Furthermore, Spencer’s use of some of the King’s Head Theatre’s crannies and unique set-up makes Lovett + Todd feel like a part of the space, rather than a show that’s plonked itself in.'
JAMES WAYGOOD, Grumpy Gay Critic, July 2015
'Flawless, inspired, immersive – who needs more?'
THOS RIBBITS, MusicalTalk, August 2014
'we fell into a deeper love affair with Dave Spencer's directorial decision making… Spencer left us with a piece that was both moving and unnerving.'
RACHEL MFON, EdFringeReview, August 2014