Meet the team

Heather founded Director’s Cut Theatre Company in 2015, and runs the actors, directors and writers clubs, having worked with over a thousand artists during this period.

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Heather started her life in the arts working as a professional actor in the West End in productions such as Oliver! at The London Palladium and Hey Mr Producer at the Lyceum Theatre, in TV commercials, shows and music videos.

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After a career in acting and singing, Heather then went on to train at the University of Kent graduating in 2009 with a Masters in Directing, and also trained in Directing at The Central School of Speech and Drama.  Since her Masters, Heather has continued to train in theatre internationally in schools including LISPA in Berlin (physical theatre), Embodied Poetics (Pedagogical training) in Sweden and Slovenia, and attending acting classes in L.A. and New Orleans.  Heather believes in the importance of regular training and working internationally to gain insight into different theatre practices culturally.  She brings her discoveries and inspirations back to her community in London.

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Before founding Director’s Cut, she worked extensively with new playwrights for the company Writers Avenue as the co-Artistic Director & Producer helping to drive the company forward, and directed and produced sellout productions including FITNESS FREAKS (Pleasance Theatre, 2013), CELEBWRITE! (Soho Theatre, 2012), 7 (Pleasance Theatre, 2012) and OBSIDERE in THE FIRST 20 MINUTES (Soho Theatre 2011 and Pleasance Theatre 2012).  Heather directed sellout production AFFAIRS by Rob Young at The Camden People’s Theatre in 2014. Heather has since produced all and directed in most of the DCT shows (3 a year) at Southwark Playhouse and Park Theatre from 2015 - current day, as well as producing shows for their new branch in Brighton at Komedia.

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Outside of professional theatre, Heather worked for the Queens Theatre, Hornchuch, for four years as a director for their education and outreach programme, and has directed plays such as CHATROOM by Enda Walsh (2010) and MARKET BOY by David Eldridge (2011) as well as running a youth group for underprivileged children.  Heather has also produced and directed performances for arts festivals across London, including 9 PARTS OF DESIRE by Heather Raffo, at the Arts 4 Human Rights Festival, London. In 2015 Heather was the Assistant Director to Mel Hillyard on THE LATE HENRY MOSS at The Southwark Playhouse which received four and five star reviews.

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Heather also curated and produces the hit show MAKE THE CUT which scouts out acting and writing talent across the UK, helping contestants gain representation with agents such as United Agents and Global Artists, as well as jobs through casting directors.

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Heather has curated and developed the acting, directing and writing method called the Distance Presence Method that the community at DCT have been practicing for the last 8 years. She is now opening up this workshop for anyone who would like to explore and experience it.