As a freelance director Hugh Wooldridge (www.hughwooldridge.com) has directed theatre and television productions throughout Europe, Africa, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States: in England he has been a resident director with the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, the Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead and the Prospect Theatre Company at The Old Vic Theatre, London.
Having trained at LAMDA, he started his career by assisting directors including Alan Ayckbourn, Eric Thompson, Frank Hauser and Michael Blakemore; however, he has been directing plays in his own right since the age of 17.
Projects
- Chess In ConcertDirector and Concert Adaptation On Monday May 12 and Tuesday May 13, 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, there were two spectacular, standing room only, performances of Chess in Concert, with story and lyrics by Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King) and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Mamma Mia!), formerly of ABBA. Leading the cast were top-selling US recording artiste, Josh Groban, Broadway’s Idina Menzel (Wicked) and Adam Pascal (RENT), and the West End’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked and We Will Rock You), Clarke Peters (Porgy and Bess) and David Bedella (Jerry Springer, The Opera). Playing The Arbiter was the chart-topping Wet Wet Wet singer, Marti Pellow. Also featured were the Chess in Concert company, the 100 strong West End Chorus and the City of London Philharmonic with Stephen Disley playing the great organ of the Royal Albert Hall. Tim Rice introduced both performances in front of packed houses and was delighted to see the spontaneous standing ovations at the end of each Act. Chess involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer who died earlier in 2008. Following the formula of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, a concept album of Chess was recorded in 1984 and generated a number of hit singles. The first theatrical version of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years. Tim Rice has said he hopes that Chess in Concert will be the model of future productions.
Projects credited in
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- Top 10: career advice tips for 2022Job hunting? Thinking of pivoting your career? Struggling with motivation? Wanting to grow your network? We’ve got you! We’ve put together our top 10 career-related questions for 2022 to help you navigate through the year ahead, no matter if you’re just starting out, or already have experience in the industry. Click through to see insights, advice and top tips from industry mentors and our brilliant Dots community. Got some thoughts of your own? Please add your own wisdom if you have anything61
Skills
- Theatre
- Directing
- Producing
- Production Management
- Music Theatre
Education
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DiplomaLAMDA (London Academy of Musical & Dramatic Art)
- London, United Kingdom
Awards
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The Songs of Tim Rice - Chesapeake Bay Chapter (EMMY Award)The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Best Production (nominated)
Best Direction (nominated)
Outstanding Lighting Design (winner)Whatsonstage.com for Best Solo Performance
Director / Producer of Anthems: The Concert (Royal Albert Hall, - May 1, 2011