Anna
Anna Tolputt's work as a director mainly involves new writing or new adaptations of classical plays.  She is fascinated by text and rhythm and known for finding new ways to interweave story and setting and facilitate rooms which bring out the nerves of a play and make it sing. 

She has collaborated in this way with a raft of playwrights including Rebecca Abrams (Liberating Electra), Janet Bolam (Just a Scratch and Within these Walls), Antonia Mackay (3 M’Others), Kit Hesketh-Harvey (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Monteverdi’s Flying Circus), Gaye Poole (Dry and Happy Even After) Ceri Ashcroft (Snow and Pop), Miranda Keeling (Porridge), Tristan Pate (The Web) and Joel Horwood (All the little things we crushed).

Music is central to her work and she has directed two operas for Armonico Consort, been staff director for English Touring Opera and collaborated with composer, Jon Nichols and writer, Tom Morton-Smith, on their short musical play, Blunderbuss.

She adapted Ben Jonson's The Alchemist (Creation Theatre) setting it in a post-covid London penthouse and Alice in Wonderland (Polka Theatre) setting it in Fortnum & Masons.  She has also co-written a verse version of The Nutcracker with conductor, Harry Sever, which was performed by Cambridge Philharmonic.

She is Associate Director for Human Story Theatre which brings together social care organisations and playwrights to produce work which is current, urgent and has led to changes in legislation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

November 2026

Development & Rehearsed Reading of Rebecca Abrams play about Restorative Justice, All of Us, for Human  Story Theatre

February 2027

Development & production of The Cherry Pickers by Carolyn Lloyd-Davies, a play about de-flagging Oxford for Living the Drama

2027

Development of Just a Scratch by Janet Bolam about Edward Jenner for Human Story Theatre. To be toured 2027.