JULIAN WOOLFORD
DIRECTOR AND WRITER
Julian is currently working as a freelance director and writer.
Full-time posts he has held include:
Artistic Director of Sevenoaks Playhouse
Artistic Director of the Global Search for New Musicals
Associate Director of the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
If you are interested in working with Julian contact Chris Davis at CDM
See Julian's full CV here
FORTHCOMING PRODUCTIONS
Julian's next productions as a director include:Peter Pan at Bournemouth Pavillion
I Do! I Do! at Vienna's English TheatreThe Bed Before Yesterday at The Mill At Sonning
Two Pianos, Four Hands at Vienna's English Theatre
Check the theatres' websites for date and ticket information.
More news as it becomes available.
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
By Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick

' For a reminder of the sheer emotional and historical power of this
tremendous story, though, it's worth seeing Julian Woolford's austere
and beautiful touring production, playing this week at the Edinburgh
Playhouse. With its dancing figures moving against a wash of golden sky
that suggests a perpetual sunset, this show is not so much impressive
in detail – although the dancing and music are glorious – as
overwhelming in its seriousness of purpose, and its cumulative effect.
Joe McGann is in muted, almost subdued vocal form as the hero Tevye the
milkman, trying to honour Jewish tradition and keep his family together
while tides of historic change sweep towards his little village of
Anatevka. But he acts like a man stunned into reverence by the
significance of the story he carries on his shoulders, not only for
Jewish people, but for all the scapegoated and dispossessed of history,
and when a page of family portraits from the Warsaw ghetto slides down
over the big Playhouse stage at the end of each act, the hairs rise on
the back of the neck, in recognition of a superb and intensely humane
piece of theatre.' The Scotsman
‘Made a slightly dated musical youthful and relevant again.' Sunday Express
‘A sincere and thoughtful production.’ Edinburgh Evening News
'Simply superb. This is quality musical theatre at its best.' Worcester Standard
'All in all a real treat for Nottingham theatre-goers and in fact, I am tempted to go and see the show again' BBC Nottingham
'This production is remarkable... Joe McGann is brilliant, the rest of the cast too were excellent.' Kent on Sunday
SOUTH PACIFIC
By Rodgers and HammersteinBritish National Tour
Until July 2008
For tour dates click here


'**** Julian Woolford’s stylish and enjoyable production, a show that pulses with life.’
Sunday Express
'A colourful, rowdy spectacle brought to life by an energetic and acrobatic cast' Hull Daily Mail
'***** Take yourself on a enchanting, insightful, musical journey to the South Pacific' Entertainment Manchester
'South Pacific shows that London is not the only place to see a good musical' 50Connect.co.uk
'This production is simply superb' Oxford Daily Info
DEADLY MURDER
By David Foley

Photos: Reinhard Reidinger
'Julian Woolford has directed the complicated story almost like a film, edgy and fast-paced.' Kurier
'Effectively brings together a modern big-city atmosphere a la 'Sex and The City' and the crackling tension of Agatha Christie' Kronenzeitung
'Seldom do we see such exciting violence on the stage as in "Deadly Murder."' Wiener Zeitung
THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL)
By Joanne Bogart and Eric RockwellSound Theatre and King's Head Theatre


‘****Julian Woolford’s energy packed production fits perfectly onto this tiny stage’
Evening Standard
‘ a cast who work like demons and sing like angels’ The Independent
‘**** A runaway hit’
Critics Choice
Time Out
‘More laughs per minute than anything else in the West End…I’ve seldom seen an audience so giddy with pleasure.’ Evening Standard Diary
IN YOUR HANDS
By Natalia Pelevine
New End Theatre

‘**** This is an impressive production, directed by Julian Woolford, with gripping performances from the entire cast’ Ham and High
‘Julian Woolford’s powerful staging’ The Guardian
VITA AND VIRGINIA
By Eileen Atkins
Sevenoaks Playhouse Studio

‘A tour de force, not only because artistic director Julian Woolford’s clever staging of the enigmatic relationship…but because of dynamic performances by Joy Brook and Penelope McGhie’ Bromley Times
‘This is a solid production, confidently and powerfully performed by two very strong performers’
The Stage
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
By Julian Woolford and Richard John

The Stage
'Would not look out of place in the West End' Sevenoaks Chronicle
WALLFLOWERING
By Peta Murray
Sevenoaks Playhouse Studio

'A truly breathtaking, magical piece of theatre… Julian Woolford’s exceptional production…(Sarah) Wildor and (Adam) Cooper keep up a staggering level of energy and performance that leaves the audiences tripping the light fantastic.' Kent Courier
The Stage
KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN
By Manuel PuigSevenoaks Playhouse Studio
'In this new production, Julian Woolford has sought to bring the terror of the past into the face of the present...Julian Woolford’s excellent production. The image we are left with is of an ideal love that captures the imagination and just won't let go. ' The Courier
WIND IN THE WILLOWS
By Julian Woolford and Richard JohnSevenoaks Playhouse

The Times
TURN OF THE SCREW
By Henry James, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Sevenoaks Playhouse Studio
CAROUSEL
By Rodgers and HammersteinBritish National Tour

Whatsonstage.com
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
By Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick

'This is a show of truly awesome proportions… an evening of pure entertainment.'
BBC Manchester
'UK Productions version of the classic musical oozes quality from beginning to end. There wasn’t an element of this production I could fault. From acting to lighting, set design to choreography, it was in a class of its own. The acting is superb, the choreography amazing, the dialogue humorous and the songs, played by a magnificent orchestra, catchy.'
Southampton Echo
‘Julian Woolford’s masterly direction of the villagers exodus from their homeland was as touching as it was poignant’
The Scotsman
MURDERED TO DEATH
National Tour

'All the red herrings, black looks and (almost) blue jokes anyone could wish for.'
Eastbourne Herald
'Wonderful spoof keep the audience guessing.' Hull Daily Mail
...AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
By James Edwin Parker
LET HIM HAVE JUSTICE
Cochrane Theatre

'Strange how potent musical theatre can be...Another plus is Julian Woolford's production, as plain and direct in its unbroken 90 minutes as the script.' The Times
Cast album on JAY Records
TWO BOYS IN A BED ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT
By James Edwin Parker
'Julian Woolford's clear naturalistic production' The Independent
ME AND MY GIRL
By Noel Gay
Devonshire Park Eastbourne
DAMES AT SEA
Queen's Theatre HornchurchTHE TURN OF THE SCREW
By Henry James, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
'Exquisitely performed and directed at the Queen's, this production is sure to make an impression on theatregoers who enjoy a chilling tale.' The Stage
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
By Rodgers and Hammerstein
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
'Something one would have thought impossible - a fresh look at The Sound Of Music' Standard Recorder
THE FIFTEEN STREETS
By Catherine Cookson, adapted by Rob Bettinson
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
'The Queen's Theatre has done it again...simply brilliant.' Harold Gazette
JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN PARIS
By Jacques Brel and Mort Shuman
King's Head Theatre and Canal Cafe
'This is an impressive show that has both intellectual and emotioanl appeal. May it run forever.' What's On In London
Julian Woolford's production broke fringe box-office records earlier this year. Catch while it's hot.' The Independent
Cast album on JAY Records
THE OEDIPUS COMPLEX
By Julian Woolford
Bristol New Vic
OEDIPUS REX
By Sophocles, translated by Christopher Stace
Julian is a Professional Writer Associate of Mercury Musical Developments, established in 1992 to support, develop and initiate new musical theatre in the UK and worldwide.