Directing

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Elsewhere, I describe my own current work directing, devising, singing and performing. Below is a small selection of directing and devising work with others chosen from around 50 productions & represents a cross-section from main stage to touring, from promenade to studio, text-based to cross media devised collaboration

“The productions she directs and devises have notable artistic integrity. Her understanding of theatre leads to striking and innovative work which sticks in the mind creating something of beauty and meaning”
Theatre Editor and Critic – Edinburgh Guide.com

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The Censor by Anthony Neilson                                                     Edinburgh International Fringe
“Under Morna Burdon’s direction this enjoyable production captures the essence of Anthony Neilson’s claustrophobic and controversial play.”                                     4 star review    British Theatre Guide


I Vant to Be Alone by Ailie Cohen                                                       Edinburgh  International Fringe
“It gets weirder by the minute but it works. It was the actor’s vaudevillian capacities and director, Morna Burdon’s harnessing of them that captivated”                                      
                                                                                                                         4 star review    Scotsman
Also Creative Consultant on “Mongrel” co-written by Ailie Cohen and winner of New York Fringe Best Drama/Comedy Award    


I Will Not Die an Unlived Life                                                                  Horsecross / Perth Theatre
“Morna has an amazing ability to draw creative responses from her cast. Her directorial decisions are creative and bold, staying true to the material and allowing it to live in the time and space it requires”.
Jennifer McGregor, Associate Director, Horsecross   


Mothers, Daughters and Wild, Wild Women                                        Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh   
International Physical Theatre Production
Combined script, trapeze, acting, acrobatics, music, fire-swinging, sword-fighting and live painting onstage.
“Under the creative direction of Morna Burdon, this production made for the best evening I have spent in a theatre all year”
Raymond Ross Reviewer Director and Playwright   


An Ancient Calling                                                                                       Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline
“A highlight of our season was the performance project “An Ancient Calling ” written and directed by Morna Burdon combining theatre, music and film  to produce a remarkable and distinctive piece of music theatre”.
Thursa Sanderson, Director, Drake Music, Scotland


Dance Base Residency                                         Scotland’s National Centre for Dance Edinburgh
Laboratory work with a  Choreographer and 3 Dancer/Actors exploring the adaption of a novel into a dance piece incorporating script and leading to an invited audience performance..
A hugely exciting and rewarding process arising out of Morna’s expertise and collaborative approach benefiting the performers, the piece and audience alike.
Megan Kennedy : Dublin -based actor and choreographer.


Media Star by John McGrath                                                               Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh
Director of this specially commissioned play and collaboration with the late John McGrath, founder of 7.84 Theatre Company & Visiting Fellow in Theatre , Cambridge University


“Unusually sophisticated  theatre for young people”. Drama Advisor, Scottish Tour.


Twa Mock Weddings and a Henna Night                                                           Dundee Rep                                       
Female preparations for marriage in different cultures working with Dundee Rep and Dundee International Womens Centre. Later reprised and toured by Dundee Rep.


Office Interiors                                                                                  North Edinburgh Arts
With playwright Michael Begg created this stylised piece where main character Dead Files dreams of being a drag artiste, where the tea lady determinedly wears her evening dress to work and where the ex-army office manager sings songs of beautiful tenderness and regret.
“Exciting and innovative approach to creating theatre”                     Michael Begg, Playwright






Intenz                                                                                                    Gallery 37, Edinburgh                                               
Lead Artist ( Drama) on this project brought to Britain from Chicago by Birmingham Rep. Devised & directed this stylised production featuring 17 young adults and performed in marquees at the International Conference Centre, Edinburgh


International Festival Fringe                            The Brave, the Quick and the Foolish
Produced and directed this piece devised on the day with 17 professional and community performers from Canada, Scotland, Spain, U.S.A.  and Thailand. Aimed at re-igniting original spirit of the Fringe! Full house. “Uplifting” Artistic Director The Citadel, Edinburgh




Hands Across the Water                                            Scottish Catholic International Aid Foundation Director & Writer of this collaboration with Ghanaian musician, story teller & television actor, Gameli Throdzro


“I saw students transformed before my eyes” SCIAF National Education Office
Peeling Onions                                                        Cat. A Theatre Company Collaboration
Directed and co-wrote this 30 minute curtain-raiser in 5 days to accompany Cat.A’s production” Bird”. Peeling Onions examined different women’s experience of prison-from visitor, to thief, to political imprisonment including women prisoners’ blanket protests in Ireland.
“A remarkable achievement in such a short space of time” Cat. A  playwright.




Tipping Point                                                        7.84 Theatre Company, Scottish Tour
Invited to  join the company as Assistant Director for this Davey Anderson piece timed to coincide with the G8 meeting in Scotland. Mainstream  venues and schools.    
Invited to join the company as Assistant Director to Lorenzo Mele for this Davey Anderson collaboration timed to coincide with the G8 meeting in Scotland.                          Scottish Tour


1994 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh                                                                 Badenheim
A promenade performance  throughout the entire building and dealing with the Holocaust. The audience was divided into three and saw the scenes in different sequence to lend to the notion of disorientation.


Badenheim                               Co-director                            Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh
I worked with Andy Cannon (now of Wee Stories)and Adrian Harris on this large scale site specific project which divided the audience into three groups all experiencing the piece in differing sequence in different parts of the theatre building. They  were in the role of citizens of the Austrian town in the 1930’s , and the scenes took place in a town square, a café, a spa,  with the full audience coming together for the final scene and final stages of history’s journey towards the Holocaust.


Birds of Passage                      Co-director                          Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh
A range of playwrights were brought together to create different stories of Scottish émigrés over the years, from the Clearances to Fifties £10 passages and beyond with each director working with two playwrights.


.                                                                  
2009   Fiendish Plots New Writing Festival
Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow                                               Gut
Television producer Ciaran Cruikshank’s play “Gut” directed by Morna Burdon




2008 Centre for Performing Arts, Dundee                                      Unmasked
A piece devised with 17 student actors aged 16 to 35. Played to  local senior schools and in the Space.
“Your encouragement and passion for directing have helped me so much this year”
“A life – changing experience”  Student Actors.


2005 7.84 Theatre Company                                                                              Turning Point
Assistant Director for this Davey Anderson piece timed to coincide with the G8. I also advised on workshops. Scottish Tour.


2004/05 Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh                                       A Madman Sings to the Moon
Workshop director and leader for a series  of script-based theatre workshops.
Devised and led similar for Sharman MacDonald’s Girl with Red Hair.


1994 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh                                                    Birds of Passage


Three professional directors and six playwrights worked together on this play about Scottish émigrés over the years. I was one of the directors on this main house production.


1993 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh                                                    Badenheim


Co-directed  this promenade piece about the Holocaust.




The Barking House
A one woman play by Wilma Stark written for   the people of Lochranza on Arran and performed to the music of Duncan Chisholm and the rhythms of the sea.




Theatre Workshop Edinburgh                                                                        Breaking Free
A play about how three people  in the same family fight first each other then fight back against threats to diminish each of them through western society’s obsession with age.
                                                                                                                             Scottish Tour     


Theatre Workshop Edinburgh                                                                                     Badenheim    
Co –directed this large scale promenade performance about the Holocaust with the audience split into three and experiencing the different aspects of the piece in rotation.






In addition to the above, I have directed several youth theatre productions, devised student productions in Dundee and Edinburgh, devised and directed other productions with adults with learning differences, and with mental health problems. Also,T.I.E. as well as children’s productions and several with Witch Theatre Company mentioned elsewhere. I have also acted in devised and script based productions and readings including at Edinburgh’s Traverse in a programme dedicated to giving opportunities for new writers to have their work read.