philip dart biography
After gaining a degree in Drama at Hull University, Philip’s early directing career took him to the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, the Plymouth Theatre Company and the Soho Poly Theatre in London. From 1987 to 2012 he was the Artistic Director of the Channel Theatre Company and subsequently Chalkfoot Theatre Arts, with both companies receiving regular funding from Arts Council England. He now works as a freelance Theatre Director in the UK and Europe.
Notable and highly successful productions include the London premieres of Judy Upton’s FROM BLUSHER WITH LOVE and Philip's own adaptation of THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS by Robert Tressell. Tom McGrath’s play LAUREL AND HARDY, staged at the Jermyn Street Theatre, won four star reviews in the national press, while Philip's innovative staging of Erskine Childers’ Edwardian spy novel THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS (at the same theatre) earned critical acclaim, with nominations for Best Director and Best Production in the Off West End awards.
Philip’s first foray into national touring began with two UK touring premieres: Larry Kramer’s pioneering play, THE NORMAL HEART and Anthony Minghella’s MADE IN BANGKOK. There followed a number of highly successful national touring productions including THE WOMAN IN BLACK; THE HAUNTED HOTEL(Philip’s own successful adaptation of a little known Wilkie Collins novel); a revival of Terence Rattigan’s WHILE THE SUN SHINES and Tom McGrath’s play LAUREL AND HARDY (a co-production with Buxton Opera House).
In the mid-Noughties he set up the acclaimed Chalkfoot Theatre Arts, undertaking a wide programme of work for small-scale theatres and rural community venues in the south east with funding from Arts Council England and Kent County Council. He obtained further Arts Council Lottery and European funding to develop Central Studios, Margate’s flagship community arts building. Original plays written for Chalkfoot included RUNNING FOR GLORY (about the 1924 Paris Olympics) and a new adaptation of THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
For over 25 years Philip wrote and directed the Pantomime at the Buxton Opera House. Philip has also directed two in-house productions for the Festival Theatre, Malvern: Shaw’s ARMS AND THE MAN and a reworking of the musical, NIGHTINGALE. In a freelance capacity he has directed Noel Coward’s FALLEN ANGELS for Pavilion Theatre and was co-director and co-adaptor of THE MYSTERIES AT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.
Philip also enjoys directing drama students and in recent years has worked at ALRA, The Court Theatre Training Company, Arts University Bournemouth.and Drama Studio London Last year he directed Sam Shephard’s CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS at RADA.
Philip has been a regular director at the English Theatre in Vienna for over ten years, where productions have included CHARLEY’S AUNT; LEND ME A TENOR; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST; WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION; MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS; THE ODD COUPLE, PYGMALION the European premiere of HELLO/GOODBYE, PRIVATE LIVES and TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT.
He has also directed George Bernard Shaw’s CANDIDA and N.J.Crisp’s classic thriller DANGEROUS OBSESSION for the English Theatre of Hamburg.
In 2022 Philip directed a sell-out production of Ken Ludwig’s BASKERVILLE at Vienna’s English Theatre to direct and in 2023 he enjoyed another success with Mary Chase’s classic 1940s play HARVEY..
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