Philip Wilson

Director

Biography

“Wilson has a Midas touch with emotionally sophisticated drama” – Variety

Philip is a freelance director and the former Artistic Director of Salisbury Playhouse (2007-2011).

Recent projects include The Voice Of The Turtle and The Oyster Problem (Jermyn Street Theatre), A Single Man (Park Theatre), Starcrossed (Wilton’s Music Hall), The Boy With The Bee Jar (Hope Theatre), This Island’s Mine (King’s Head), Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense and After The Dance (Theatre By The Lake), the British Premiere of A Fox on the Fairway (Hornchurch) and his own adaptations of Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales (Shoreditch Town Hall and Oxo Bargehouse).

In 2015, he was awarded the inaugural David Fraser/Andrea Wonfor Directing for Television Bursary, and back in 1995 he won the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme Bursary.

Philip’s book, Dramatic Adventures in Rhetoric, co-written with Giles Taylor, is published by Methuen Drama, and Grimm Tales is available from Nick Hern Books.

Credits

Theatre

Production Company Notes
IN THE MOUTH OF THE WOLF
2025
Barn Theatre

By Michael Morpurgo
Adapted by Simon Reade

CINDERELLA
2024
Chichester Festival Theatre

Written by Philip Wilson
Dir. Jon Pashley
Music by Jason Carr
Lyrics by Philip Wilson and Jason Carr

THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE
2024
Jermyn Street Theatre

By John Van Druten

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
2024
Arts Ed

By Bob Martin and Don McKellar

THE ROVER
2024
LIPA

By Aphra Behn

THE OYSTER PROBLEM
2023
Jermyn Street Theatre

By Orlando Figes

A SINGLE MAN
2022
Park Theatre

Based on the book by Christopher Isherwood
Adapted by Simon Reade

STARCROSSED
2022
Wilton's Music Hall

Written by Rachel Garnet

THE BOY WITH THE BEE JAR
2021
The Hope Theatre

By John Straiton

COCKPIT
2021
LAMDA

By Bridget Boland

THE LIGHTS
2019
LAMDA

By Howard Korder

THIS ISLAND'S MINE
2019
Ardent Theatre Company / King's Head Theatre

By Philip Osment

PHILIP PULLMAN'S GRIMM TALES
2018
Unicorn Theatre

Adapted for the stage by Philip Wilson
Directed by Kirsty Housley

STRANGE ORCHESTRA
2018
LAMDA

By Rodney Ackland
Performed in The Sainsbury Theatre

PERFECT NONSENSE
2018
Theatre By The Lake

From the works of P.G. Wodehouse, adapted by The Goodale Brothers

A FOX ON THE FAIRWAY
2017
Queen's Theatre, Hornchuch

Written by Ken Ludwig

AFTER THE DANCE
2017
Theatre by the Lake

Written by Terrence Rattigan
**** “Philip Wilson’s production is full of nuance. The performances are superb” The Stage

THE STAR
2016
Liverpool Playhouse

Written by Michael Wynne
**** “Philip Wilson’s direction adds the final sparkle that moves this from simple story to touching metaphor for the hopes and fears of all our lives” The Observer

AS YOU LIKE IT
2016
Storyhouse Chester

Written by William Shakespeare

BEACONS
2016
Park Theatre

Written by Tabitha Martiboy

THE THREE LIONS
2015
St James Theatre

Adapted by Philip from William Gaminara’s collection.
**** The Times
**** The Independent
**** The List
**** “Keeping the pace of play up with footsure finesse, director Philip Wilson has bagged a Premier League cast” The Telegraph

GRIMM TALES
2014
Bargehouse Oxo Tower

Philip’s own adaptations of Philip Pullman’s versions
**** “This immersive adaptation of Philip Pullman’s retelling of the Grimms’ fairy tales is atmospheric to the point of inspiring awe. All beautifully done, and thrilling to stumble upon” The Telegraph
**** “Bizarre and beautiful, Philip Wilson’s production is a magic box of glittering surprises… an irresistible invitation to explore the darker corners of the imagination” The Times
**** “Grimm Tales is a great night and a great success, each of the stories relayed with love and invention by the casts dotted about the Bargehouse. A stripped-back evening of high-class, no-frills storytelling” Time Out
**** The Stage

HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON
2014
Lyric Belfast

Written by Jennifer Johnson, adapted by Alan Sandford

GRIMM TALES
2014
Shoreditch Town Hall

Adapted by Philip from Philip Pullman’s collection.
**** “This thrilling staging… is a treat for adults’ rusty imaginations” The Telegraph
**** “Vivid and unfussy – true to the stories’ visual clarity and taut plotting, while also evoking their dreamlike qualities” Evening Standard
**** “A gorgeous production” Time Out

TORO! TORO!
2013
National Tour

Written by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Simon Reade (also design)

THE THREE LIONS
2013
Pleasance London & Edinburgh

Written by William Gaminara

THE DANCING YEARS
2013
WMC Cardiff

Written by Ivor Novello (workshop of a new version, co-adapted by Philip)

THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
2012
Liverpool Playhouse

Written by Alan Ayckbourn

TWIST OF GOLD
2012
Polka Theatre

Written by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Simon Reade

66 BOOKS: RUTH & 2 SAMUEL
2011
Bush / Westminster Abbey

Written by Stella Duffy & Wole Soyinka

EARNEST / TRAVESTIES
2011
Birmingham Rep at the Old Rep

Written by Oscar Wilde & Tom Stoppard

THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE
2011
Salisbury Theatre

Written by Marivaux, translated by Neil Bartlett

THE CONSTANT WIFE
2011
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Somerset Maugham

THE PICTURE
2010
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Philip Massinger (in Philip’s own edition)

TORO! TORO!
2010
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Simon Reade

PRIVATE LIVES
2010
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Noel Coward

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
2009
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Joseph Kesselring

BLACKBIRD
2009
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by David Harrower

FAITH HEALER
2009
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Brian Friel (also design)
“Wilson’s design is a masterstroke… This exquisite production proves Wilson has a Midas touch with emotionally sophisticated drama” Variety

THE WINSLOW BOY
2009
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Terrence Rattigan

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
2008
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by J L Carr, in Philip’s own adaption

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW
2008
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Joe Orton

PEOPLE AT SEA
2008
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by J B Priestly

ALPHABETICAL ORDER
2007
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Michael Frayn

NOISES OFF
2007
Liverpool Playhouse

Written by Michael Frayn

CORPSE!
2006
Salisbury Playhouse

Written by Gerald Moon

IN PRAISE OF LOVE
2006
Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Written by Terence Rattigan

THE FOUND MAN
2005
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Written by Riccardo Galgani (also design)

UN UOMO TROVATO
2005
Teatro della Limonaia, Florence

Written by Riccardo Galgani

DR FAUSTUS
2005
Liverpool Playhouse

Written by Christopher Marlowe

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
2004
Sheffield Crucible

Written by Horwitz & Maltby Jr

ASTONISHED HEART/STILL LIFE
2004
Liverpool Playhouse

Written by Noël Coward

BREAKING THE CODE
2003
Royal Theatre, Northampton

Written by Hugh Whitemore

THE MAKING OF MISS PEGGY LEE
1999
BAC

Written by Lucy Powell (also design)

THE HUMOROUS LIEUTENANT
1999
BAC

Written by Beaumont & Fletcher (in Philip’s own edition)

Other

Production Company Notes
PHILIP PULLMAN’s GRIMM TALES
2017
Nick Hern Books

Publication of Philip’s adaptations of Philip Pullman’s versions

DRAMATIC ADVENTURES IN RHETORIC
2015
Oberon Books

Publication. With Giles Taylor

Television

Production Company Notes
THAT GAY SHOW
2001 – 2002
BBC Three

Producer, Series I & II

Film

Production Company Notes
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
1998
Miramax

Performance Consultant. Dir. John Madden

Philip Wilson
Philip Wilson
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