About Emma
Emma works across new writing, opera, music theatre, live art, and ‘classic’ theatre with a particular interest in early modern theatre and the Restoration. Her practice combines close textual reading, contemporary theatre aesthetics, multidisciplinary analysis, and heightened language and physicality. Throughout her work, Emma has a mission to platform historically marginalised voices and interrogate canonical ones.
Originally from Los Angeles, Emma studied literature at Sarah Lawrence College and relocated to London. She received an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London and Shakespeare’s Globe. She trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (MFA Advanced Theatre Practice) and the National Theatre Directors’ course.
At the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Emma directed and dramaturged the premieres of two acclaimed new plays: How I Learned to Swim by Somebody Jones (Paines Plough Roundabout @ Summerhall) and REVENGE: After the Levoyah by Nick Cassenbaum (Anatomy Lecture Hall, Summerhall). For her direction across both productions, Emma was awarded The Stage Fringe Five 2024, and REVENGE: After the Levoyah was awarded a Scotsman Fringe First and a Summerhall Lustrum Award. How I Learned to Swim toured in autumn 2024 after Edinburgh (Brixton House/Bristol Old Vic Theatre). REVENGE: After the Levoyah transferred to the Yard Theatre in early 2025 for an extended, Offie-nominated sold-out run, followed by a house tour in autumn 2025, and then a second transfer to Soho Theatre’s main house, from December 8 2025-January 24 2026.
Previous directing credits include: Antisemitism: a (((musical)))) (Camden People’s Theatre); The Retreat (Finborough Theatre); Amy Beach's chamber opera Cabildo (Wilton's Music Hall, Arcola Grimeborn), eco-noir socialist operatic film The Agency (Tête-à-Tête); and a livestreamed, OnComm award-nominated production of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Telephone filmed in Emma’s flat in the early days of the pandemic. Emma enjoys directing and developing new writing. She has directed readings and R & Ds at venues including Soho Theatre, the Bush, Park Theatre, artsdepot, the Kiln, and the Gate.
Dramaturgy credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Derby Theatre/Northern Stage); Lost Girl (The Lowry); Wahnfried: The Birth of the Wagner Cult (Longborough Festival Opera), and Watch on the Rhine (Donmar Warehouse). Credits as research consultant or assistant include The Mosinee Project (Underbelly Cowgate/New Diorama); Venice Preserved (RSC, directed by Prasanna Puwanarajah), and Absolute Hell (National Theatre, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins).
Emma directs and teaches at many of the UK’s top drama schools including RCSSD, LAMDA, RADA, Guildhall, Rose Bruford, East 15, and Oxford School of Drama. Emma is passionate about actor training, and empowering the next generation of artists to make radical work safely and inclusively.
Emma works as an associate and assistant director in opera, including at English Touring Opera, Longborough Festival Opera, Grimeborn, and the Royal Academy of Music.
Emma is represented by Sophie Rafalowska at Casaratto Ramsay & Associates.