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DIRECTING

Anna specialises in making music theatre.

From large-scale theatre productions to site-specific electronic musicals in forests, Anna creates work that changes perceptions of what music theatre can be, how it is made and who it is for.  As well directing numerous productions across the UK and Europe, she has been an assistant director with leading companies including the Royal Opera House, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera & ENO.

LADY IN THE DARK

Opera Zuid 2022

Winner- Place de l'Opera OPERA OF THE YEAR 2022

“this opera swings like Fred Astaire ****"- NRC Netherlands  ​“ a perfect rendition of Lady in the Dark, with immaculate directing from Anna Pool”- Luxembourg Times  ​"breathes life and sparkle into Weill’s sleepy Broadway piece” ****- De Limbuger

Composer:  Kurt Weill  Conductor:  David Stern  Director:  Anna Pool  Designer:  Mads Boyd  Choreographer:  Rebecca Howell  Lighting Designer:  Bretta Gerecke  Sound Designer:  Jannes Noormans  Photos:  Bjorn Frins & Joost Milde

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Leeds Playhouse & Opera North 2021/22 (Associate Director)

“Sheer delight- *****"- The Stage  "Hilarious- *****"- The Telegraph  "Magnificent- *****"- Bachtrack

Conductor:  James Holmes  Director:  James Brining  Associate Director:  Anna Pool  Designer:  Mads Boyd 

Choreographer:  Lucy Hind  Associate Choreographer:  Xolani Crabtree  Lighting Designer:  Chris Davey  Sound Designer:  Sebastian Frost

APART/MENTAL

Opera Harmony/ OperaVision 2020

IMG_2413.webp

Winner- Bury Court Opera Prize

Composer: Ken Steen Writer/Puppeteer: Mary Birnbaum Directors: Anna Pool & Mary Birnbaum 

Scenic Design & Puppet Maker: Jojo Karlin

BASTIEN UND BASTIENNE / DER SCHAUSPIELDIREKTOR

Pop Up Opera UK 2018

Finalist - Best Opera Production-  Off West End Awards 2019

Something ingenious"- The Stage  "I had not anticipated belly-laughing to Mozart's music", ****" -Playstosee.com  "Riotous... a joy for the capacity audience" - Dorset Echo

Director:  Anna Pool Musical Director:  Berrak Dyer  Designer:  Fiona Rigler  Captions:  Harry Percival Photography:  Rob Workman

SCRAWW!

Hall for Cornwall & Trebah Gardens 2018

"A truly magical experience"- Cornwall 365  "The landscape performance event of the year"- Cornwall Living

Composer:  Max Pappenheim Writer:  Lila Palmer  Director:  Anna Pool Musical Director:  James Garner  Designer:  Anna Driftmier  Photography:  Gordon Scammell

Sound/Tracks

Guildhall School of Music and Drama, workshOPERA & Transport for London 2017

Director:  Anna Pool  Conductor:  James Garner  Words:  Lila Palmer, Colm Molloy, Leo Doulton, Joshua Judson & Stephen Hall  Music:  Samuel Wilson, Clare Elton, Monika Dalach, Molly Lawes, Alex J Hall & Eden Lonsdale  Photography:  Studio Andy

Boys of Paradise

Tete a Tete, EGG LDN & workshOPERA 2015/16

"A unique brand of theatre that has the potential to deconstruct and revitalise the world of opera and theatre"  -A Younger Theatre  "Truly genre-breaking."  - Bachtrack

Director:  Anna Pool   Composer:  Vahan Salorian  Set Design:  Maciej Krajewski  Costume Design:  Maddy Rita Faye  Lighting:  Jack Weir Photography:  Claire Shovelton

Trident Moon

Finborough Theatre 2016

"Theatre of the highest calibre, *****"  -The Upcoming  "You owe it to yourself to get out there and see this. Now."  - A Younger Theatre  ​"Anna Pool's taught production is as claustrophobic as it is ferocious,"  -The Reviews Hub

Director:  Anna Pool  Writer:  Anusree Roy  Designer:  Anna Driftmier  Lighting:  Jai Morjaria  Sound:  Fred Riding  Photography:  Matthew Ferguson

Dust Child

English Touring Opera 2016

Director/Writer:  Anna Pool  Composer:  James Garner  Designer:  Anna Driftmier  

Various Projects

2015-2017

Including: Seven Velvet Suits (BasicSpace Festival), Il Parnaso Confuso (Wilton's Music Hall), East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon (workshOPERA/Tete a Tete)

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