Caroline is from Kilkenny, Ireland. She studied Drama and Theatre Studies in University College Cork, learning about the work of Meyerhold and studying with Andy Crook and Adam Ledger. She was offered a scholarship for an MA at UC Berkeley where she was tutored by Mel Gordon, WB Worthen and Deborah Sussell. Here she was introduced to the work of Anne Bogart whom she studied with at SITI Company NYC. Caroline completed an MA in Actor Training and Coaching at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, studying at Moscow Arts Theatre as part of her training. Caroline worked as an actor trainer and coach at The Actors Centre, East 15, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and the Lir Academy for a couple of years before transitioning into directing for stage and screen.
She began her directing career by assisting Tim Crouch on King Lear at Royal Shakespeare Company, where she co-directed Shakespeare in a Suitcase with him. She then worked on his production Adler and Gibb at the Royal Court Theatre, directing a rotating cast of young people who were guided by her live on stage every night. Caroline assisted Chris Haydon on Grounded, and was made Associate Director of the Gate Theatre. In the role she curated the 35th birthday programme and directed Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed starring Letitia Wright. That was the beginning of her professional life as a theatre director.
Since then she has directed productions for Emma Rice’s inaugural season at Shakespeare’s Globe, for Kwame Kwei-Armah’s opening season at The Young Vic as well as at the Abbey Theatre. Caroline has also directed at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Regents Park Theatre, Bush Theatre, RSC, Lyric Hammersmith, Bristol Old Vic, Birmingham Rep and directs for RADA, Guildhall, Lir Academy and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Caroline was funded by Screen Skills Ireland to shadow Thaddeus O’Sullivan on the TV series Hidden Assets, directing the Drone Unit of the show. She recently directed a short film, Suited, by Hannah Khalil for the Battersea Arts Centre which has been selected for several film festivals, and Unseen Plays (Light Falling) for the Abbey Theatre.
She is Associate Director at the Abbey Theatre for 2022. See announcement here.
Here you’ll find an interview in the Irish Times and The Stage where she talks about her work and her influences.
Photo Credit: CONOR HORGAN