Rachael Walsh

Rachael is a director and dramaturg originally from the North East and a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Drama Directing MA (2021).

She is a recipient of the JMK Victoria Wood Bursary (2021) and has worked with companies across the UK including English Touring Theatre, Northern Stage, Mortal Fools, The Wardrobe Theatre, Live Theatre, Theatre Alibi, Bristol Improv Theatre and Alphabetti Theatre.

In 2024 she founded FailSafe Theatre as a company that supports and champions women to take up space onstage and in life.

To see Rachael’s full CV click here.

Previous Work

  • Two Sides of the Same Coin (2024)

    Marking the start of National Carers Week 2024 artist Sharon Bailey presented a newly commissioned piece of drama alongside a large exhibition of photographic placards, made with paid and unpaid carers across the region.

    I CARE! is a story about love, duty and struggle. It’s a story about people giving care, despite the challenges, and coming together to ask a simple question. We care, do you?

    For 8 months artist Sharon Bailey met carer groups in Durham, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Newcastle and visited homes ‘shadowing’ carers.

    Her I CARE! diaries have been brought to life by Catrina McHugh MBE, of Open Clasp Theatre.

    Photo Credit: Sharon Bailey

  • Kindle (2023)

    A Vault Origins Award nominee, Kindle is a captivating piece of new writing by Hattie Collins about family, modern rural community, climate change, and the impacts of the ever rising cost of living.

    ★★★★“Poignant storytelling & slick choreography” - Fringe Biscuit

    ★★★★ “Last night’s sell-out performance at The Alma left an appreciative audience with much to ponder” - Stagetalk Magazine

    Photo Credit: Charlotte East, East Photography

  • An Unexpected Christmas (2022)

    The Improvised Christmas Rom Com at Bristol Improv Theatre

    Each performance sees the audience presented with a fresh festive production featuring a range of quirky characters, tempestuous relationships and innumerable obstacles, coming together to create a new cheesy Christmas romcom every night.

  • Cut Out (2021)

    A reluctant western about family estrangement

    A new show from Emma Baskeyfield Theatre with additional material by the company

    Cut Out is inspired by classic westerns using visual storytelling, multi-operator puppetry and cowboy stories to examine the complexity of family life & explore what happens when resolution is not as easy as a shootout and riding off into the sunset. Yee-Haw.

    Cut Out is not only a new show, but a new way of working where mental health access is at the heart of our process.

  • Silk Road (2021)

    This sharp, one man coming-of age-story by Alex Oates explodes with a variety of larger than life characters, including Bruce’s typical Geordie matriarch nan, sleazy local gangsters and bouncers with a penchant for amateur dramatics, all whilst on a quest to make a mark on his corner of the dark web.

    ★★★★ “Rachael Walsh’s production allows Wykes to sketch in each of these characters and add heart to them giving them a life beyond caricature. Paced with a hand firmly on the tiller, her production builds and builds to something like an operatic aria as the flame is lit.” – Kris Hallett

    Photo Credit: Craig Fuller

Dramaturgy & Script Reading

Rachael has extensive experience of working with artists and writers on a range of projects including new writing and devised pieces.

As an independent dramaturg and script reader she is able to give clear, objective and tangible advice to move your story forward.

I am passionate about working with artists to support you to tell the stories you want to tell, not the story I think you should be telling. I understand how passionately artists feel about their work and my feedback is kind, considered and clear whilst providing questions and provocations to get you to your next draft.

There are options for all stages of your script’s development and you will receive your feedback within one week of submitting your script.

Script Reading Services

Pricing

  • Up to 40 pages (£25)

  • 41 - 90 pages (£30)

  • 91+ pages (£35)

Please send:

  • A copy of your most recent draft

  • Anything you would like me to pay particular attention to when reading

What you will receive:

  • A personal and detailed feedback document (approx 2 pages A4) with clear notes and questions to take into your next draft.

Don’t see what you’re looking for or need something a little different? We work regularly with artists whose practice doesn’t lend itself to a typical written script and may need something a little more bespoke. To send your script or to enquire about more bespoke options just get in touch.

"Your dramaturgy is probably the best I’ve experienced. So precise, and immensely thought through.

You have a real skill of interrogating a script from a distance, and asking brilliant and targeted questions of the play.

You really helped push Kindle to the next level, and pull out what was at its heart. The care and time we spent on the script was better than what I’ve ever received before - immensely grateful!"

-Hattie Collins (Kindle, 2023)