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Rhys studied at Hull University; has an MA (distinction) in Theatre Arts from Goldsmiths College, London and in 1991 he won the Rose Bruford Trust Directors Award for his production Aquarium. He has taught and directed theatre in the U.K and abroad; recently in Tel Aviv, Israel directing David Edgar's Nicholas Nickleby.
Other work abroad includes Shakespeare's Macbeth (Beit Zvi Theatre, Israel), Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (Ramad-gan Library Theatre, Israel), Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (Harlekin Art Festival, France) and the world premiere of The Tale of Peter Vanicek by David Bridel (Nitra International Theatre Festival, Slovakia). Productions in the U.K include Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn (Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton), the 30th Anniversary production of Steven Berkoff's Metamorphosis (The Albany, London), Dr Faustus (Latchmere, London), Road (Green Room, Manchester) Godspell (Tameside Apollo, Manchester) and world premiere's of The Immigrant Song by Mick Martin (The Albany, London), 100 Years of Enchantment by David Bridel (The Oval House/Union Chapel, London) and The Rabbit by Meredydd Barker working with Terry Hands at Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
Touring productions include national tours of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner adapted for the stage from the poem by Samuel Coleridge and Aquarium a triple bill comprising Lunch by Steven Berkoff, the world premiere of The Frog Queen by Gerd Knappe and Landscape by Harold Pinter.
From 1996 to 1999 Rhys was Artistic Director of The Brockley Jack Theatre, London. Implementing a robust programme of new, classic and contemporary writing. Rhys turned this small studio space into one of the most popular small-scale venues in London. Productions included Bouncers, The Elephant Man, Sweeney Todd, The Hairy Ape, September in the Rain, East, and world premieres of work by Rhiannon Tise, David Bridel, Barney Aston and Mick Martin including the premiere of his BAFTA/TAPS award-winning play Life and Times of Young Bob Scallion.
Rhys was Resident Director at Tameside College in East Manchester from 1991-1993 where he worked alongside other specialist arts practitioners to empower and enable young people from a variety of backgrounds to engage with the imaginative and creative possibilities of the theatre. He has undertaken specialist training with Monika Pagneaux (L'ecole Le Coq) and Elke Tasche (Volksbuhne, Berlin) and has subsequently taught acting, storytelling and ensemble performance in Israel, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Turkey; most recently in Istanbul for Z1 Films on behalf of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He has also taught audition technique, ensemble acting and directed a broad range of work in a number of British drama schools including Webber Douglas, Guildhall, Arts Educational, Guildford School of Acting and East 15.
(last updated 2004)
Rhys Thomas was a summer school tutor in: 2004