The Society of British Theatre Designers

Biography

Until recently (July 2009) David was working as the Head of the Theatre School at Wimbledon College of Art, London. The Theatre School comprised two Foundation Degrees, a large BA (Hons) undergraduate Theatre programme with five pathways and an MA in the Visual Language of Performance. Up to 2002 he was Principal Lecturer and Subject Leader of two undergraduate courses: BA(Hons) Set Design for Stage and Screen and BA(Hons) Technical Arts and Special Effects.

As a freelance designer David Burrows has collaborated with three principal directors for the last fifteen years: Phil Young, Alkis Kritikos and, most recently, David Graham-Young of Contemporary Stage Company. The productions designed for Phil Young include: "Crystal Clear" (Wyndhams Theatre), "Les Miroirs Brisés" (French Institute), "The Train Years" (MOMI) "Knickers" (Lyric Hammersmith), "Blood Brothers" (Heilbronn, Germany) and "Tonight: Lola Blau" (Old Red Lion, Islington).

Work with director Alkis Kritikos has included: "Miss Julie" (Sir Richard Steel Theatre, London), "The Collector" (Portlands Playhouse, London), the British première of Beckett's "Rough for Theatre 1 & 2" (Theatro Technis and national tour), "In Other Beasts the Best" (Theatro Technis), "Tartuffe" (National Theatre of Cyprus, Nicosia, 1997) and "The Frog and the Lion Fairy" (London Greek schools tour, 1998) and in 2001/2002 the touring musical show "All Cloned Up" by Mike Bennett. In February 2003 he returned to Cyprus to design "The Dinner" by Leah Vitali in Larnaka, the world première of Leah Vitali's new play "Roast Beef", an Anglo/Greek production at the Riverside Studios in June 2004, pror to its transfer to Athens as part of the 'Cultural Spring' in the build-up to the Olympic Games. Most recently, in March 2009, he designed the Glam Rock musical "BlokBusta", by Mike Bennett, at the Players Theatre, Charing Cross, London with Alkis Kritikos directing.

Since March 2000 he has designed four productions for Contemporary Stage Company with David Graham-Young all at the Old Red Lion, Islington: "A Summer's Day" by Slawomir Mrozek (British première), "Ghosts" (Ibsen) and "Mr. Paul" by Tankred Dorst (British première) and "Mystery of the Rose Bouquet" by Manuel Puig. In November 2003 he designed "The Tunnel of Obsession" by Ernesto Sabato, adapted and directed by David Graham-Young for the Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, later transferring to the Edinburgh Festival in 2004.

For the last five years David has been researching the life and work of the influential theatre designer and teacher, Richard Negri, and has developed a website - with galleries of production photographs and designs together with more than 35 audio clips from interviews with Negri's former collaborators - at: www.richardnegri.co.uk

A detailed biography, many production photographs, costume designs and press reviews can be found on David Burrows' personal website at: http://www.davidburrows.com