I’m Simon Hardwick, a Director, Choreographer and Theatre-Maker working across Musical Theatre.
I’m fascinated by how theatre works: what makes a story land, why a scene crackles with energy, how a piece of music can unlock a moment, and how you keep an audience leaning forward, wanting to know what happens next.
In the rehearsal room, I’m an enthusiastic question-asker, forever looking at a scene from different angles. I like to be both the smartest and the dumbest audience member in the room: digging into the detail while never losing sight of what someone seeing the show for the first time needs to understand, feel or discover. I love sharp dialogue, great chemistry and theatrical storytelling that keeps moving, even between the big moments.
My approach combines the structural thinking of a writer with the practical instincts of a director and choreographer. I enjoy mapping the architecture of a show, finding the relationships between music, movement, space and story, and then getting stuck into the details. I’m happiest in a collaborative room full of ideas, finding ways to turn ambitious concepts into something that feels effortless, surprising and alive.
Alongside directing and choreography, I write and develop original musical theatre. I’m interested in work that makes audiences laugh, feel something and see things differently, without ever losing sight of the fundamental pleasure of a great night at the theatre.
I believe human beings have the capacity to achieve extraordinary things. They just need to be shown how.
