Mike Alfreds

Biography

Michael Alfreds was born in London in 1934 . He spent his National Service in the RAF in Singapore from 1952-54. From 1954-62 he lived in the USA. He worked in the Publicity Department of MGM Studios from 1955-57 and directed for small theatres around Los Angeles. He trained as a director first at the American Theatre Wing in New York, then from 1957-60 in the Theatre Department of Carnegie Mellon. During those years, he directed seasons of musicals and operas in summer stock in Kennebunkport. After graduating, he directed for Theatre West, TUcson and from 1961-62, he was artistic director of the Cincinnati Playhouse-in-the-Park. Back in the UK, he taught at LAMDA, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London from 1965-70. From 1970-1975, he worked in Israel. He was senior lecturer at the theatre department of Tel Aviv University, and from 1972-1975, he was artistic director of the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem and contributed immensely to its development. He also directed plays for the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv, Bimot theatre, the Haifa Municipal Theatre and Beersheva Theatre. He returned to the UK in 1975 where he founded and was artistic director of Shared Experience until 1985. He directed for the Royal National Theatre between 1985 and 1988. From 1991–1999, he was director of the Cambridge Theatre Company renamed Method and Madness. In 2001 and 2002, he directed for Shakespear'es Globe and in 1994, for the Royal Shakespeare Company. As well as the USA and Israel, he has worked abroad in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, France, Italy, Mongolia and China. He has translated the texts of several of his productions and has also specialised in the adaptation of novels and stories for the stage and has developed techiques for storytelling in the theatre. he has written two books on his working methods: Different Every Night, which deals with his rehearsal processes for plays, and Then What Happens, concerning his methods of working on adaptations. He has divided his career between directing and teaching acting and directing. Alfreds is known for his special method of working with actors, inspired amongst others by the principles of Constantin Stanislavski and Rudolf Laban, with emphasis on physical work, scrupulous analysis of text, spontaneity and interaction with others during the play in minimalistic productions.

Directed in Britain (selection)

Directed in Israel (selection)