Andrea Brooks

Biography

Andrea has a career spanning over 30 years as a theatre director, producer and inspiratrix. She trained as an actor at The Drama Centre and worked as an actor across the UK as well as in the West End and at The Old Vic with Anthony Hopkins. She started producing on the Fringe and quickly grew the company as an international production company and began directing the work. Returning to the UK she continued to direct for companies across the UK as well as frequently in former Soviet Europe. She became an Associate Artist of the innovative BAC at the invitation of Tom Morris (War Horse) and formed Zygo Arts; producing theatre in co-production with Ambassadors Theatre Group - most notably 'The True History ...of Julia Pastrana' performed in total darkness and awarded 5 stars by The Guardian and winning Time Out Pick of the Year. Andrea has worked as a coach in the government and corporate sector and was a consultant to the European Government advising on actor training. Andrea joined East 15 Acting School, University of Essex as Head of MA Acting and as well as teaching intensively on the MA Acting course, she runs workshops on Voice, Energy and Impact across the University and at the Edinburgh Festival. Andrea is a founder member of Essex Women’s Network and has recently been made a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Appointments

University of Essex

• Head of MA Acting, East 15, University of Essex (3/9/2007 - present)

Other academic

• Professor of Acting, Acting department, Nanjing University of the Arts (11/4/2011 - present)

• Curriculum Adviser, The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (20/1/2014 - 20/3/2014)