Michelle Payne
MICHELLE PAYNE
DIRECTOR & WRITER
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - DEAR EVAN HANSEN (UK TOUR + ASIA)
ASSOCIATE/ RESIDENT DIRECTOR
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Michelle Payne was Associate Director for the Nottingham Playhouse run and first ever UK Tour of Dear Evan Hansen (ATG) and is transferring the show to Manila & Singapore for Autumn 2025.
Creative Team
DIRECTOR Adam Penford
SET, COSTUME & CO-VIDEO DESIGN Morgan Large
MUSICAL SUPERVISOR Matt Spencer-Smith
CHOREGRAPHER Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
LIGHTING DESIGNER Matt Daw
SOUND DESIGNER Tom Marshall
VIDEO CO-DESIGNER Ravi Deprees
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Michael Bradley
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
ASSOCIATE MUSICAL DIRECTOR Bob Broad / Dan Glover
CASTING DIRECTOR Natalie Gallacher
PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Brenner
Cast - UK Tour
Ryan Kopel, Alice Fearn, Lauren Conroy, Richard Hurst, Helen Anker, Vivian Panka, Tom Dickerson, Killian Lefevre, Sonny Monaghan, Lara Sas, Daniel Forrester, Will Forgrave, Jessica Lim, Elise Zavou & Olivia Faith Kamau
Cast - Asia
Ellis Kirk, Rebecca McKinnis, Zoe Athena, Hal Fowler, Helen Anker, Olivia Faith Kamau, Tom Dickerson, Rhys Hopkins, Sonny Monaghan, Annie Southall, Jake Halsey-Jones, Joseph Peacock, Sheri Lineham & Ashlyn Weekes.
CAST CHANGE REHEARSALS SUMMER 2025
Throughout 2025, I led on the following processes for the international transfer of Dear Evan Hansen:
- Casting (w/ Richard Johnston - Natalie Gallacher)
- Cast-change rehearsals
- Directing the filmed video design content
- Technical rehearsals
- Previews & opening
- Understudy rehearsals
The rehearsal photos were taken by Mark Brenner.
The show will run at the following venues throughout Autumn 2025
Solaire Theatre, Manila Philippines
Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore
Our dance captain team for Asia consists of the brilliant Annie Southall (DC) & Joseph Peacock (ADC).
Michelle Payne was the Resident Director on the UK Tour and London run of Bugsy Malone (Kenny Wax Productions). The company consisted of three teams of 7 professional children age 9-16 in the lead roles, and an adult ensemble.
Creative Team
DIRECTOR Sean Holmes
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Jon Bauser
MUSICAL SUPERVISOR Phil Bateman
CHOREOGRAPHER Drew McOnie
LIGHTING DESIGNER Phil Gladwell
SOUND DESIGNER Ben Harrison
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Connagh Tonkinson
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Franny Anne Rafferty
ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER Leanne Pinder
RESIDENT DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
CASTING DIRECTOR Will Burton
COMPANY MANAGER David Nelson
Photography by Pamela Raith
Photography by Pamela Raith
Photography by Pamela Raith
BUGSY MALONE
My work on Bugsy Malone consisted of the following:
- Leading a professional company of 21 young performers (u16) & 18 young-adult performers.
- Get in day re-cap rehearsals with the U16s, show watches & regular note sessions to maintain the highest quality production.
- Regular understudy rehearsals.
- Promo events including filming for Blue Peter.
- Set-up production shots with Pamela Raith for the London run marketing.
- Re-staging for Alexandra Palace Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre alongside Sean Holmes, Drew McOnie and Franny Anne Rafferty,
- Working in collaboration with the chaperones + CM to ensure the wellbeing of our young performers 16 and under.
Our brilliant dance captain team consisted of Will Lucas (DC) & Esme Bacalla-Hayes (ADC + Children's Captain).
THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS
Michelle Payne was Resident Director on the UK Tour of The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, adapted for stage by Oli Lansley.
Creative Team
DIRECTOR Oli Lansley & James Seagar
SET DESIGNER Jasmine Swan
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER Al Wolfe
LIGHTING DESIGNER Jane Lalljee
VIDEO DESIGNER Nina Dunn
RESIDENT DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
CASTING DIRECTOR Christa Harris
PHOTOGRAPHY Rah Peterbridge
COMPANY MANAGER Leah Butterworth
Cast: Eve De Leon Allen, Lisa Howard, Dan Willis, Michael Barker, Elouise Warboys, Stephanie Levi John
The House with Chicken Legs was nominated for an Olivier Award 2024.
PIGS MIGHT FLY
Michelle Payne was Associate Director-Choreographer on the UK Tour of Pigs Might Fly based on the Mudpuddle Farm Series by Michael Morpurgo.
Creative Team
BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS Wigmore & Green
DIRECTOR Kate Golledge
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Stewart J Charlesworth
CHOREOGRAPHER Chris Whittaker
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Josh Sood
LIGHTING DESIGNER Aaron J Dootson
SOUND DESIGNER Ella Wahlstrom
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR-CHOREOGRAPHER Michelle Payne
PRODUCERS Golden Toad & DEM Productions
PHOTOGRAPHY Melanie Bright
Cast: Rachel Lea-Gray, Jazz Evans & Megan Swaisland.
ERROL'S GARDEN
Michelle Payne was Associate Director on Golden Toad & DEM Productions' UK Tour of Errol's Garden
Creative Team
BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS Wigmore & Green
DIRECTOR Kate Golledge
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Isobel Nicolson
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Josh Sood
LIGHTING DESIGNER Holly Ellis
SOUND DESIGNER Ella Wahlstrom
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
CASTING DIRECTOR Danica Pickett
PRODUCERS DEM Productions
PHOTOGRAPHY Danny Kaan
HEADCASE
Michelle Payne was Associate Director on Headcase by Kristin Mcilquham at The Bush as part of Essex on Stage.
A funny & moving, true story about the aftermath of Kristin's father’s brain injury and the impact that’s had on their relationship.
Creative Team
WRITER-PERFORMER Kristin Mcilquham
DIRECTOR Laura Keefe
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Gareth Taylor
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Zoe Hurwitz
LIGHTING DESIGNER Charlotte Burton
SOUND DESIGNER Jay Jones
VOICE COACH Katie Heath
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
PRODUCERS Blue Gravy + Matthew Schmolle Productions
SUMMER CAMP FOR BROKEN PEOPLE
Michelle Payne was Associate Director on Summer Camp for Broken People by Emily Beecher.
A bold, brave and empowering show about how mental illness infects our lives, our capacity for pain and what it takes to put a shattered spirit back together.
Creative Team
WRITER-PERFORMER Emily Beecher
ALTERNATE PERFORMER Charlie Coletta
DIRECTOR Christa Harris
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Libby Todd
VIDEO DESIGNER Dan Light
LIGHTING DESIGNER Stacey Nurse
SOUND DESIGNER Nicola Chang
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Michelle Payne
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER Ana Webb Sanchez
PRODUCERS RE:Create Agency + Grace Dickson Productions
PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Brenner
VIDEOGRAPHY ChewBoy Productions
