Michael Alfreds (born 5 June 1934) is an English theatre director, adaptor, translator and teacher.

Biography

Michael Alfreds was born in London in 1934 and trained as a director at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

He lived in the United States for eight years (1954–1962), during which time he worked for MGM Studios in Hollywood, was artistic director of Theatre West, Tucson, and then of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. For five years he worked in Israel (1970–1975), where he became the artistic director of the Jerusalem Khan Theatre and contributed immensely to its development.

In the UK, Alfreds founded Shared Experience in 1975 and ran it for thirteen years. He worked as a director at the Royal National Theatre between 1985 and 1988, and was an associate and artistic director of the Cambridge Theatre Company, later renamed Method and Madness, from 1991 to 1999. He has directed for Shakespeare's Globe, Royal Shakespeare Company, and for several regional repertory theatres.

As well as the USA and Israel, Alfreds has worked in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, France, Italy, Mongolia and China. He has staged over two hundred productions, and won awards both internationally and in the UK. 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 techniques for storytelling in the theatre.

Alfreds has written three books on his working methods: Different Every Night, which deals with his rehearsal processes for plays; Then What Happens, concerning his methods of working on adaptations; and What Actors Do, which is a philosophy of his process. 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.

Teaching

Alfreds began teaching acting and directing at the London Opera Centre and taught at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in London from 1965 to 1970. He later served as a senior lecturer in drama at the University of Tel Aviv from 1971 to 1973.

Alfreds has conducted workshops and masterclasses globally, including locations such as St Andrews, Melbourne, Wellington, and Beijing, covering various techniques such as storytelling, melodrama, and the methods of Chekhov and Stanislavski.

He has collaborated with theatre companies like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, and worked with the Shakespeare Festival Theatre in Canada and the Actors Studio in New York.

Alfreds has also taught dance and choreography workshops, contributing to theatre education through training courses and workshops for organisations worldwide.

Productions +YearProductionCompany / Theatre1955Hello From Bertha, Williams Brentwood Playhouse, Los Angeles1956The Death of Manolete, Conrad adaptation Brentwood Playhouse, Los Angeles1956The Human Voice, Cocteau Brentwood Playhouse, Los Angeles1956One, Two, Three, MolnarBrentwood Playhouse, Los Angeles1957The Epidemic, MirbeauCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1957The Tenor, WedekindCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1957The Understanding, AlfredsCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1957Blithe Spirit, CowardCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1957The Beaux Arts Revue, Alfreds/CohenCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1957Keep An Eye On Amelie, Feydeau Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958Montserrat, Robles/Hellman Summer Stock, Kennebunkport, Maine1958Guys and Dolls, LoesserCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958Kiss Me, Kate, PorterCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958La Perichole, OffenbachCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958Lakme, DelibesCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958The Secret Marriage, Cimarsoa Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958The Land of Smiles, LeharCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958Gallantry, Moore Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1958The Merry Wives of Windsor, NicolaiCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1959Annie Get Your Gun, BerlinCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1959Die Fledermaus, StraussCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1959The Most Happy Fella, LoesserCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1959The Merry Widow, LeharCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1959Madama Butterfly, PucciniCarnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh1960Thieves' Carnival, AnouilhWinter Stock, Theatre West, Tucson, Arizona1960Enrico IV, PirandelloWinter Stock, Theatre West, Tucson, Arizona1961Volpone, Romains/Zweig/JonsonCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1961A View From the Bridge, MillerCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1961Under Milk Wood, ThomasCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1961The Seagull, Chekhov Cincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1961La Ronde, Schnitzler Cincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1961The Bald Soprano/The Chairs, IonescoCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962Hedda Gabler, IbsenCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962The Servant of Two Masters, GoldoniCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962Heartbreak House, ShawCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962No Exit, SartreCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962The Lark, Anouilh/HellmanCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, new play - ShapiroCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1962Hamlet, ShakespeareCincinnati Playhouse-In-The Park1963Photo Finish, Ustinov Churchill, Bromley1963Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Laclos Frinton/Cambridge Arts1964La Traviata, VerdiWelsh National Opera Tour1964Die Fledermaus, StraussOpera Players1964La Boheme, PucciniBritish Opera Company1964La Traviata, VerdiBritish Opera Company1967Busybody, PopplewellMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1967Lady, Be Good, GershwinMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1968The Government Inspector, GogolTheatre Royal, Lincoln1968A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, SondheimTheatre Royal, Lincoln1968A Day In The Death of Joe Egg, NicholsMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1968The Servant of Two Masters, GoldoniMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1968The Misanthrope, MoliereMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1968Dear Departed Mother In Law, FeydeauMarlowe Theatre, Canterbury1969MarriageCameri Theatre, Tel Aviv, Israel1970MandragolaHaifa Theatre, Israel1971The House of Bernarda Alba, LorcaKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1971Asses, from PlatusHaifa Theatre, Israel19721001 NightsTel Aviv1972The Persian Protocols, devised from The Book of EstherKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1972Woyzeck, BuchnerKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1973One City, devised documentary about JerusalemKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1973Fumed Oak, Coward / The Music Cure ShawKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1973The Proposal/The Jubilee, Chekhov Khan Theatre, Jerusalem1973The Book of JonahIsraeli Television1973Two Hassidic Tales, BuberIsraeli Television1974Offending The Audience, HandkeKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1974The Servant of Two Masters, GoldoniKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1975The Cherry Orchard, ChekhovKhan Theatre, Jerusalem1975 - 1977Arabian Nights Trilogy, stories from the 10001 NightsShared Experience, (Crucible, Sheffield)1977 - 1978Bleak House, 4-part production of novel by DickensShared Experience1978 - 1979Science Fictions, improvised clown showShared Experience1979Cymbeline, ShakespeareShared Experience1981The Merchant of Venice, ShakespeareShared Experience1981The Seagull, ChekhovShared Experience1982La Ronde, Schnitzler Shared Experience1982The Cherry Orchard, ChekhovShared Experience1982A Handful of Dust, novel by Evelyn WaughShared Experience1983Suitcase Packers, an Israeli play by Hanoch LevineCameri Theatre, Tel Aviv, Israel1983Le Theatre des Nations, NancyShared Experience - Performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 19851983The Comedy Without a Title, 4 plays by RuzanteShared Experience1983False Admissions, MarivauxShared Experience1983Successful Strategies, MarivauxShared Experience1984Marriage, GogolShared Experience19841001 NightsTheater der Stadt Heidelberg, Germany1984False Admissions, MarivauxTaragon Theatre, Toronto, Canada1985The Cherry Orchard, ChekhovRoyal National Theatre (Best Director-BTA/DRAMA & Plays and Players Awards)1986The Three Sisters, ChekhovShared Experience 1986Too True To be Good, George Bernard ShawShared Experience1986Arabian NightsNationale Scene, Bergen, Norway1987The Wandering Jew, novel by Eugene SueRoyal National Theatre1987Countrymania, Goldoni trilogyRoyal National Theatre1988Blood Wedding, LorcaTarragon Theatre, Toronto & Banff Centre, Canada1988A Streetcar Named Desire, WilliamsTianjin People's Art Theatre, China1989Ghosts, IbsenBeersheba Municipal Theatre, Israel1990The Miser, MolièreOxford Stage Company1990Trouble In Paradise, devised show.Talking Pictures1991The Seagull, ChekhovOxford Stage Company1991Marriage, GogolTheatre der Stadt Heidelberg, Germany1991The Country Wife, Wycherley Cambridge Theatre Company1991Lady Windermere's Fan, Oscar WildeCambridge Theatre Company1992The Revenger's Tragedy, TourneurCambridge Theatre Company1992The Game of Love and Chance, MarivauxCo-Director; Cambridge Theatre Company1993The Hypochondriac, MolièreCambridge Theatre Company1993The Dearly Beloved, new play by Philip OsmentCambridge Theatre Company1993A Flea In Her Ear, FeydeauTheatre Clwyd/West Yorkshire Playhouse1993Les Enfants Du Paradis, film of Carné & Prévert.Co-Director; Cambridge Theatre Co.1994A Handful of Dust, Evelyn Waugh RevivalCambridge Theatre Company1994Uncle Silas, novel by Joseph Sheridan Le FanuCambridge Theatre Company1994Emma, novel by Jane AustenCambridge Theatre Company1995What I Did In The Holidays, new play by Philip OsmentCambridge Theatre Company1995Jude The Obscure, novel by Thomas Hardy Method & Madness (Best Director TMA Awards)1996Private Lives, Noël CowardMethod & Madness (Best Director TMA Awards)1996Flesh and Blood, new play by Philip Osment Method & Madness (Best Director TMA Awards)1996Ghosts, IbsenMethod & Madness1997The Winter's Tale, ShakespeareMethod & Madness1998Cherry Orchard, Chekhov Method & Madness1998Demons & Dybbuks, stories by Isaac Bashevis SingerMethod & Madness1998The Black Dahlia, novel by James ElroyMethod & Madness1999Buried Alive, new play by Philip OsmentMethod & Madness2000Demons & Dybbuks, Bashevis SingerCameri Theatre, Tel Aviv2001Buried Alive, Philip OsmentHampstead Theatre2001Cymbeline, ShakespeareShakespeare's Globe2002Cymbeline, ShakespeareBrooklyn Academy of Music2002A Midsummer Night's Dream, ShakespeareShakespeare's Globe2002The Comedy of Errors, ShakespeareDartmouth College, New Hampshire2003Collateral Damage, on the Oklahoma City Bombing; devised with OsmentLAMDA2003The Black Dahlia, novel by James EllroyYale Repertory Theater2003Collateral DamageLAMDA2004Twelfth Night, ShakespeareRutgers University at Shakespeare's Globe2004Pedro, The Great Pretender, CervantesRoyal Shakespeare Company; The Swan2005Troilus and Cressida, ShakespeareRutgers University at Shakespeare's Globe2005Pedro, The Great Pretender, CervantesRoyal Shakespeare Company; The Swan2006Much Ado About Nothing, ShakespeareRutgers University at Shakespeare's Globe2007The Winter's Tale, ShakespeareRutgers University at Shakespeare's Globe2008Cymbeline, ShakespeareRutgers University at Shakespeare's Globe2011The Tin Ring, Zdenka Fantlova Erlich/Jane ArnfieldNorthern Stage/Lowry Centre/The Houses of Parliament/World Tour2014Blood Wedding, LorcaEast 15 School of Acting2014The Comedy of Errors, ShakespeareGuildhall School of Music & Drama2015Twelfth Night, ShakespeareGuildhall School of Music & Drama2016Dealer's Choice, Patrick MarberGuildhall School of Music & Drama2016The Crucible, MillerGuildhall School of Music & Drama2018The Three Sisters, ChekhovCentral School of Speech & Drama2018Year of Wonders, Geraldine BrooksLowry Centre2023Five Characters in Search of a Good Night's Sleep, devised with the companyVisible Theatre, Southwark Playhouse

Awards

Kinoor David (David's Harp) Award (Israel), Best Director/Production: Mandragola, Haifa Theatre 1971; Suitcase Packers, Cameri Theatre 1984