Jake Smith – Director & Producer 

Jake is an award-winning Director and Producer both from and based in the North East of England. In  fostering an ambition to create theatre in conversation with the world today Jake founded Novo  Productions in 2019 and is currently the Artistic and Executive Director.  

 “I’m so excited to be directing Steel and Iron, a musical and story pioneered by Teessiders for the world. I know being from Teesside the incredible connection we have to our ancestry and each generations hopes and dreams for the future. This a wonderful story full of heart and as well forged as Teesside Steel, with some of the most beautiful and anthemic songs I’ve heard for the stage. It is definitely not to be missed”

Jake Smith

He has a First Class BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Practice from the University of Hull and is  completing an MA in Producing for Film and Television at the University of Teesside. 

Jake trained and worked with the National Theatre and has held positions as Artistic Director of the  Petersfield Shakespeare Festival, Resident Director at the Almeida Theatre, Resident Director at  Chichester Festival Theatre and as Creative Learning Facilitator at Hull Truck Theatre.  

He was previously nominated for an Off West End Award for Best Director for the UK premier of  Halley Feiffer’s, I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard.  

Directing Credits Include:  

Forthcoming: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Tilted Wig, Malvern Theatre and Churchill Theatre Co pro & UK Tour Previous Credits Include: The Hound of the Baskervilles – Northern Stage, Hull Truck  Theatre, Tron Theatre, Theatre Royal Wakefield & Tour, A Christmas Carol – Chichester Festival  Theatre, Isolation – Alphabetti Theatre & Customs House, West End Girls– Live Theatre, Little Women, Glory Dazed, Goodnight Mister Tom, It’s a Wonderful Life – East Riding Theatre, Notre Dame,  Gulliver’s Travels The Musical – Alexandra Theatre Bognor Regis, The Arsonists, Shakespeare’s Sister – Courtyard Theatre, I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard, Andy Capp The Musical – Finborough Theatre, DISCOVERED – Arts Theatre & Hollywood Fringe LA, The Buried Moon – The Rose Playhouse, PSF,  Theatre Royal Winchester, The Tempest, As You Like It, Henry V, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Abyss – Petersfield Shakespeare Festival, Brighton Open Air Theatre & Theatre Royal Winchester. 

Associate, Resident and Assistant Director Credits Include: John Rando on Back to the Future The  Musical, Manchester Opera House, Jonathan Kent – The Height of the Storm, UK Tour & Wyndhams  Theatre, West End, Lorne Campbell – The Last Ship, Northern Stage & UK & Ireland Tour, Nikolai Foster  – Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Theatre Royal Haymarket, West End & UK Tour, Howard Davies – For Services  Rendered, Minerva Theatre, Jamie Glover – Miss Julie & Black Comedy, Minerva Theatre, Nadia Fall – Way Upstream, Chichester Festival Theatre, Dale Rooks – One Hundred and One Dalmatians,  Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent – GYPSY, Chichester Festival Theatre, Max Stafford-Clark – Pitcairn, Minerva Theatre and Jonathan Church – Stevie, Hampstead Theatre.  

Representation – Chris Davis Management Ltd Contact – cdavis@cdm-ltd.com