James is a theatre director who lives in Northampton, where he is Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate Theatres, an arts organisation which welcomed over 500,000 audiences and participants last year for live performances, creative learning projects and community activities.

He has previously been Associate Director at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, the National Youth Theatre and at London’s Theatre503. He has directed theatre, opera and events across the UK at organisations including Shakespeare’s Globe, The National Theatre, Manchester’s Royal Exchange, Northern Stage, Liverpool Everyman and in the West End, with his work winning Olivier, The Stage and UK Theatre awards.