Esther is currently the Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre company based in York, UK. She leads the vision for the organisation and has directed its acclaimed productions: Brighton Rock (2018), Noughts and Crosses (2019)and Traitor (2017 - co-conceived and co-directed with Cecilie Lundsholt).
Before joining Pilot, Esther directed work for UK theatre companies including Soho Theatre, London, Cast in Doncaster, Tamasha Theatre, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, Derby LIVE, Nottingham Playhouse, Bolton Octagon, Theatre Writing Partnership and New Perspectives.
Esther has worked as Associate Director for Kully Thiarai at Cast in Doncaster helping to artistically deliver the opening of the building, and the first three large-scale productions made by the company (2013-15). She worked with Lisa Goldman as Artistic Associate for Soho Theatre in London (2007-09), and as Artistic Associate for Derby LIVE (2009-12).
At the beginning of her career Esther was Assistant Dramaturg for the Royal Shakespeare Company and she is a renowned dramaturg, having worked on numerous award-winning plays. She was the founding Artistic Director of Theatre Writing Partnership - a new writing development company based in Nottingham UK (funded by the Lottery and ACE from 2001 to 2012). The company was nominated for the prestigious Stage/TMA’s Special Achievement in Regional Theatre Award when Esther was running the company in 2006.
Film work includes selection for ifeatures2 (2012/3), The Cake for Quad Shorts (2011), and Wings for DVD Shorts (2011) funded through EM Media, both produced by Anthem Films.
“Every performance in Esther Richardson’s production holds you. By the end you don’t want to leave its warm embrace” The Sunday Times
