Practitioner focus: John Wright

John Wright is an internationally renowned teacher and director. He co-founded Trestle Theatre Company in 1980 and Told by an Idiot in 1993. For many years he was a principal lecturer at Middlesex University, and his belief that teaching is the greatest source of learning has enabled his ideas to be developed and shaped by generations of students. Wright is currently a visiting director at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and he teaches various courses in clowning, play and mask throughout the UK.

Wright's inspirations include Joan Littlewood, Peter Brook, Barney Simon, Jacques Lecoq and Philippe Gaulier. The fundamental principal behind his approach to theatre making is playfulness, and a desire to ‘find the game’. Anyone who has ever participated in a workshop with Wright will know that his approach to theatre is incredibly liberating and, above all, fun. Any Wright exercise is guaranteed to engage students as his approach to theatre-making is refreshingly accessible. Many theories relating to acting often fall into the trap of becoming too cerebral but Wright's ideas are firmly rooted in the physical.