Education
Bringing Words to Life
With the heart in the mind, and mind as body…
Val has worked extensively as a teaching director both giving classes for, and staging productions with, performance students.She continues this experiential drama work through the education programmes of L.L.C.
• As a specialist in Performance Studies, Val has taught and directed productions at many of the UK’s leading Drama Schools, including the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Drama Centre London, Drama Studio London, Guilford School of Acting, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Manchester Polytechnic Drama School, Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Mountview, ALRA, Italia Conti, and City Lit.
• As Director of The Live Literature Company Val was employed to teach Public Speaking at Birkbeck, University of London.
• Specialist Live Literature Company classes and workshops have been given in Shakespeare and Shakespeare’s Women at The Actors’ Centre, and the V & A Museum. Workshops on contemporary British dramatists include workshops on Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Tom Stoppard, Harold Pinter, & Debby Tucker Green.
• L.L.C. delivers a Study Abroad programme for drama students from Niagara University U.S.A. each summer. This programme was founded 20 years ago. The students study Shakespeare and Contemporary British Drama and give a public Shakespeare performance at the end of each summer’s study.
The Niagara students receive a first-class education and cultural experience – Professor Steven Braddock, Artistic Director, NU Theatre.
Photo: Val with the 2025 cohort of students from Niagara University.
INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE FOR CHILDREN:
Children enjoying a Live Literature Company Shakespeare performance, given by Niagara University drama students at Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon.
In 2008, Val launched a unique experiential learning programme for primary schools, which focuses on Shakespeare’s sonnets, and gives children confidence in speaking Shakespeare’s language. The workshop culminates with the children writing and performing their own sonnets.
In 2014, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust launched Shakespeare Week with the aim of helping children at primary school engage with Shakespeare’s work. L.L.C. participates with our Shakespeare for Children programme.
In 2024 L.L.C. gave our Introduction to Shakespeare for Children at Salcombe Primary School, Devon, England.
Above: Val directing students in Uncle Vanya at the (former) Manchester Polytechnic Drama School.
Photo by Peter Evans who designed this production.
THE FINAL DANCE IN THE NIAGARA SHAKESPEARE RECITAL 2024
SUMMER 2019:
In Summer 2019, Val directed this year’s cohort of Niagara drama students in her Shakespeare adaptation A Midsummer Night’s Dream in One Hour. The production toured to Lauderdale House in London and to Salcombe in Devon. Check out our performance at Lauderdale House here.
SUMMER 2018:
In Summer 2018, Val directed this year’s cohort of Niagara students in her new Shakespeare adaptation Love Scenes from As You Like It With Songs. The production toured to Lauderdale House in London, Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as to Salcombe in Devon for a special seaside performance. Check out our performance at Lauderdale House here.
Watching the performance of The Tempest by The Live Literature Company was a truly magical experience for my daughter. She was studying the play at school, but it was this performance that brought the story to life. The cast conveyed the meaning of the play so beautifully. If you get the opportunity to see a performance by The Live Literature Company do not hesitate – particularly if you are studying Shakespeare at school. (Cordelia Brown).
• June 2025 As You Like It with Shakespeare’s Sonnets (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) a recital performed at St. Anne’s Church, Highgate, by Niagara University drama students.
• June 2024 A Midsummer Night’s Dream in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) a recital performed at St. Anne’s Church, Highgate, by Niagara University drama students.
• June 2023 As You Like It with Songs in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) play performed by Niagara University drama students on the tea lawn at Lauderdale House, Highgate, & Salcombe, Devon.
• June 2019 A Midsummer Night’s Dream in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) play performed by Niagara University drama students on the tea lawn at Lauderdale House, Highgate, performed by Niagara University drama students on the tea lawn at Lauderdale House, Highgate, & Salcombe, Devon.
• June 2018 Love Scenes from As You Like It with Songs in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) performed by Niagara University drama students on the tea lawn at Lauderdale House, Highgate, Hall’s Croft garden Stratford-upon-Avon, Woodcot garden, Salcombe, Devon.
• June 2017 Much Ado About Nothing in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) performed by Niagara University drama students on the tea lawn at Lauderdale House, Highgate, Hall’s Croft garden Stratford-upon-Avon, Woodcot garden, Salcombe, Devon.
• June 2016 & 2014 The Tempest in One Hour: A Climate Change Concept: (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) performed by Niagara University drama students in the garden at Hall’s Croft garden Stratford-upon-Avon.
• June 2015 Twelfth Night in One Hour (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) performed by Niagara University drama students at Hall’s Croft garden Stratford-upon-Avon, Woodcot garden, Salcombe, Devon.
• Shakespeare’s Henry V111 with a special focus on Anne Boleyn (adaptation & direction by Val Doulton) performed by Niagara University drama students at The Tower of London.