The Art of Collaboration explores the critical relationship between directors and stage managers; an essential guide for theatre professionals seeking to build strong creative partnerships, emphasising mutual respect, clear communication and shared goals.

Through real-world examples, practical strategies and expert advice, it offers a framework that stimulates collaboration, enhances the rehearsal process and promotes a seamless production.

Whether you’re a seasoned director, an aspiring stage manager or simply want to know more about how to navigate the production process, this book provides insight to the vital, often overlooked, role of teamwork in bringing performances to stage.

Jacqui George
Jacqui has been working in Stage and Production Management for the last 25 years, with a major focus on Conservatoire training. She has taught at several conservatoires and is a Master of Education and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2018, Jacqui joined the senior leadership team at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy to design and implement a Conservatoire performing and production arts undergraduate training programme in the MENA region.
Jacqui has worked with professional companies such as National Theatre Wales, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Shared Experience. She has toured the UK extensively, produced Rep seasons in the West End, and internationally worked in Shanghai; World Expo, Berliner Festspiele, and Paphos, City of Culture. Jacqui also enjoys producing work with her and her husband’s company, We Made This.
Jacqui was one-half of Stand By Please, the stage management podcast with Antonia Collins, and is the Project Director for World Stage Design 2025.

Matt Ball
Matt is a theatre maker from the UK who has been working professionally for over 20 years, in Drama schools and universities alongside his professional practice. He was Creative Associate at National Theatre Wales (2011-13) and Artistic Director of Camden People’s Theatre (2006-11), and is currently Associate Programme Leader at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) in the UAE
As a director, his recent work includes: The Girl with Incredibly Long Hair & Light Waves Dark Skies (We Made This), Woyzeck, Anna Karenina & Blood Wedding (Bath Spa), Bottled (Experimentica/ Bristol Ferment), Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco (Waking Exploits), & Orson Welles Complex (BBC Cymru Wales). His devised production, Icarus 2.0 was nominated for a Total Theatre Award and a Stage Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. Most recently, he directed the world premiere of The First by Hassan Abdulrazzak, and devised Songs for the End of the World, What Number do I Call? and Things we lost in the floods with students at SPAA.
Matt has a BA (Hons) in Drama & Theatre Arts From Goldsmiths’ College and an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He is a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, and a member of Stage Directors UK.