The freelance director talks about his career and Australia’s budding young talents.

A friend in Sydney tipped me off that one of the movers and shakers of Australian youth theatre, Paul Viles, would be visiting London this autumn to attend the National Theatre’s Connections programme. During the workshops there he will be representing Australian Theatre for Young People where he is now a freelance director. I took the opportunity to talk to him about what was happening back home. You may have seen some of Paul’s work in parts of School’s Spectacular on Channel 9 TV.

I ask Paul why he is in London again. “I have been attending the National Theatre Connections programme on-and-off for the last 10 years and this will be my sixth visit. I make the journey over because it is such a unique opportunity for directors and writers to work together on pieces specifically written for young people. Many people from UK groups are represented but it is also an international event and I have learnt so much from it.”

“I love talking to a writer and exploring their text with them. It is a real partnership where we can make suggestions on how it...