Rachael Nanyonjo

Programme Lead, Acting

Rachael is an international stage director and choreographer working across new writing, music theatre, opera and film.

Rachael holds a BA Honours in Dance Studies Roehampton University and a Masters in choreography from Middlesex University. Rachael is a One Dance UK Trailblazer Fellow in addition to being a British Council & Arts Council Artists intentional fund recipient.  She serves as a board member for the Lisa Ullmann Travel Fund. 

She has held teaching positions with Central School of Speech and Drama, Middlesex University, Bristol School of Acting (associate artist) and East 15 Acting.  

As a director and storyteller, physicality is integral to her creative process. Her areas of interest include new writing, physical theatre, devised work, opera and musicals.

Most recently Rachael choreographed for the Royal Ballet and Opera House in London the Jette Parker Summer performance, along with being a part the Aix en Provence Festival Women in Opera Académie 2026 and is a supported artist at the festival.

Rachael has worked on five West End productions, including Retrograde at the Apollo Theatre by Ryan Calais Cameron; Misty by Arinzé Kene (nominated for four Olivier Awards) and transferred to Broadway; Disney’s Newsies (winner of the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer); The P Word Olivier Award for Best Production in an Affiliate Theatre; Boys from the Blackstuff; and the Pinter at the Pinter season by the Jamie Lloyd Company.

She also directed and choreographed Recognition, Talawa Theatre Company’s 2023 production about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, which was nominated for four Off West End Awards, including Best Director and Best Choreographer, and won Best Musical Direction.