TILLY THORP
Actor | Writer | Theatre Maker
Get to know me!
I trained as a performer and have always been drawn to stories with heart, breath and that leave me seeing the world in a different way. I believe passionately in future-proofing the industry by designing pathways that are transparent, accessible and structurally imaginative, particularly for artists whose voices are underrepresented within existing cultural systems.
My work spans both established and emerging contexts. I have led productions at venues including The Space Theatre, The Lion & Unicorn, The Barn Theatre, and Camden Fringe, and my writing has been recognised by the BBC Writer’s Room and the National Theatre’s New Views programme . My shadowing director roles on large-scale productions such as The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Chichester Festival Theatre) Bengal Tiger at the Bagdad Zoo (Young Vic), and An Inspector Calls (New Wimbledon Theatre) have provided me with direct experience of the demands of national touring, rigorous rehearsal processes, and the collaborative leadership required in the UK’s regional theatre ecology.
I am the co-founder of Blank Space Collective Ltd and am represented by Seen Talent Management.
My Practise
My practice is rooted in multidisciplinary and physical storytelling, informed by training at Rose Bruford College, the Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático (Madrid), the Young Vic Director’s Programme, the National Youth Theatre, and workshops with companies such as Punchdrunk, Frantic Assembly, The Pappy Show, and the RSC. This foundation has fostered a dramaturgical approach that is both textually rigorous and physically imaginative, allowing me to support rehearsal processes that demand precision, emotional clarity and creative ambition.
I am particularly energised by supporting new work development and underrepresented people in the arts. This reflects strands of practice I have been committed to for many years. Through Blank Space Collective, which I co-founded to create equitable platforms for early-career and marginalised artists across South London, I have led workshops, curated development events, and mentored emerging directors and writers, building accessible, sustainable pathways into the industry. I strongly believe that community-embedded theatre is not ancillary to excellent artistic practice, but fundamental to the health and relevance of the wider theatrical ecosystem.