Su Young Shon
Musical Storytelling & Comedy
About Su Young
Su Young Shon is a theatre director whose work spans musical theatre and text-led performance. She is drawn to theatre that prioritises clarity, emotional precision, and a strong sense of connection between performers and audience. Her practice is grounded in clear intention, strong rehearsal structure, and collaborative processes that allow actors and creative teams to do their best work.
She is particularly interested in the mechanics of storytelling and the ways music, text, rhythm, and staging intersect to create momentum and emotional precision. She has a strong interest in comedy and comedic structure, particularly in how rhythm, timing, and ensemble dynamics shape humour on stage. For Su Young, comedy is not simply about laughter but about recognition and connection. She is drawn to work that allows audiences to see themselves in the characters on stage and believes that moments of humour can create powerful points of relatability, empathy, and shared experience. This attention to rhythm and timing informs her work across both musical theatre and comedy, where structure, pacing, and ensemble responsiveness are essential to storytelling.
Alongside directing, Su Young is deeply committed to supporting work from within the process. As an Assistant, Associate, or Resident Director, she thrives as a bridge between vision and execution, holding the overall shape of a production in view while ensuring that detail, care, and continuity are maintained throughout the rehearsal and performance process. She values structure, consistency, and the quiet labour that allows a production to run smoothly long after opening night.
Her approach prioritises clarity, communication, and trust within the rehearsal room, creating an environment where actors and creative teams can work with confidence and precision.
Working across both the UK and South Korea has given Su Young an international perspective on rehearsal processes and collaboration. She values the adaptability, rigour, and cultural awareness that cross-cultural creative work demands.
She cares about theatre that feels intentional rather than decorative, work that trusts its actors and invites audiences to feel, reflect, and find their own connection to the story.
Passionate Theatre Director
With a deep love for storytelling through the art of theatre, Su Young Shon brings creativity and vision to every production. With years of experience directing both classic plays and contemporary pieces, Su Young Shon is known for her innovative approach and attention to detail. Her dedication to the craft shines through in every performance, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impact. For details on her work and experience, DOWNLOAD her CV here.
Su Young - Background
Su Young trained at East 15 Acting School (University of Essex), where she completed an MFA in Theatre Directing with Distinction. Her training included British Contemporary Theatre, Improvisation and Devising, Musical Theatre, Comedy, Russian Theatre (Stanislavski, Vakhtangov, Meyerhold), Shakespeare, and Assistant Directing. During her training she directed several projects, including her thesis production of Islander, a two-hander musical exploring storytelling through voice, live looping, and minimal staging.
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Before moving to the UK, she directed theatre in South Korea, including productions such as Tick, Tick… Boom!, Murder Ballad, Aida, and the original musical Fly, Mrs. Park!. These projects ranged from musical theatre to original work and helped shape her approach to rehearsal structure, musical storytelling, and actor-centred collaboration.
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Alongside her directing work, she also worked professionally in the South Korean musical theatre industry as an Assistant Director on productions ranging from intimate chamber musicals to large-scale ensemble productions. Credits include Maybe Happy Ending, Anna Karenina, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Shinheung Military Academy, and Return: The Promise of the Day. These productions ranged from original Korean musicals to licensed and replica productions and involved working with large creative teams and complex rehearsal structures. Her experience spans intimate three-hander productions to large-cast musicals, and she has also worked across workshops, readings, and development processes for new work at multiple stages of creation.
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In the UK, she has worked across musicals, comedy, devised work, and new writing. Her credits include Associate Director on White Rose (musical) and Ding Dong (French farce), and Assistant Director on productions including The Gift, Houses Apart, and the devised piece Wound. She has also been part of the creative team for the 50-hour Improvathon in 2025 and 2026.
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She continues to work across both the UK and South Korea, developing projects that span musical theatre, new writing, and collaborative performance.