# Simon Dormandy

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Simon_Dormandy
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Simon_Dormandy.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dormandy
> Source revision: 1354685532
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Simon Dormandy** is an [English](/source/England) [theatre director](/source/Theatre_director), [teacher](/source/Teacher) and [actor](/source/Actor). As an actor, he worked with [Cheek by Jowl](/source/Cheek_by_Jowl) and the [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company) (RSC), as well as at [The Donmar Warehouse](/source/The_Donmar_Warehouse), [The Old Vic](/source/The_Old_Vic), [Chichester Festival Theatre](/source/Chichester_Festival_Theatre) and [The Royal Exchange](/source/Royal_Exchange,_Manchester), amongst many others. He is perhaps best known on screen for his performances in *[Little Dorrit](/source/Little_Dorrit_(1987_film))* and *[Vanity Fair](/source/Vanity_Fair_(1987_TV_serial))*. Between 1997 and 2012, he taught drama at [Eton College](/source/Eton_College), [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire), and held the posts of Director of Drama, Head of Theatre Studies and Deputy Head of English.[1][2] He worked as a freelance theatre director until 2019 [3] and has been Head of Academic Drama at [St Paul's School, London](/source/St_Paul's_School,_London) since 2020.[4] His directing credits include [*Julius Caesar*](/source/Julius_Caesar_(play)) at the [Bristol Old Vic](/source/Bristol_Old_Vic) and *[Much Ado About Nothing](/source/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)* at the [Rose Theatre, Kingston](/source/Rose_Theatre,_Kingston), and his own adaptations of *[A Passage to India](/source/A_Passage_to_India)* and the [Coen Brothers](/source/Coen_brothers)' film *[The Hudsucker Proxy](/source/The_Hudsucker_Proxy)*.

## Background

Simon Dormandy was born on 13 December 1957.[2] He attended [Marlborough College](/source/Marlborough_College) and studied English Language and Literature at [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University) between 1976 and 1979.[3] Dormandy studied with [Philippe Gaulier](/source/Philippe_Gaulier) at [École Philippe Gaulier](/source/%C3%89cole_Philippe_Gaulier).[5]

Simon Dormandy was, as an actor, known largely for his work with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company) between 1988 and 1995. Over the period, he worked with many well known directors, including [Adrian Noble](/source/Adrian_Noble), [Sam Mendes](/source/Sam_Mendes), [Deborah Warner](/source/Deborah_Warner), [Katie Mitchell](/source/Katie_Mitchell) and [Max Stafford-Clark](/source/Max_Stafford-Clark). He also took part in several films and television series. He was perhaps best known for his performances in *[Little Dorrit](/source/Little_Dorrit_(1987_film))* (as Sparkler) and *[Vanity Fair](/source/Vanity_Fair_(1987_TV_serial))* (as Dobbin). He was also known for his work with the theatre company Cheek By Jowl.[6]

He taught Drama and English at Eton College for fifteen years from 1997 to 2012, where he was Director of Drama, Head of Theatre Studies and Deputy Head of English.[1][2] His pupils included the actors [Tom Hiddleston](/source/Tom_Hiddleston), [Eddie Redmayne](/source/Eddie_Redmayne), [Harry Lloyd](/source/Harry_Lloyd) and [Adetomiwa Edun](/source/Adetomiwa_Edun), director [James Dacre](/source/James_Dacre) and comedians Tom Palmer and Tom Stourton of comedy duo [Totally Tom](/source/Totally_Tom) and [Humphrey Ker](/source/Humphrey_Ker). School productions include *Henry VI* with Eddie Redmayne, *Waiting for Godot* with Harry Lloyd, *King Lear* (where he directed [Edward Stourton](/source/Edward_Stourton_(journalist))'s son in the title role[7]), *Three Sisters, Pool, No Water*, *Henry IV*, (a joint version of both Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2),[8] *Joseph K* and *Spring Awakening*.

Since January 2013, he has been working as a freelance theatre director. In 2013, he was assistant director on the world premiere of *The Low Road* by [Bruce Norris](/source/Bruce_Norris_(playwright)) at [The Royal Court Theatre](/source/Royal_Court_Theatre). In 2014 he directed the UK Premiere of *Eldorado* by Marius von Mayenburg and a production of *Waiting for Godot* with young comedians in the leading roles, both at The Arcola Theatre in London. In 2015, he co-directed his own stage adaptation of the [Coen Brothers](/source/Coen_Brothers)' film *The Hudsucker Proxy* with Toby Sedgwick at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and the Liverpool Playhouse in association with [Complicite](/source/Complicite). The production won Best Design at the 2015 UK Theatre Awards. He was also an artistic collaborator on [Simon McBurney](/source/Simon_McBurney)'s *The Encounter* for Complicite at the Edinburgh International Festival and subsequently at the Barbican, London and on tour. In 2016, he directed [Mel Giedroyc](/source/Mel_Giedroyc) in the highly acclaimed UK Premiere of *Luce* by J. C. Lee at Southwark Playhouse. In 2017, he directed *[Julius Caesar](/source/Julius_Caesar_(play))* at the [Bristol Old Vic](/source/Bristol_Old_Vic), and developed and co-directed his own adaptation of *[A Passage to India](/source/A_Passage_to_India)*, which toured early in 2018 before a five-week run at The Park in London. His production of *[Much Ado About Nothing](/source/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)* opened at the [Rose Theatre, Kingston](/source/Rose_Theatre,_Kingston) in April 2018.[citation needed]

He returned to teaching in 2019 at [City of London Freemen's School](/source/City_of_London_Freemen's_School)[9] and has served as Head of Academic Drama at St Paul's School, London since 2020.[4] He also teaches and directs at [Shakespeare's Globe](/source/Shakespeare's_Globe), [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Dramatic_Art), [Drama Centre](/source/Drama_Centre_London), [Royal Central School of Speech and Drama](/source/Royal_Central_School_of_Speech_%26_Drama), and the [British American Drama Academy](/source/British_American_Drama_Academy).[citation needed]

## Filmography

### Film credits

Year Film Role 1986 Whoops Apocalypse Soldier Castaway Jackson 1988 Little Dorrit Sparkler 1992 Rebecca's Daughters Captain Marsden Christopher Columbus: The Discovery Bives

### Television credits

Year TV Role Notes 1987 Boogie Outlaws TV mini-series Vanity Fair William Dobbin TV mini-series 1989 Casualty Tom TV show 1 episode 1996 Bugs Zito TV show 2 episodes

## Selected stage appearances

### Non-Royal Shakespeare Company

- *Death and the King's Horsemen*, Royal Exchange, 1990 (dir. [Phyllida Lloyd](/source/Phyllida_Lloyd))[10]
- *Adam Was a Gardener*, Minerva Studio, Chichester, 1991[11]
- *Losing Venice* ([Traverse Theatre](/source/Traverse_Theatre), Edinburgh 1992)[12]
- *[The Threepenny Opera](/source/The_Threepenny_Opera)* ([Donmar Warehouse](/source/Donmar_Warehouse), London, 1994)

### With the Royal Shakespeare Company

All Royal Shakespeare Company performances taken from the [Shakespeare Birthplace Trust](/source/Stratford-upon-Avon#Education) archive history[13]

#### 1988

- *[Much Ado About Nothing](/source/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)* ([Royal Shakespeare Theatre](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Theatre), [Stratford-upon-Avon](/source/Stratford-upon-Avon), April)
- *[Henry VI](/source/Henry_VI_(play))* (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, October)
- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, October)
- *[Edward IV](/source/Edward_IV_(play))* (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, October)
- *[Stars in the Morning Sky](/source/Stars_in_the_Morning_Sky)* [The Other Place](/source/The_Other_Place_(theatre)), Stratford-upon-Avon, December)

#### 1989

- *[Henry VI](/source/Henry_VI_(play))* ([Theatre Royal](/source/Theatre_Royal,_Newcastle), [Newcastle-upon-Tyne](/source/Newcastle-upon-Tyne), February)
- *[Edward IV](/source/Edward_IV_(play))* ([Theatre Royal](/source/Theatre_Royal,_Newcastle), [Newcastle-upon-Tyne](/source/Newcastle-upon-Tyne), February)
- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* ([Theatre Royal](/source/Theatre_Royal,_Newcastle), [Newcastle-upon-Tyne](/source/Newcastle-upon-Tyne), February)
- *[Henry VI](/source/Henry_VI_(play))* ([Barbican Theatre](/source/Barbican_Theatre), [London](/source/London), April)[14]
- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* ([Barbican Theatre](/source/Barbican_Theatre), [London](/source/London), April)[14]
- *[Edward IV](/source/Edward_IV_(play))* ([Barbican Theatre](/source/Barbican_Theatre), [London](/source/London), April)
- *[King John](/source/The_Life_and_Death_of_King_John)* (Pit, [London](/source/London), May)
- *[King John](/source/The_Life_and_Death_of_King_John)* (Pit, [London](/source/London), May)
- *[Mary and Lizzie](/source/Mary_and_Lizzie)* (Pit, [London](/source/London), September)
- *[Stars in the Morning Sky](/source/Stars_in_the_Morning_Sky)* ([Almeida Theatre](/source/Almeida_Theatre), London, October)
- *[The Liar](/source/The_Liar_(Corneille))* ([Old Vic](/source/Old_Vic), London)[15]

#### 1992

- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* (The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, August)
- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* (On tour, September)

#### 1993

- *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* ([Swan Theatre](/source/Swan_Theatre_(Stratford)), Stratford-upon-Avon, March[14]
- *[King Lear](/source/King_Lear)* (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, May)
- *[The Country Wife](/source/The_Country_Wife)* (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, August)

#### 1994

- *[King Lear](/source/King_Lear)* (Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, February)
- *[The Country Wife](/source/The_Country_Wife)* ([Newcastle Playhouse](/source/Northern_Stage,_Newcastle_upon_Tyne), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, February)
- *[King Lear](/source/King_Lear)* (Barbican Theatre, London, May)
- *[The Country Wife](/source/The_Country_Wife)* (Pit, London, July)

#### 1995

- *[Measure for Measure](/source/Measure_for_Measure)* (Barbican Theatre, London, June)
- *[The Park](/source/The_Park_(play))* (Pit, London, September)

## See also

- [Eton College](/source/Eton_College)
- [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company)

## References

1. Gore-Langton, Robert (5 July 2006). ["Acting: Floreat Etona"](https://archive.today/20070812113438/http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/cartoons/23498/part_3/floreat-etona.thtml). [The Spectator](/source/The_Spectator). Archived from [the original](http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/cartoons/23498/part_3/floreat-etona.thtml) on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.

1. ["Biography for Simon Dormandy"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0233788/bio). [Internet Movie Database](/source/Internet_Movie_Database). January 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.

1. [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/simon-dormandy/23/98a/911](http://www.linkedin.com/pub/simon-dormandy/23/98a/911) [self-published source?]

1. ["Teaching Staff"](https://www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/academic/academic-13-16/teaching-staff/)

1. Wright, John. ["Genius of Egoist pt II"](http://totaltheatre.org.uk/archive/features/genius-or-egoist-work-philippe-gaulier-part-ii). *totaltheatre.org.uk*. Total Theatre. Retrieved 18 July 2025.

1. [Time Out Article - Cheek By Jowl "Plenty of face"](http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/features/282.html) [dead link]

1. ["Floreat Etona"](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200607/ai_n17178779). *The Spectator*. 2006.

1. [http://www.etoncollege.com/](http://www.etoncollege.com/) Drama Section

1. ["City of London Freemen's School a Level Options 2020 - 2021 by Freemen's - Issuu"](https://issuu.com/freemens/docs/a_level_options_booklet_4). 25 August 2020.

1. ["Death and the Kings Horseman"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030119152230/http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/history/1990/DEATH%20AND%20THE%20KINGS%20HORSEMAN.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/history/1990/DEATH%20AND%20THE%20KINGS%20HORSEMAN.htm) on 19 January 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2010.

1. ["BEDLAM: Alexis Denisof: Adam Was a Gardener"](http://www.betsyda.com/denisof/items/adadamgard.html)

1. ["teatro do mundo - The Plays: Losing Venice"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070814032720/http://www.teatrodomundo.com/plays/losven.html). teatro do mundo. 14 June 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.teatrodomundo.com/plays/losven.html) on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.

1. ["Archive catalogue - Simon Dormandy"](http://www.dswebhosting.info/Shakespeare/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Site11&dsqDb=Roles&dsqCmd=xdetail.tcl&dsqSearch=((Name='Simon')AND(Name='Dormandy'))). [Shakespeare Birthplace Trust](/source/Stratford-upon-Avon#Education). Retrieved 29 January 2008. [dead link]

1. ["The Tragedy of Richard the Third"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080229005819/http://www.rscshakespeare.co.uk/richardIII.html). [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company). 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.rscshakespeare.co.uk/richardIII.html) on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.

1. [1980s Theatre Programs](http://www.phyllis.demon.co.uk/theatricalia/07class/class8089.htm)

## External links

- [Simon Dormandy](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0233788/) at IMDb
- [The Guardian - Eton at odds with the RSC](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2002/jun/04/guardianletters2)
- [Giving the Boys at Eton Something to Think About - NY Times article](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E3DD113DF936A35750C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=)
- [Random House - RSC Stagings (Simon Dormandy references)](http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/rsc/histories.html)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simon Dormandy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dormandy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dormandy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.