Emma Welham

Emma is a director born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, whose goal is always to create work that is steeped in specificity and heart. A champion of female-driven narratives and productions that embrace theatrical transformation, her work has been described as bold, riveting and impressive.s

During her time at the National Theatre School, she had the honour of learning from artists such as Rachel Chavkin, Micheline Chevrier, Sir Gregory Doran, Krista Jackson, Thomas Morgan Jones, Jillian Keiley, Jackie Maxwell and Seana McKenna. Emma’s projects at the school include directing the world premiere of Cerberus (written by fellow graduate Noah Deas), a staged concert version of Anne of Green Gables (co-directed with Jonathan Patterson) and My Name is Lucy Barton, which starred Sara Topham as Lucy.

Outside of NTS, Emma has worked for companies including the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Arts Club, The Citadel Theatre, Vertigo Theatre, Shakespeare in the Ruins, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Theatre Projects Manitoba, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. In the summer between her first and second year she made her professional directing debut helming Macbeth for Shakespeare in the Ruins, and following graduation she will direct My Name is Lucy Barton for Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

As she ventures back into the profession, Emma is excited to continue to strengthen and build upon the skills she acquired at NTS, while bringing her passion, rigour, dedication and love for this art form to everything she does.