THEATRE
I started working in theatre in 1981 as an actor and moved into directing in 2000 with the creation of my company I-Beam Educational Theatre. This company toured timely, socially relevant productions to young audiences across Ontario. In 2004 I moved to the UK where I earned an MA in Directing from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Following this degree, I stayed in London to build my directing career.
My directing and producing work covers musicals, opera, classical and contemporary drama, new writing and site-specific theatre. Directing highlights include the UK premiere of The Theory of Relativity by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (nominated for Best Production of a New Musical – BroadwayWorld UK), and the UK premieres of Bright Lights Big City by Paul Scott Goodman, Andrew Lippa’s john & jen.
Other highlights include directing/producing the West End Up Close concert series in association with The House of St. Barnabas, the London editions of the Blame Canada concert series, and the site-specific production of A Devilish Exercise that celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Marlowe's plays, performed on the site of The Rose Theatre Bankside.
As part of the staff directing team at the Royal Opera House, I worked on their new productions of Manon Lescaut (dir. Jonathan Kent) and Norma (dir. Alex Olle for La Fura del Baus) and on their revivals of Oedipe (dir. Alex Olle for La Fura del Baus) and Mitridate re di Ponto (dir. Graham Vick). My opera directing also includes several projects for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and Opera Brava's new 2019 production of La Traviata.
"Chris is a visionary practitioner with bold and exciting ideas that he realises with a serious determination."
Dr. Robert Lindsey (Editor of Christopher Marlowe: The Complete Plays, former Assistant Head of the Masters in Classical Acting programme at the Central School of Speech and Drama)
"His ability to draw performances in a cohesive and clear way is an exceptional talent that cannot go unnoticed. Clearly a director to watch."
John Reid (Independent Theatre and Film Producer: Mrs. Henderson Presents, One Flew Over The Cookoo’s Nest (West End). Former producer/manager for Elton John, Queen, Simple Minds, George Michael, Billy Connolly and Barry Humphries)
THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY
Music and Lyrics: Neil Bartram
Book: Brian Hill
2015 Nominee for Best Production of a New Musical (Fringe/Regions)– BroadwayWorld UK/West End
An elegant and inventive production of a tender, witty and moving piece. – Jonathan Kent
Under the sure, subtle and trusting direction of Christopher Lane, the actors all became real people on stage, uncommon in a musical, and a real achievement. - Richard Maltby Jr.
If you’re looking for theatre with no frills or complications just great storytelling, this show is the right equation. - West End Wilma
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY!
By: Paul Scott Goodman
... a wonderfully slick, raw and honest production which favours a stripped back style and achieves that rare musical hat trick of great singing, great dancing and great acting. - What's on Stage (Four out of Five stars)
It’s taken 11 years for Paul Scott Goodman’s Off-Broadway rock musical to surface in London, and it’s hard to imagine a better case being made for it than Christopher Lane’s energetic, strongly cast production .… A thoroughly welcome example of how to produce contemporary musical theatre to a high standard. - Fourth Wall Magazine
A raw and exciting production, comparable with Rent; Tick, Tick Boom and Songs for a New World. - So So Gay
JOHN & JEN
Music by: Andrew Lippa
Lyrics by Tom Greenwald
Book by: Tom Greenwald and Andrew Lippa
FOUR out of FIVE Stars The Sunday Express
Chris’s production of john & jen was illuminating for both Andrew Lippa and myself: warm, witty and wise. I’ve seen many incarnations of the show and this was, without a doubt, one of the most imaginative and provocative to date. - Tom Greenwald (Book writer and Lyricist, john & jen)
…an emotionally complex piece with searing, resonant songs that are both gorgeously melodic in their own right and full of wit and feeling. Those qualities are expertly brought out in Christopher Lane’s intense and moving production… - Mark Shenton (The Stage)