
Phelim McDermott
From: Manchester, England. LA Opera: Akhnaten (2016, debut; 2026); Satyagraha (2018); BambinO (2021-24).
Phelim McDermott is a director and performer. He is a founder member of Improbable and the company’s co-artistic director.
Improbable opera credits include: Philip Glass's Satyagraha (English National Opera/LA Opera); The Perfect American, the Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Akhnaten, Cosi fan tutte (English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera); Aida (English National Opera); BambinO (an opera for babies, co-produced with Manchester International Festival and Scottish Opera); Kevin Puts's The Hours (Metropolitan Opera).
Improbable theatre credits include: 70 Hill Lane, Lifegame, Animo, Coma, Spirit, Sticky, Cinderella, The Hanging Man, Theatre of Blood (in collaboration with the National Theatre); Panic, Beauty and the Beast (in co-production with ONEOFUS); The Tempest (a co-production with Northern Stage and Oxford Playhouse); Opening Skinner's Box (a co-production with Northern Stage and West Yorkshire Playhouse); Lost Without Words (a co-production with the National Theatre); Tao of Glass (co-production with Manchester International Festival) and My Neighbour Totoro (RSC, Nippon TV; winner of five Whats On Stage Awards and six Olivier Awards including Best Director for McDermott). Other productions as director include: the Olivier Award-winning Shockheaded Peter; Alex (The Arts Theatre); The Ghost Downstairs (Leicester Haymarket); Dr Faustus, Improbable Tales (Nottingham Playhouse); The Servant of Two Masters, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Government Inspector (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and artistic collaborator on She’s Leaving Home (produced by 20 Stories High). Phelim is a recipient of the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award and is an OBIE Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Off Broadway Theatre for 70 Hill Lane. (Improbable.co.uk)
Phelim McDermott is a director and performer. He is a founder member of Improbable and the company’s co-artistic director.
Improbable opera credits include: Philip Glass's Satyagraha (English National Opera/LA Opera); The Perfect American, the Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Akhnaten, Cosi fan tutte (English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera); Aida (English National Opera); BambinO (an opera for babies, co-produced with Manchester International Festival and Scottish Opera); Kevin Puts's The Hours (Metropolitan Opera).
Improbable theatre credits include: 70 Hill Lane, Lifegame, Animo, Coma, Spirit, Sticky, Cinderella, The Hanging Man, Theatre of Blood (in collaboration with the National Theatre); Panic, Beauty and the Beast (in co-production with ONEOFUS); The Tempest (a co-production with Northern Stage and Oxford Playhouse); Opening Skinner's Box (a co-production with Northern Stage and West Yorkshire Playhouse); Lost Without Words (a co-production with the National Theatre); Tao of Glass (co-production with Manchester International Festival) and My Neighbour Totoro (RSC, Nippon TV; winner of five Whats On Stage Awards and six Olivier Awards including Best Director for McDermott). Other productions as director include: the Olivier Award-winning Shockheaded Peter; Alex (The Arts Theatre); The Ghost Downstairs (Leicester Haymarket); Dr Faustus, Improbable Tales (Nottingham Playhouse); The Servant of Two Masters, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Government Inspector (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and artistic collaborator on She’s Leaving Home (produced by 20 Stories High). Phelim is a recipient of the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award and is an OBIE Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Off Broadway Theatre for 70 Hill Lane. (Improbable.co.uk)