Michelle Payne
MICHELLE PAYNE



DIRECTOR & WRITER
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - DEAR EVAN HANSEN (UK TOUR + ASIA)
Michelle is a director & published playwright from Essex with a strong skillset as a Associate & Resident Director on large scale, commercial shows.
As a director, she has a passion for new British musical theatre, immersive theatre, new writing & adaptations of modern classics.
Michelle has been short-listed for RTST Sir Peter Hall Award and the Young Vic Genesis Future Director Award as well as a recipient of the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme.

Photography: Marc Brenner

Photography: Zac Cooke

Photography: Pamela Raith

Photography: Marc Brenner
NEXT
Associate Director - DEAR EVAN HANSEN - Asia (Autumn 2025)
IN DEVELOPMENT
PERSONALITY HIRE with Charlie Turner & Vivian Panka
THE GRIND (i.e. Productions)
HYPER! An ADHD Musical with EMY.P
RECENT
Associate Director - DEAR EVAN HANSEN - UK Tour 2024-25
Director - FLIP - NYMT Workshop
Director - AITOPIA - Young Vic Taking Part
MICHELLE'S PORTFOLIO


Official Trailer | Dear Evan Hansen UK Tour

Squad Goals 2020 - Press Night

Dear Evan Hansen- Big Night of Musicals 2025

SQUAD GOALS - A New Immersive Play (14th Sept
WRITING
MEMORY BOX by Michelle Payne
Winner - Mercury Monologues 2020
Performed by Hannah Khalique-Brown
TESTIMONIALS

LEAH HARVEY
"Michelle Payne was a pleasure to work with on her play ORCHID. I'm very glad that she got in touch with me and gave me the opportunity to get involved with such a wonderful production. Her writing flows so well and the characters are very well thought out including her new play Full Circle, which I was able to watch at a recent showing of her work. As well as being an excellent writer, Michelle is able to communicate her ideas about the script and give clear and thoughtful direction to her cast in a way that makes one feel like they're being given a deep insight into how the play and characters mind works.
I really enjoyed my time working with her and hope to work with her again in the near future!
She also inspired me to do some writing myself, which was a big step for me and I thank for from the bottom of my heart for that!"

ANNETTE BADLAND
"I had the pleasure of working with Michelle Payne and found her direction insightful and intelligent. She allowed her actors to develop their interpretation of the role: facilitating their development and providing stimulation and useful notes. An actor herself, she was extremely able to understand any blocks we may have and unpick things for us. She was also kind and humorous.
The play we worked on was ORCHID which was written by Michelle whose theatrical voice I find unique and has an authentic, true ring to it.
As a working class woman she is exploring and presenting pieces that examine current issues which are not often written about or seen."

HANNAH KHALIQUE-BROWN
"Michelle is an incredible writer and director, and aside from her brilliant acting training, what I learned of the ‘industry’ side of things was seriously game-changing.
Michelle goes beyond anything that would be expected to personally support her students in their careers, in and out of class. I owe a hell of a lot to her generosity and determination for us, which goes far beyond what any course description could convey, and is 100% the biggest reason why I can call myself a working actor now. Thank you so much Michelle!"