Hauling boxes as Josie Rourke’s removal man, his lifelong love for Les Mis and taking the helm as Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep earlier this year. All of this and more is discussed in this month’s episode of Regrets I’ve Had A Few, featuring celebrated director Joe Murphy.

About Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy joined The Rep in March 2025, following a transformative five-year tenure as Artistic Director at the Sherman Theatre. During his time there, the theatre saw record-breaking audience numbers, staged over 18 world premieres, and earned nominations for both The Stage’s Theatre of the Year Award and the Sky Arts Theatre Award. Joe was previously Associate Director at The Old Vic and before that Soho Theatre, and formerly the Artistic Director of new writing company nabokov.

His directing work spans both national and international stages touring work to New York, Moscow, St Petersburg, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Joe’s directing credits include Woyzeck and No’s Knife for The Old Vic, Housemates, Christmas Carol, Odyssey 84 and Dance to the Bone for the Sherman, What I Learned From Johnny Bevan, which won two Fringe First Awards at Edinburgh and ran at Soho Theatre. He was Associate Director for Wolf Hall Bring Up the Bodies with the RSC in Stratford and the West End.

Joe’s earlier credits include The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for the Children’s Touring Partnership, Bunny (Fringe First Award winner), and Blink, which toured the UK and New York. He also directed Virgin by EV Crowe at Watford Palace Theatre and Incognito by Nick Payne at the Bush Theatre.

Additional highlights include the 2nd May Response Plays at The Bush, featuring work by James Graham, Penelope Skinner, and Jack Thorne, and the West End run of Ghost Stories at the Duke of York Theatre.

Joe brings to The Rep a bold artistic vision, a deep commitment to new writing, and a proven ability to connect with audiences through powerful, thought-provoking theatre.