“joyful, electric, genre-defining direction”
Graduating from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2020 with a distinction in MA Advanced Theatre Practice, Lu was nominated for both the Saville Scholarship and the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund as Director/Theatre Maker.
Lu enjoys directing new work that is both playful and thought-provoking. Her work is often clown, often queer, always pointed and always collaborative. She likes to use joy to empower audiences, be it to open discussions, take action or simply experience agency.
Projects
THE AXIOM OF CHOICE
2024
DirectorOxford Playhouse, India Tour
“reminiscent of Tom Stoppard”
“a delightfully odd piece of ensemble theatre”
Writer & co-director - Marcus du SautoyMovement director - Shane ShambuProducer - Claire GilbertLighting design - Rachel SampleySound design & composition - Nick GilbertSet design - Bronwen HerdmanMovement consultant - EkleidoPerformers - Joseph Prowen, Shipra Jain, Clive Mendus, TJ SulaimanTHE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS
2025, 2024
DirectorEtcerera Theatre
Writer - Tava Cornish Producer - ANTS Theatre & Tava CornishLighting - Venus RavenSound design - Lu DescourtierPerformers - Eva H Lee, Natasha Warren, Hugh Cornish, Pip FranksMOST NOTORIOUS THE MUSICAL
2024
DirectorThe Bedford Theatre, Wandsworth Fringe
“a polished new musical”
“I doubt it won’t soon become a Broadway or West End classic”
Music & lyrics - Ollie ClarkBook - Lou WallerChoreographer - Millie GmajFight choreographer - Adam FilipeLighting design - Amy MawerCostume design - Molly StapletonWardrobe - James DancePerformers - Florence Russell, Lou Waller, Greg Arundell, Vivek Sharma, Luke McCulloch, Eleanor Cobb, Pip Franks
BELINDA
2023
DramaturgVAULTS Festival, Stanley Arts Centre, Camden People’s Theatre
“expertly and deeply experimental”
Writers - Amy-Rose Edlyn & Emilia NurmukhametProducer - Bold Mellon CollectiveProjection design - Ruby IngleheartLighting design - Venus RavenSound design - Vika Vinnikova and Dear AnnieCreative support - Udoka Okonkwo, Yourssra Manlaykhaf and Maddie MellonPerformers - Amy-Rose Edlyn, Emilia Nurmukhamet
SAME, SAME, BUT DIFFERENT
2023
DramaturgThe Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham Fringe
“a wholesome and genuinely compassionate portrayal of a modern, queer family, that leaves the audience with a smile on their face”
Writers - Megs Kumari & Em ThaneProducer - Unnamed Friend ProductionsDirector - Toni RobertsPerformers - Megs Kumari, Em Thane THE AXIOM OF CHOICE
2022, 2021
DirectorOxford University
Writer & co-director - Marcus du SautoyMovement director - Shane ShambuProducer - Claire GilbertLighting design - Rachel SampleySound design & composition - Florian BellPerformers - Tom Chapman, Shane Shambu, Clive Mendus, Diana Vallverdu i CabreraQRUMPET
2022, 2021
Theatre Maker & PerformerCamden People's Theatre, Rotunda Theatre, Brighton Fringe, Cornerstone Arts, Cheltenham Science Festival, Omnibus Theatre (2021)
“an absurd farce that is unlike anything one is likely to see on stage anywhere else”
Makers - ANTS Theatre, Andy Owen Cook, Mischa Jones, Ines Collado Producer - Belisa Branças & ANTS Theatre Performers - Eva H Lee, Diana Vallverdu i Cabrera, Ines Collado, Paul Hernes Barnes, Lu Descourtier, Andy Owen Cook
WE STILL FAX
2021-2022
Theatre Maker & PerformerWatford Palace Theatre, UK Tour
“the most original piece of theatre you’ll experience in 2021, locked-down or not”
Makers & Producer - ANTS TheatrePerformes - Diana Vallverdu i Cabrera, Zhaolin Zhou, Qiu Xu, Eva H Lee, Lu Descourtier, Paul Hernes BarnesJACQUELINE WILSON IS GAY
2022
DirectorAbove The Stag, Vauxhall
Writer - Lee LaurenProducer - Bold Mellon Collective Lighting design - Rachel SampleyPerformers - Megs Kumari 
TRIPLE
2021
DirectorThe Space Theatre, Golden Goose Theatre
“★★★★★”
“★★★★”
“fearless”
Writer - Lee LaurenProducer - ANTS TheatreSet design - Amy-Rose EdlynLighting & projection design - Rachel SampleyPerformers - Ayesha Griffiths, Katja Quist
FLATNESS AND DEPTH R&D
2021
Co-DirectorRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
Writer & Co-Director - Nick WoodFROGS AND TOADS
2021
DirectorTRAMSHED
Creator - ANTS TheatrePerformers - Qiu Xu, Zhaolin Zhao, Eva H Lee, Paul Hernes Barnes
THESE THINGS ARE SENT TO TRY US V2
2021
DirectorRadio Play
Writer - Emma BentleyProducer - Emma BentleySound Design - Karis Minor Performers - Shaofan Wilson, Wendy Craig, Dan Wye, Polly Jordan, Aneurin ReesGOOD VIBES ONLY
2021
DirectorRadio Play - Spotify
Writer - Marisa TorresProducer - CAKE Theatre Performer - Talia KracauerTHESE THINGS ARE SENT TO TRY US
2020
DirectorRadio Play, Distracted Rat - Apple / Spotify
Writer - Emma BentleyProducer - Distracted RatSound Mixing - Tilney Brune Performers - Dominic Varney, Lexie McDougell, Emma Bentley
BLIND TRUST
2020
DirectorRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
Writer - Luke GersonProducer - CSSD New Writing Night Performers - Timothy Green, Talia Kracauer, Felix KaiTANGLED TALES
2020
Assistant DirectorBarking and Dagenham Libraries and Schools Tour
Director - Elgiva FieldDesign - Matt Hutchinson Sound Design - Joseph PayneProducer - Theatre-Rites Performers - Teele Ustani, Jack Benjamin
A LONG ASS TIME
2019
Co-directorRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
Writer - Cal LaneCo-director - Octavia FoxProducer - CSSD New Writing Night Performers - Tess Musky-Goldwyn, Natasha WrightTHEATRE-RITES
2018-19
Assistant ProducerShows included: Beasty Baby (Tobacco Factory),
Siyanda (Kew Gardens), Incredible Tale of Robot Boy (Schauspielhaus Bochum), Big Up (Oldham Library; Albany Theatre, Deptford; The Grand, Blackpool; Stratford Circus Arts Centre; z-arts, Manchester)
Artistic Director - Sue BuckmasterExecutive Producer - Claire Templeton Project Manager - John Johnston
THE LISTENING ROOM
2019
ProducerTheatr Clwyd, The Lowry, CAST, Lighthouse Poole, Northern Stage and UK Tour
“★★★★★”
Creator - Harriet MadeleyDirector - Max BartonSound design - Jethro CookeSet design - Georgia De GreyCompany - Crowded RoomPerformers - Archie Backhouse, Cathy Tyson, Mark Knightley, Harriet Madeley, Bruce Kitchener
REFUGE IN HARMONY
2018
ProducerOpera Holland Park
Director - Ruth MarinerComposer - Laura BowlerSet design - Amy Rose-EdlynCompany - British Red Cross, Opera Holland ParkPerformers - BRC Young Refugees, Nicola Said, Nick Garrett, Rosie Middleton, Joanna Harries
OPERA HOLLAND PARK
2017-18
Inspire ProducerInternational Opera Awards 2018 - Best Outreach & Education, Inspire
BroadwayWorld UK Award 2018 - Theatrical Event of the Year - Grenfell Memorial Gala, Opera Holland Park
Director of Opera - James CluttonAssociate Producer - Imogen van SanvoortAssociate Producer - Monique FoulgerAssociate Producer - Miriam Verghese
COOKIES
2016-17
Assistant ProducerTheatre Royal Haymarket
“★★★★★”
Writer - Emily JenkinsDirector - Anna LedwichR&D director - Guy UnsworthMovement director - Natasha Khamjani Set design - Frankie BradshawLighting design - Elliot Grigg Sound design - Max Pappenheim Projection design - Nina Dunn Producer - Rhiannon Newman-Brown, Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass TrustPerformers - Rujenne Green, Shala Nyx, Cristal Cole, Leaphia Darko, Makir Ahmed, Bradley Cumberbatch, Joe Pierson
Portfolio
2025The Devil’s in the DetailsEat Me R&D2024Most NotoriousThe Devil’s in the DetailsAxiom of Choice2023BelindaSame, Same, But Different2022QrumpetAxiom of ChoiceJacqueline Wilson is GayWe Still Fax2021TripleQrumpetFlatness and Depth R&DFrogs & ToadsGood Vibes OnlyThese Things Are Meant to Try Us2020These Things Are Meant to Try UsBlind TrustTangled Tales2019A Long Ass TimeThe Listening Room2018Refuge in Harmony2017Cookies2016Will Tuckett’s Nutcracker
CONTACT
lucy.descourtier@outlook.com | +44 7772 085 433
antstheatre@gmail.com | antstheatre.com