From 1988 to 1994, Morris taught English Literature and worked in broadcasting and journalism, as a critic and feature-writer for
The Times Literary Supplement,
The Independent,
The Sunday Times,
The Daily Telegraph,
The Guardian and
The Observer, and appeared on
BBC television and
radio programmes
Kaleidoscope,
Night Waves and
The Late Show. During this period he also founded Stage of Fools with Nick Vivian and Nick Sweeting, writing, acting and directing at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival and on tour. In 1995, Morris became artistic director of
Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), staying until 2004 when he joined the
National Theatre. While at BAC, Morris established the Scratch Programme, The Sam Shepherd Festival, The Critics Up for Review, The British Festival of Visual Theatre,
Playing in the Dark (which marked the launch of Vanishing Point and Sound and Fury and included the first scratch version of
Complicité's
Mnemonic) and BAC Opera (which produced
Jerry Springer: The Opera). While at BAC he also wrote
Ben Hur,
Jason and the Argonauts and
World Cup Final 1966, all with Carl Heap. In September 2009 Morris took over as artistic director of
Bristol Old Vic theatre, overseeing the theatre's revival with executive director
Emma Stenning. Morris and Stenning expanded the Old Vic's Outreach Programme into every part of the City, set up the widely imitated artist development programme, the Bristol Ferment, and restored the theatre's national and international reputation with West End transfers and national and international touring for
Swallows and Amazons, ''A Midsummer Night's Dream
, Jane Eyre
and Peter Pan'' (both of which were re-created for the National Theatre) and festivals such as Bristol Jam and Bristol Proms. in 2010, he directed the debut production of
Helen Edmundson's
Swallows and Amazons at Bristol Old Vic. He stepped down from his role at the Bristol Old Vic in 2022. As well as directing many theatrical productions, Morris has directed and produced several
operas, In 2011 he won the
Tony Award for
Best Direction of a Play for the
Broadway production of
War Horse, along with co-director
Marianne Elliott. Morris was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to theatre. One interviewer said of Morris: "His tastes are catholic, and frequently risky, but they can produce some of the most inspired, inventive theatre in Britain today." set up in honour of James Menzies-Kitchin to provide opportunities for talented young theatre directors.
Selected productions • 1999:
Macbeth, director, BAC • 2001:
Jerry Springer: The Opera, producer, BAC • 2003-6: The Wooden Frock, Nights at the Circus, (co-writer with
Emma Rice), "Kneehigh" • 2005:
Coram Boy, producer, National Theatre, Olivier • 2007:
A Matter of Life and Death, writer and adaptor, National Theatre, Olivier • 2007–2011:
War Horse, co-director and producer, National Theatre, Olivier; transferring to
West End and Broadway. ==References==