ABSTRACT
Ockrent holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Edinburgh University. Although he cannot speak for the American university system, he cites the British system as being the best track into the professional
English theatre: “I think it’s the only place people can get experience and learn and practice. Certainly for me it was the way I entered the business; doing plays whilst studying physics.” He did not study acting
and has no experience as an actor, which he does not look upon as a detriment. “The English crop of directors, of which I’m one, I don’t think any of us started out as actors. We all came in through the
university system as pure directors. That I think is one of the big differences” between how American and British directors develop. He does not feel a director needs practical acting experience in order
to be an effective director, unlike the typical career path of the choreographer, for example. “I think it’s different for choreographers because it’s such a specialist’s art. You really have to be a dancer
first. Whereas I think as a director you certainly don’t have to come in as [an actor first]. I mean, anybody can be a director if you’ve got the right frame of mind and can think straight. I don’t think it’s
brain surgery.” Although he can read music to a limited degree, he does not believe this ability either is necessary for a director of musicals. In his case, “It doesn’t really come into play.”
