Caroline Steinbeis

Caroline is an award-winning director for stage and screen, born in Germany, based in London. A recipient of the prestigious 2009 JMK Award, she has been on attachment at the National Theatre where she completed the Director’s Course at the NT Studio in 2008. In 2012, Caroline was appointed as the Royal Court’s International Associate, developing and directing workshops and plays from all over the world. Between 2007 and 2022, she was an Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres. Her debut short film, From A Strange Land – written and directed by Caroline and starring Amanda Abbington, Deborah Findlay, and Matthew Needham – has screened at festivals internationally. Caroline is currently developing her first feature film.

Caroline will be directing Beth Steel's Till the Stars come Down at Nottingham Playhouse this Autumn. 

Reviews for BLACK COMEDY at the Orange Tree Theatre 

'Steinbeis’ approach to the physical comedy is as precise and committed as anything seen in the recent West End revival of Accidental Death of an Anarchist' Broadway World ****

'Laugh out loud delightful' The Times ****

“Steinbeis… achieves the necessary relentless, helpless laughter otherwise equalled in theatre only by Michael Frayn’s Noises Off… laser-guided larks… a delight” – The Guardian ****

“…everyone is on top of their game. It’s a joy to watch clockwork precision. It’s excellent entertainment…brilliant” – The Reviews Hub

'Steinbeis has great fun exploring the comic potential of the play, loading every moment with an absolute maximum of controlled chaos' The Stage ****

The real artistry in Caroline Steinbeis’s direction lies in the fact that, despite the audience initially being unable to see a thing, the performances are so precise and fully realised that every movement and interaction plays perfectly to the conditions on stage. The comedy and pacing are relentless, yet Steinbeis manages to control the chaos within such a small space with remarkable detail and nuance… The result is a fantastic evening of entertainment, with an excellent cast and genuine moments of laugh-out-loud comedy…A production that lights up the stage [and] sparkles from start to finish” – All That Dazzles