Derek has directed many theatre productions, working variously with professional performers or students.

For Comicart Theatre, he has twice directed Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Beckett (in 1991 and 2008). He also directed major productions of Hamlet (1991) and Henry V (1992).

In 1999, he directed Alan Ayckbourn’s Affairs In A Tent for Eye Theatre, Suffolk, in an incredibly successful production which broke the theatre’s box office records.

Working with youth groups, he directed Wrexham Youth Theatre in Romeo and Juliet and the Senior Youth Theatre Group of Theatr Clwyd in his own play Our World Is In Colour. His work with student groups includes work by Shakespeare, Sheridan, Chekhov, Brecht, as well as devised plays and Derek’s own work.

Derek has also directed many of his own plays, including:

  • Dusty Pens for RHJ Theatre Company
  • GoStay for Car Boot Theatre Company
  • Our World Is In Colour for Steel & Straw Theatre Company
  • Still Living The Dream and The Flatslappers for Comicart Theatre
  • as well as Goals, Goals II, Lacrima and Show Me How To Get Self-Help for his own company, Fribble Theatre

In 2015, he worked as dramaturg on a devised play by Phil Tattersall-King and pupils at Bedales School, Hampshire.