Jake Sleet (he/him) began his career as a filmmaker, graduating with First-Class Honours in BSc Film Production Technology. His directing work took him to Croatia, where he trained under two-time Oscar-winning producer Branko Lustig, and to Seattle, where his film opened the horror section of the world’s largest youth film festival. He later studied at the world-renowned National Film and Television School (NFTS), where his commercial for the LGBT+ charity WERK for Peace received international recognition. This led to him directing an advert for the school, which screened for two years in 83% of UK cinemas.

Following this success, Jake was invited to direct a series of short plays for ATG’s monthly new writing showcase WRITE ABOUT NOW. He was then offered the director role on Don’t Shoot The Meistersinger, a two-act play set in No Man’s Land during the early days of WWI, which ran for eleven performances. It was through this production that Jake realised his passion for film had been overtaken by a deeper love for theatre—particularly the collaborative process of working intensively in the rehearsal room with actors.

He subsequently chose to focus full-time on theatre, bringing with him a strong visual sensibility from his filmmaking background. He is currently in the final year of an MFA in Theatre Directing at Edinburgh Napier University, training under the Royal Lyceum’s longest-serving Artistic Director, Mark Thomson.

Qualifications

  • Excellent - Directing Commercials diploma - National Film and Television School

  • First Degree Honours - Film Production Technology BSc - Staffordshire University

Work (selected 24/25)

  • Director: 'Life's a Drag' - Edinburgh Fringe

  • Assistant Director to Laila Noble - 'You Won't Break My Soul' - A Play, A Pie, and A Pint

  • Assistant Director to Mark Thomson - 'Love and Information' - Edinburgh Napier grad show

  • Assistant Director to Becky Hope-Palmer - 'St Joan of the Stockyards' - The Scottish Institute end-of-year show

  • Assistant Director to Iain Davie - 'Loose Ends' - Fringe 2024

  • Assistant Director to Mark Thomson - 'Kill Johnny Glendenning' - Edinburgh Napier grad show

  • Directed scenes: 'My Romantic History', 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'Angels in America', 'The Crocodile'.

© 2025 | Jake Sleet