Rachel Valentine Smith

Rachel is Artistic Director of Verve.

Rachel was Creative Associate at Clean Break (2022-2024) working with the artistic leadership team and across projects as a director, dramaturg and facilitator with the Royal Court, National Theatre, LIFT and academic partners.

Prior to that Rachel was co-Artistic Director of multi award-winning international ensemble The Faction (2016-2022) presenting five critically acclaimed repertory seasons, UK mid-scale tours, international engagements and major commissions.

Her work for The Faction includes Duende; Metamorphosis; Faust (Wilton's Music Hall); King Lear /الملك لير (Masrah Al-Madina, Beirut) co-directed with Sahar Assaf; Romeo and Juliet, Blood Wedding, Thebes (New Diorama & Tour); the short films Medea / Worn and My Last Duchess commissioned for the #LoveLowry programme and selected for international festivals.

Further credits include Trials and Passions of Infamous Women (Brixton House) My Name Is Rachel Corrie (Zoukak theatre, Beirut) Sahar Speaks (Palindrome Productions)

Rachel is a Trustee of NSDF, and former Board Member for New Diorama (2013-2021). She is a Lincoln Center Directors Lab alumni and former Resident Assistant Director at the Almeida Theatre.

Rachel recently completed an MA Art+Politics at Goldsmiths University.