Heather Davies BFA MFA
Programme Leader - Postgraduate Studies

Heather Davies is an accomplished theatre director, educator, and arts leader, currently serving as the Programme Leader for Postgraduate Studies at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA). She holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from York University in Toronto, a BFA in Theatre Acting from Metropolitan University in Toronto, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Classical Theatre from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, UK.
Heather's areas of expertise include theatre and live performance creation, theatre directing, acting, musical theatre, epic theatre, postmodern theatre, intercultural and intersectional theatre practices, arts leadership, creativity and collaboration, and the development of new plays and musical theatre. Her multifaceted skills and passion for both classical and contemporary theatre contribute to her dynamic role as an educator and mentor.
Heather has been recognized with the Tyron Guthrie Award from the Stratford Festival in 2011, and she was a member of the Olivier Award-winning ensemble for The Jacobethan Season at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2003, which was honored for Outstanding Ensemble.
At SPAA, Heather directed productions such as the musical Working (Main Stage) and Fahrenheit 451 (Studio Theatre). Her professional career includes directing highlights such as Cinderella, Colours in the Storm, Ring of Fire, Footloose, Anything Goes, and Calendar Girls at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, as well as Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer at the Blyth Festival in Ontario, A Christmas Carol at Theatre Northwest in British Columbia, and Shirley Valentine at Persephone Theatre in Saskatchewan. She has also directed international productions, including Blithe Spirit and Laughing Wild at English Theatre in Frankfurt, and Plunder at Watermill Theatre and Greenwich Theatre in the UK.
Heather served as the first Artistic Director of the Ryga Arts Festival in Summerland, BC (2017-2022), and was the Associate Artistic Director at The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, from 2009-2011. She continues to contribute to the world of theatre with her upcoming direction of the musical The Theory of Relativity in January 2025.
With a dedication to fostering creativity, collaboration, and leadership, Heather remains a key figure in theatre education and performance creation.
Heather Davies BFA MFA,
Programme Leader - Postgraduate Studies