Asia Joanna Rob

Theatre Director

Hi! I’m Asia (pronounced Asha), a theatre director in training with multiple professional credits as an Assistant Director. I’ve recently secured a place on the MFA Directing course at Birkbeck, University of London, and I’m working towards building a career around new writing and collaborating with international artists in the UK and beyond.

I’ve trained and worked in the UK, India, and Poland, and it has really shaped how I view storytelling and creative collaboration. It is also where my passion for working with international actors and actors from underrepresented socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds comes from. I’m especially interested in new writing, immersive and forum theatre, and stories about identity, belonging, and the space between people. At the heart of it, I want to make work that moves and puts the human connection first.

Alongside directing, I’ve got a background in English teaching, which definitely feeds into how I approach text and communication in a room. I am very passionate about language and creating safe environments and continue to educate myself on how power dynamics shape the rehearsal process and classrooms. My mission is to continue to create safe environments for actors, creatives and my students to flourish and do their best work.

Fun facts about me: I taught myself Hindi and moved to India for 3 years because of Shah Rukh Khan. I worked as a dancer, actress and a TV host. Just google Hasmukh on Netflix or Comedy Circus on Sony TV!

Training

Rinova Dance Leadership Level 1 London, March 2026

Birkbeck University Introduction to Directing London, Sep–Dec 2025

Agata Duda-Gracz — Directing a play ‘We wsi Kamyk’ Cracow, Nov 2025

Tamasha’s Producing Workshop: From Fringe to Mid-scale London, Nov 2025

Soho Theatre Playwriting — Just Shut Up! London, Oct 2025

Lawrence Carmichael Meisner Level 1 & 2 London, Jan–Jun 2024

Chakravyu Arts Acting Training Oct 2018–Jun 2019

Jeff Goldberg Studio Acting Diploma Mumbai, India, Jun 2017–Jun 2019

“Asia is a delight to work with. She always brings positive energy to any task she takes on, and she will take on any task necessary—no task too big or too small. She is superbly organised—way more than most people I’ve worked with in theatre and elsewhere over 3 decades. I came to rely on her—trusting her to observe and propose what needs to be doing, not just deliver what she has been given. Once you work with her, you’d want to find other opportunities to work with her again. That’s what I am doing!”

Ece Ozdemiroglu

Founder of Meteatra · Borders at the Arcola Theatre

“During our work together, Asia felt less like an assistant director and more like a creative partner in crime. I would love to work with her again. She’s incredibly organised, sharp, and able to spot issues before they become problems and put things in place early. Communication with her was always easy and clear. Her energy and commitment motivated the cast and lifted the whole process.”

Secil Honeywill

Director of Borders: Digital, Political, Emotional at the Arcola Theatre

“Asia is a committed, versatile, attentive and creative assistant director. It is an absolute joy to work with her—she is always aware of the needs of the room, and brings her eye for detail as well as her craft and enthusiasm to any project. I look forward to working with her again… and see what she creates next!”

Victoria Gartner

Award-winning director of Richard II and founder of Will&Co

“Asia’s work on Where There Is No Time was invaluable. Her commitment to the process is a testament to her passion and skill as an artist. As assistant director her input was well placed and thought through. She was organised, personable and forward thinking—solving problems before they arose time and time again.”

Hamza Ali

Movement Director and Director of Where There is No Time at Sevendials Playhouse