Richard is a director, teacher, actor and playwright. His career began in Christchurch in the early 1980s, moving in 1993 to Dunedin to take up a position teaching theatre at the University of Otago. His areas of teaching speciality are directing, acting, improvisation and devising. During this time he has also worked extensively as a director producing works for Fortune Theatre, WOW! Productions and wide range of other independent professional groups and community companies. His work as an actor includes work for the stage and film.