Alex Chisholm studied History at Oxford University. She spent a year studying with Ian McKellen, Cameron Macintosh Professor of Contemporary Theatre, before completing the Postgraduate Directing course at Drama Studio London.

Alex was  Literary Manager at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from December 2001 and Associate Director January 2006 to July 2014. For West Yorkshire Playhouse she has directed Nine Lives by Zodwa Nyoni, Schoolboy/Lover by Richard Cameron, The Market a large scale, site spicific community play in Leeds Kirkstall Market, Dust a community play by Kenneth Yates, Mela by Tajinder Singh Hayer, Scuffer and Sunbeam Terrace by Mark Catley, Tender Dearly and Non-Contact Time by Jodie Marshall, Huddersfield by Ugljesa Sajtinac, English version by Chris Thorpe, and two radio programmes in co-production with the BBC: Night Lights and Writing the City. In January 2005 she was invited by Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Belgrade to direct the Serbian Premiere of Huddersfield. This production is still running in repertoire and has won 8 national awards.

As a writer she wrote the children’s play The Magic Paintbrush for 3-7 year olds which was produced at West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, and translated two plays Suckling (Zog) by Peer Wittenbols and Karaoke by Davor Spisic.

Previously, she spent seven years as a freelance director, assistant director and workshop leader, working for companies including Birmingham Rep, Chichester Festival Theatre, Royal National Theatre, Red Shift and Paines Plough.