The duties of an assistant theatre director focus on assisting the director with the preparation and performance of a production. The assistant director (AD) works under the direction of the director. Your responsibilities vary with the needs of the director. You may work with actors on their performances, help during rehearsals, run rehearsals in the absence of the director, and facilitate specific aspects of the show when assigned to do so. ADs often work behind the scenes as stage managers during performances, but you may be asked to sit in the audience to take notes on the production instead.