The Traverse Theatre is delighted to announce that from April 2015 playwright and director Zinnie Harris joins the company as Associate Director.
A playwright, screenwriter and director, Harris’s work has been seen in theatres both nationally and internationally since her award-winning play Further than the Furthest Thing (2000). Her other plays include The Wheel (2011, National Theatre of Scotland), which won a Fringe First and was joint winner of the 2011 Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award; an adaptation of A Doll’s House (2009, Donmar Warehouse); Fall (2008, Traverse Theatre), Midwinter (2004, RSC), which won an Arts Foundation Fellowship Prize for Playwriting; and Nightingale And Chase (2001, Royal Court Theatre).
Zinnie Harris has always directed alongside her writing, working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of Scotland, the Tron Theatre and 7:84 as well as the Traverse Theatre Company. Her theatre direction includes The Garden (2009) and While You Lie (2010) for the Traverse Theatre, Midwinter (2004) and Solstice (2005) for the Royal Shakespeare Company, her own adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie (2006) for the National Theatre of Scotland, Dealers Choice (2003) for the Tron Theatre and Gilt (2003) for 7:84.
She has also worked extensively as a dramaturg, particularly with Edinburgh-based theatre company, Grid Iron where she was co-ordinating director on the award winning co-production with Edinburgh International Book Festival Letters Home (2014).
As a writer, she has worked under commission for many new writing theatres across the country as well as screenwriting, most notably for BBC’s Spooks. Earlier this month, Zinnie was appointed the UK playwright recipient for the Berwin Lee Playwrights Award, an award created to foster and promote the craft of playwriting in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Zinnie Harris commented: “I’m so pleased to be joining the Traverse Theatre’s Artistic team. …it’ll be an honour to contribute to the fabric of the Traverse once more as a director. …
Traverse Theatre Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin commented, “Zinnie joining the Traverse team marks an exciting moment in our evolution. Strong and dynamic relationships with artists are fundamental to our success ….”
The Traverse is also pleased to announce two new Associate Artists, Emma Callander ( Cuckooed, Crash) and Morna Pearson ( The Artist Man and Mother Woman). Following a successful tenure as Traverse Associate Director, Emma Callander is to continue her relationship with the Theatre as an Associate Artist. Morna Pearson continues working with the Theatre as an Associate Artist after her role at the Traverse as Channel 4 Writer in Residence. Emma and Morna join an esteemed cohort of Associate Artists that includes playwrights David Greig and Tim Price.
The Traverse is also set to welcome Rosie Kellagher to the new post of Literary Associate. Rosie will join the Traverse in May from the Liverpool Everyman, where she has worked as Literary Manager.
Looks like good times ahead in Traverseland!