Carrie Cracknell (born 1980) is a British theatre director. She was Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, London from 2007–2012. She was Associate Director at both the Young Vic (2012–2013) and the Royal Court (2013–2014).
Background
Cracknell was born in Carlisle and was raised in Oxford. She read history at the
University of Nottingham where she was president of The Nottingham New Theatre. She later studied directing at the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ( gd, Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama ( gd, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ciùil is Dràma na h-Alba) is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and ...
in Glasgow.
Career
At university she set up a production company called Hush with a group of friends including the actor
Ruth Wilson. Their first show transferred to New York and London while they were still studying. At the age of 26 Carrie became the youngest artistic director of a professional theatre in Britain when she and
Natalie Abrahami took over The Gate Theatre in Notting Hill, which they ran for 5 years and where she directed extensively.
Her first dance/theatre collaboration at The Gate, I Am Falling, transferred to
Sadler's Wells and was nominated for a South Bank Show Award. After leaving The Gate, Carrie went on to create her iconic production of
A Doll's House which ran twice at the
Young Vic
The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...
before transferring to the Duke of York's in the West End and BAM in New York and for which she was nominated for the Evening Standard Best Director Award. It led to her developing the short film Nora with
Nick Payne in response to the play which was produced by the
Young Vic
The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...
. She then went on to direct her first opera,
Berg's
Wozzeck, for the
ENO
Eno may refer to:
Music
* English National Opera, London
* ''Eno'', an album by Japanese band Polysics
* "Eno", a song by X-Wife from '' Rockin' Rio EP''
Organisations and businesses
* Eno (company), a Chinese clothing and accessories busine ...
at the Colliseum, which was nominated for an Olivier Award and an International Opera Award. In 2019 she directed
Jake Gyllenhaal and
Tom Sturridge in Seawall/A Life at The Public and on Broadway receiving four Tony nominations, for Best Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role twice, for both Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge, and Best Sound Design in a Play for Daniel Kluger.
Carrie now regularly collaborates with the
National Theatre, where her credits include her acclaimed productions of
Medea, A Deep Blue Sea (both with
Helen McCrory and which were live-streamed into cinemas internationally as part of NT Live), Blurred Lines and Julie (starring
Vanessa Kirby in a new version by
Polly Stenham
Polly Stenham (born 16 July 1986) is an English playwright known for her play ''That Face'', which she wrote when she was 19 years old.
Background
Stenham was born and raised in London. She attributes her love of theatre to her father as he to ...
, also NT Live.)
Other credits include
Macbeth
''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...
and
Electra
Electra (; grc, Ήλέκτρα) is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, '' Electra'' by Sophocles and '' Electra'' by Euripides. She is also the centra ...
(Young Vic) Birdland and Pigeons (
The Royal Court) Oil (The Almeida)
A Doll's House and Stacy (
National Theatre of Scotland.)
Theatre credits
* ''Sea Wall/A Life'' - 2019
The Public Theatre, New York and The Hudson, New York
* ''Julie'' by
Polly Stenham
Polly Stenham (born 16 July 1986) is an English playwright known for her play ''That Face'', which she wrote when she was 19 years old.
Background
Stenham was born and raised in London. She attributes her love of theatre to her father as he to ...
after
Strindberg - 2018
National Theatre
* ''Oil'' - 2016 (
Almeida)
* ''
The Deep Blue Sea'' - 2016 (
National Theatre)
* ''
Macbeth
''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...
'' - 2015 (
Young Vic
The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...
)
* ''
A Doll's House'' - 2014 (
BAM)
* ''
Medea'' - 14 July - 4 September 2014 (
National Theatre)
* ''Birdland'' - 2014 (
Royal Court)
* ''Blurred Lines'' - 2014 (
National Theatre)
* ''Searched'' – 2013 (
Royal Court Rough Cuts)
* ''
A Doll's House'' by
Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
– 2012 (
Young Vic
The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...
)
* ''
Electra
Electra (; grc, Ήλέκτρα) is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, '' Electra'' by Sophocles and '' Electra'' by Euripides. She is also the centra ...
'' – 2011 (
Gate Theatre/
Young Vic
The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...
)
* ''
Elektra
Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology.
Electra or Elektra may also refer to:
Greek mythology
*Electra (Pleiad), one of the Pleiades
* Electra, one of the Danaids, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo
* Electra (Oc ...
'' – 2010 (
Gate Theatre/
Headlong)
* ''Breathing Irregular'' – 2009/2010 (
Gate Theatre)
* ''A Doll's House'' by
Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
– 2009 (
National Theatre of Scotland)
* ''Hedda'' by
Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
, adapted by
Lucy Kirkwood and starring
Cara Horgan
Cara Horgan (born 5 October 1984) is an English actress who has appeared on stage, on television, and in films.
Career
Horgan has appeared in several television productions including ''Peep Show'', ''Traitors'', ''The Rotter's Club'', '' Geniu ...
– 2008 (
Gate Theatre)
* ''I Am Falling'' – 2008 (
Gate Theatre and
Sadler's Wells) Nominated for Southbank Show Award
Guardian – I am falling
/ref>
* ''Armageddon'' by Mark Ravenhill – 2008 ( Gate Theatre)
* ''The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents'' – 2007 ( Gate Theatre)
* ''Death and the City'' – 2005 ( Tron Theatre)
* ''Stacy'' by Jack Thorne – 2005 ( Tron Theatre)
* ''Broken Road'' by Ryan Craig
Ryan F. Craig (born January 6, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current assistant coach with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. Prior to retirement, he was the captain of the Cleveland Monsters ...
– 2005 (British Council Showcase, BAC) Fringe First Award
* ''A Mobile Thriller'' – 2004 ( Traverse, BAC, Harbourfront Toronto, Bristol Old Vic, National Tour)
* ''The Hush'' – 2002 ( BAC, Ohio Theatre New York)
* ''Macbeth
''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...
'' – 2002 (Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham)
Filmography
External links
Personal Website
Agent's Website
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cracknell, Carrie
1980 births
Living people
British theatre directors