Tanuja Amarasuriya

I’m a director working in theatre, film, audio and XR. Over the last 12 years, my work has been produced or presented by venues including: Bristol Old Vic, the National Theatre, Brighton Festival, Theatre 503, Soho Theatre, and Sura Medura (Sri Lanka). I'm not formally trained, so over the last 12 years I’ve developed my practice through experimenting with process, analysing and cribbing techniques from work that moves me – be it theatre, cinema, electronica gigs, live art, international experimental dance, graphic novels... I've built a reputation for making atmospheric, aesthetically sophisticated theatre that feels modern, and always has powerful emotional impact. I often work closely with writers, mostly directing new plays - though I've recently begun to explore adaptation. I'm particularly interested in emotional complexity, imaginative and genre storytelling, and culture clash - I grew up half way round the world from where I was born, so its in my blood. As well as being a director for hire, I make work through my own company, Sleepdogs, collaborating with writer/composer Timothy X Atack. More info about me and my work at: www.sleepdogs.org/tanuja-amarasuriya

If you're interested in personal identity: I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in County Durham, and now live in Bristol. My pronouns are she/her/they. I refer to myself as a brown woman.

Credits

DIRECTOR, Absolute Scenes, The Marble Factory, 1 week, 2021
DIRECTOR, Here Me Now (monologues showcase), Theatre503, 2020
DIRECTOR, Out of Sorts, Theatre503, 4 weeks, 2019
DIRECTOR, The Paper Man, Tobacco Factory Theatre/Soho Theatre, 4 weeks, 2019
CO-DIRECTOR, A Little Death, Bristol Old Vic, 1 week, 2018
DIRECTOR, Ocean Confessions, site-specific outdoors, Sura Medura (Sri Lanka), one-to-one performances 2018
DIRECTOR, Dark Land Light House, Bristol Old Vic, 2 weeks, 2016
DIRECTOR, Check The Label, Bristol Old Vic, 1 week, 2016
DIRECTOR, Supernova, Mayfest, one-to-one performances, 2013
DIRECTOR, The Bullet and the Bass Trombone, National Tour (including: Bristol Old Vic, the National Theatre, Royal Exchange Studio, Brighton Festival, Warwick Arts Centre), 2012 - 2015
DIRECTOR, The Morpeth Carol, Bristol Old Vic, 2 weeks, 2011
DIRECTOR, M32 Is Also A Galaxy, Bristol Old Vic & Paines Plough, 1 week, 2010
DIRECTOR, The Freelance Magdalene, Bristol Old Vic, 1 week, 2010
DIRECTOR, Buzzard, Bristol Old Vic, 1 week, 2009
DIRECTOR, And The Line Goes Dead, Battersea Arts Centre/Inbetween Time Festival/Bristol Old Vic, festival performances, 2009 - 2010
DIRECTOR, Astronaut, National Tour (including: Arnolfini, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Battersea Arts Centre) 2008 - 2011

DRAMATURG, You Heard Me, national tour, 2022
DRAMATURG, Ice Road, site-specific, 6 weeks, 2017
DRAMATURG, The Orator, Theatre West, 2 weeks, 2016
DRAMATURG, The Stick House, site-specific, 6 weeks, 2015
DRAMATURG, Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites, national & international touring, 2011 - 2015

SOUND DESIGNER, The Half God of Rainfall, Birmingham Rep/Kiln Theatre, 6 weeks, 2019
SOUND DESIGNER, Status, national & international touring, 2018 - 2019
SOUND DESIGNER, salt. national & international touring, 2017 - 2019

Training

I am currently being mentored by Dominic Cooke.

I was awarded a Leverhulme Arts Scholarship attached to Bristol Old Vic in 2017 to focus on developing my practice as an independent director outside my own company.

Various professional workshops including led by: Katie Mitchell, Tim Crouch, Quarantine, Neil Bartlett, Adele Thomas, Amit Sharma, Forced Entertainment.

I am a resident at Watershed's Pervasive Media Studio

University of Bristol BA Hons: Theatre, Film and Television (1994-1997)