Anya Reiss
Encyclopedia
Anya Reiss is an award-winning British
playwright who has also voiced ambitions to become an actress. She is the youngest playwright ever to have had a play staged in London.
A graduate from the Royal Court Theatre
's Young Writers Programme in London
it staged her first play Spur of the Moment
in July 2010. Directed by Jeremy Herrin
with Sharon Small
, Shannon Tarbet
, James McArdle
and Kevin Doyle
it premiered at the Upstairs Jerwood Theatre at Royal Court and was an extended sell out and met by near universal acclaim with the Evening Standard
giving it 5 stars and Dominic Cavendish of the Daily Telegraph calling it
"the most accomplished debut from a young playwright I’ve ever had the pleasure to see." The play also went on to win the 2010 TMA Award for Best New Play and Reiss herself won the Evening Standard
and the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright.
Since then she was one of the ten writers who took part in writing a monologue
based on a child's account for a one off event at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny Boyle
in London
in support of Dramatic Need
in 2010. Reiss' monologue The Cure was performed by Kerry Fox
.
Her second play The Acid Test is was staged in 2011 again at the Royal Court Theatre
directed by Simon Godwin
starring Denis Lawson
, Lydia Wilson
, Phoebe Fox
and Vanessa Kirby
where it received generally positive reviews.
She will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
's 2011 project Sixty Six where she has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
playwright who has also voiced ambitions to become an actress. She is the youngest playwright ever to have had a play staged in London.
A graduate from the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
's Young Writers Programme in London
it staged her first play Spur of the Moment
Spur of the Moment (play)
Spur of the Moment is the debut play from Anya Reiss who wrote it at age 17. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre London in 2010 and was directed by Jeremy Herrin.-Plot:...
in July 2010. Directed by Jeremy Herrin
Jeremy Herrin
Jeremy Herrin is an English theatre director and currently the Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in London. He trained as a theatre director at both the Royal Court and the National Theatre...
with Sharon Small
Sharon Small
Sharon Small is a Scottish actress acclaimed for her dramatic work in film, radio, theatre and television. Her best-known TV role is that of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George.-Education and personal life:Small...
, Shannon Tarbet
Shannon Tarbet
Shannon Tarbet is a British actress from Brighton. Having studied at K-Bis Theatre College in Brighton she left school and worked in a bookies. She came to public attention in 2010 with her critically acclaimed professional stage debut as Delilah Evans in Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss directed...
, James McArdle
James McArdle
James McArdle is a British actor from Glasgow. Having worked as a child actor in films he trained at RADA graduating in 2010. In his graduation year he appeared in Macbeth at The Globe and starred in the summer smash hit Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss at the Royal Court Theatre in London, since...
and Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle (actor)
Kevin Doyle is a British actor. He is known for playing as John Parr in the TV series The Lakes and for playing the Crawley's servant Joseph Molesley in the TV series Downton Abbey, as well as many other roles.-Stage:...
it premiered at the Upstairs Jerwood Theatre at Royal Court and was an extended sell out and met by near universal acclaim with the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
giving it 5 stars and Dominic Cavendish of the Daily Telegraph calling it
"the most accomplished debut from a young playwright I’ve ever had the pleasure to see." The play also went on to win the 2010 TMA Award for Best New Play and Reiss herself won the Evening Standard
Evening Standard Awards
The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, they are announced in late November or early December...
and the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright.
Since then she was one of the ten writers who took part in writing a monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
based on a child's account for a one off event at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle
Daniel "Danny" Boyle is an English filmmaker and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Trainspotting. For Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle won numerous awards in 2008, including the Academy Award for Best Director...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in support of Dramatic Need
Dramatic Need
Dramatic Need is a UK-registered charity that sends international arts professionals to host workshops in underprivileged and rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa...
in 2010. Reiss' monologue The Cure was performed by Kerry Fox
Kerry Fox
Kerry Fox is a New Zealand actress. She came to prominence playing author Janet Frame in the movie An Angel at My Table directed by Jane Campion, which gained her a Best Actress Award from the New Zealand Film and Television Awards....
.
Her second play The Acid Test is was staged in 2011 again at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
directed by Simon Godwin
Simon Godwin
Simon Godwin is a British theatre director based in London where he is currently an Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre and Bristol Old Vic...
starring Denis Lawson
Denis Lawson
Denis Stamper Lawson is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of Bleak House and as Gordon Urquhart in the film Local Hero, but is best known for playing the part of Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy.-Early life:Lawson was...
, Lydia Wilson
Lydia Wilson
Lydia Wilson is a British actress. Since graduating in 2009 from RADA she has performed in numerous television and theatre productions including the Olivier Award winning Blasted by Sarah Kane in 2010 at the Lyric Theatre....
, Phoebe Fox
Phoebe Fox
Phoebe Fox is a British actress currently living in London following her training at RADA.. In 2010 she appeared in A Month in the Country at Chichester Festival Theatre...
and Vanessa Kirby
Vanessa Kirby
Vanessa Kirby is a British actress on both stage and more recently screen, she is due to play Estella in the BBC's adaptation of Great Expectations with Ray Winstone.-Career:...
where it received generally positive reviews.
She will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
's 2011 project Sixty Six where she has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible
Work
- Sixty Six Project (2011) Bush TheatreBush TheatreThe Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
- The Acid Test (2011) Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court TheatreThe Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, upstairs theatre, directed by Simon GodwinSimon GodwinSimon Godwin is a British theatre director based in London where he is currently an Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre and Bristol Old Vic... - Children's Monologues The Cure (2010) Old Vic Theatre directed by Danny BoyleDanny BoyleDaniel "Danny" Boyle is an English filmmaker and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Trainspotting. For Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle won numerous awards in 2008, including the Academy Award for Best Director...
- Spur of the MomentSpur of the Moment (play)Spur of the Moment is the debut play from Anya Reiss who wrote it at age 17. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre London in 2010 and was directed by Jeremy Herrin.-Plot:...
(2010) Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court TheatreThe Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, upstairs theatre, directed by Jeremy HerrinJeremy HerrinJeremy Herrin is an English theatre director and currently the Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in London. He trained as a theatre director at both the Royal Court and the National Theatre...