Suzanne Gorman is a Director, Coach and a Clore Fellow.
Throughout her career, Suzanne has strived to highlight unheard stories and bring diverse voices into the mainstream. For Maya Productions she has directed Súper Chefs, Machinal, The Croydon Avengers, Barefoot Gen, Superheroes: South of the River, Babel Junction, In Time and Up North (work-in progress). She is also currently writing the book and lyrics for new musical Benny and the Greycats.
Her work has been described as “triumphant proof that small-scale need not mean limited ambition” The Guardian**** on The Honey Man.
Suzanne previously led the creative learning department at Soho Theatre, directing over 15 new writing productions and pioneering the company’s groundbreaking site-specific and digital work with communities. Her trailblazing and critically acclaimed Moonwalking in Chinatown promenade for Soho Theatre was promoted as an example of “how arts and culture can impact on placemaking and identity“ in Westminster’s Arts and Cultural Strategy.
She was also Associate Artist at Derby Live and has held a range of associate artist and associate director roles with organisations including Sheffield Theatres, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Immediate Theatre and the Barbican.
In 2016 she led a research project, Where Am I? that explored workforce diversity in the performing arts. She now works as a researcher, evaluator and facilitator for sector development in the arts. Clients include National Theatre and ACE.
Suzanne worked as a project manager at BBC Arts and now sits on the steering committee for Performance LIVE, a BBC/ACE partnership.
She is a qualified Coach.
“There needs to be more ethnically diverse visionaries like Suzanne Gorman who is also an experienced and inspiring director to work with.”
Seema Bowri, actor
Suzanne’s directing at Soho Theatre includes Bagpuss,( co-production with Birmingham Stage Company) Tales of the Harrow Road, The Weave, 3 Days in July, The Westminster Prize, Under 11s and site-specific promenade productions Sohostreets and Moonwalking in Chinatown.
Other directing credits include:- The Walls Between Us (Farrah Chaudhry /Sampad), The Honey Man (New Perspectives Theatre Company/Derby LIVE) Behna (Kali/Soho Theatre), Starfish, (site-specific at Billingsgate Fish Market), Babel Junction (Maya Productions/ Hackney Empire) We All Fall Down, Can You See Me? The Spirit of Verona ( Immediate Theatre, In The Dark (Studio 3 Arts), Only Connect (Shared Experience), Untold Stories; Aspects of Black and Asian Lives in Stratford Bow 1600 – 1850. (Theatre Venture), A Stoke Newington Mum On War (Young Vic Studio), Love at First Degree-Bliss (Leicester Haymarket) and Theatre Ambush, The Hairy Ape, Limbo, Pirivan Piuma (Sheffield Theatres)
Suzanne’s writing includes Rites of Spice, The Cell Net, Queen of Kings and Stoke Newington Mum on War. She curated Britasia, a multi-disciplinary arts festival celebrating South Asian Arts at Theatre Royal Stratford East and once directed a celebration procession of over 1000 organisations and community groups.
Reviews and endorsements of Suzanne’s work
“Suzanne Gorman’s production is triumphant proof that small-scale need not mean limited ambition.”
Guardian on The Honey Man – 4 stars. Full Review Here
“The Walls Between Us was a compassionate and moving depiction of mental health, more specifically depression.”
The Walls Between Us – Full Review Here
Time Out on Bagpuss – 4 stars. Full Review Here
“A magical journey through Chinatown’s bustling, evolving present, and her dazzlingly symbolic past… Suzanne Gorman directs stupendously.”
Time Out on Moonwalking in Chinatown – 4 stars
“There’s warmth, fragrance and excitement here. And truth.”
The Observer on Moonwalking in Chinatown. Full Review Here
“I just want to say that this project is one of the best things I have ever done. It takes projects like this to allow those who wouldn’t usually experiment with their creative side to do so with courage.”
Participant in Tales of the Harrow Road.
“These projects are important as they open the young peoples minds to new ideas, It also helps them to show their hidden skills in an environment which appreciates it. It allows young people to be creative. It gave the refugees a sense of belonging.”
Youth Worker on Superheroes:South of the River
“It gives young people the opportunity to dream dreams. It opens up their horizons and opens up possibilities.”
Youth Worker on the Soho Slam youth programme at Soho Theatre
“Suzanne is a talented and experienced theatre maker. She has an ability to find stories in places that other people don’t look and bring them to life with sensitivity and attention to detail that makes them thrive. She excels at working with vulnerable groups and giving them a voice, however her work with established professional artists is just as impressive.”
Steve Marmion, Former Artistic Director of Soho Theatre