DIYAN ZORA
Writer / Director
ABOUT
Diyan is currently directing Roots by Arnold Wesker at the Almeida Theatre. Roots will run in rep with Look Back in Anger as part of the Almeida's Angry and Young season. Tickets here.
As the winner of the 2021 Genesis Future Directors Award, Diyan directed Klippies by Jessica Sian at the Young Vic Theatre. Recent credits include the UK premiere of Pulitzer prize winning English by Sanaz Toossi, which sold out and extended its run at London's Kiln Theatre, and the critically acclaimedTom Fool by Franz Xaver Kroetz at the Orange Tree Theatre. Diyan is also a playwright, and was a member of the Bush Theatre's 2022 Emerging Writer's Group.
Diyan was associate director on Alexander Zeldin's plays Love and Faith, Hope and Charity, as well as associate director to Sam Mendes on The Ferryman.
Iraqi born and Birmingham raised, Diyan currently resides in London. She initiated and runs the newly formed Royal Court writers group in Iraq.
SELECTED WORK
Photography by Marc Brenner Starring Michael Abubakar, Morfydd Clark, Iwan Davies, Billy Howle, Eliot Salt , Sophie Stanton, Ellora Torchia , Tony Turner and Deka Walmsley Set design: Naomi Dawson Costume:Tomas Palmer Sound: George Dennis Light: Lee Curran Associate Director:Tian Brown Sampson Movement: Chris Evans Dialect and voice: Edda Sharpe, Fight: Yarit Dor Stage management: Maris Sharp, Simon Perkins DSM: Lorna Seymor ASMs: Ava Mccarthy, Betty Smith Casting by Amy Ball
Roots
By Arnold Wesker
Almeida Theatre, 2024
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ The Times
★★★★ The Observer
★★★★ Financial Times
★★★★ The Telegraph
★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ London Theatre
★★★★ UpstageReviews
★★★★ London Box Office
★★★★ All That Dazzles
"deeply moving… eternally relevant “ (The Guardian)
"an extraordinary piece of work: intimate and visionary.“ (The Observer)
"Heartbreaking” (The Times)
“a modern masterpiece...
a top-quality 100 minutes of drama“ (The Independent)
English
By Sanaz Toossi
RSC and Kiln Theatres, 2024
★★★★★ The Times
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Whatsonstage
★★★★ Time Out
★★★★ Reviews Hub
★★★★★ Brum Hour
★★★★★ Midlands Arts Magazine
★★★★★ Weekend Notes
"Dazzling, clever, moving” (The Times)
Photography Richard Davenport Cast; Nadia Albina, Sara Hazemi, Lanna Joffrey, Nojan Khazai, Serena Manteghi Set & Costume Designer Anisha Fields Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs Sound Designer George Dennis Movement Director / cultural consultant Maria Tarokh Casting Director Lotte Hines CDG Voice, Text and Dialect Edda Sharpe Assistant Director, Text and Dialect Sara Amini Stage Management Wesley Carter, Chloe Turner, Roni Neale
Tom Fool
By Franz Xaver Kroetz
Orange Tree Theatre, 2022
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ The Times
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Financial Times
★★★★ Arts Desk
★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ Everything Theatre
★★★★★ London Living
"A powerful ten minute scene in which the parents painstakingly tidy the wreckage of their living room after a violent outburst contains not a word of dialogue but feels breathlessly intense all the same."
The Stage
Photography The Other Richard Cast: Michael Shaeffer, Anna Francolini, Jonah Rezkiewizs Set /costume: Zoe Hurwitz Lighting: Christopher Nairne Sound: Joe Dines Movement: Chris Evans Casting: Chris Worrall Stage Management: Jenny Skivens DSM: Anna Hunscott, ASM: Eavan Gribbin Production: Lisa Hood, Stu Burgess and Anthony Doran,
Photography The Other Richard Cast: Rakie Ayola and Jack Benjamin Set / Costume: Anisha Fields Lighting: Josh Gadsby Sound: George Dennis Composition: Robert Sword Movement: Georgina Makhubele Video design: Hayley Egan CSM: Francesca Finney DSM: Olivia Roberts