Rose Theatre Kingston Announce Melly Still As Associate Artist

Rose Theatre Kingston today announce Melly Still as an Associate Artist. Still takes on the role having previously directed the world première stage adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend for the company. She is currently directing the UK tour and first stage adaptation of Louis de Bernières' best-selling novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin, a co-production between Rose Theatre Kingston, Neil Laidlaw and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Melly Still said today, "I'd only ventured to The Rose (i) think once before being asked to direct the adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend. Now Kingston is firmly on the map. The Rose's intention to make and host work that challenges and entertains is inspiring and I'm thrilled, now that I've been asked to join the team as an Associate, to play a small part in their vision."

Jerry Gunn, Executive Producer of Rose Theatre Kingston, added, "Melly's directing style and work is exhilarating. As an artist and with her work in movement and design she has so much in her toolbox to draw on. When she worked with us on My Brilliant Friend she entirely embraced the Rose space and delivered astonishing immediacy and beauty in the telling of these novels. We are looking forward to more collaborations with Melly, not least with our co-production of Captain Corelli's Mandolin at the Rose in the spring of next year. Melly really likes the Rose space and the team here in Kingston and I'm delighted she has accepted the role of Associate Artist."

Melly Still's credits for the company include the UK tour and first stage adaptation of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and the world première of My Brilliant Friend. Her other directing include The Lovely Bones (UK tour), Cymbeline (RSC), The Haunting of Hill House (Sonia Friedman Productions, Hammer and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), Life Raft (Bristol Old Vic), Coram Boy (National Theatre/Broadway - for which she was a Tony Award nominee for Best Director), From Morning Till Midnight, Nation, The Revenger's Tragedy (National Theatre), Rats' Tales (Manchester Royal Exchange), Beasts and Beauties (Hampstead Theatre) and Tiger Bay the Musical (Wales Millennium Centre). Her opera directing work includes The Cunning Little Vixen and Rusalka (Glyndebourne) and Zaide (Sadler's Wells). She will also direct the upcoming UK and Ireland tour and European stage première of Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd.

Founded by Sir Peter Hall, and modelled on the original Elizabethan Rose Theatre on London's Bankside, Rose Theatre Kingston is the largest producing theatre in South West London.

Forthcoming Rose productions include three work in progress performances of Vanessa Redgrave's new play Vienna 1934 - Munich 1938, in which Vanessa also performs; the unique An Evening with Vanessa Redgrave hosted by director Roger Michell; a new revival of Marie Jones' Olivier Award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets directed by Lindsay Posner; the world premiere stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much-loved Zog, adapted and directed by Mike Shepherd with an original folk score by Johnny Flynn; and the UK tour and first stage adaptation of Louis de Bernières' best-selling novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Since opening in 2008, the Rose has collaborated with a range of directors, playwrights and producing partners to create vibrant, engaging and inspiring productions. Recent Rose productions include the world premiere of Hogarth's Progress by BAFTA Award-winning playwright Nick Dear, the first stage adaptation and world premiere of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend adapted by April De Angelis and directed by Melly Still; Zach Helm's hard-hitting play Good Canary directed by John Malkovich; Peter Hall and John Barton's adaptation of The Wars of the Roses directed by Trevor Nunn; and Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather (West End transfer and Olivier Award nomination) directed by Sally Cookson.

With over 150,000 visitors a year, the Rose enjoys artistic and critical acclaim from its own productions and co-productions and a reputation as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK.

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