E.M. Parry

Designer

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Heads of Department

Assistant: Phoebe O'Donnell

Heads of Department

E.M. Parry is a transgender, trans-disciplinary artist and theatre-maker, best known for theatre design, specialising in work which centres queer bodies and narratives.  They are an Associate Artist at Shakespeare’s Globe, a Linbury Prize Finalist, winner of the Jocelyn Herbert Award, and shared an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement as part of the team behind Rotterdam, for which they designed set and costumes.

They trained at Wimbledon School of Art, Motley, and are currently pursuing a PhD in queer studies and performance at the University of Brighton.

EM Parry’s exquisite stage frames the water between rope-bound, sail-like sheets, and a tree-shrouded band whose starlike music carries gently on the breeze
The Guardian on The Gretchen Question (Fuel/Shipwright)

absolutely always dares to dazzle ... designer EM Parry’s gothic playground
The Guardian on Dorian (Reading Rep)

The contribution of Parry’s design is considerable: the comfortable domestic set begins to collapse, revealing a forest of icy pine trees. Enchanted, yes, but strange and unsettling too
Evening Standard on Grimm Tales (Unicorn Theatre)

Mixing period and modern, Parry's costumes are a continual delight
The Independent on As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe)

In Development

ProductionCompanyNotes
2024

Shakespeare's Globe

Dir. Elle While
By William Shakespeare

Theatre

ProductionCompanyNotes
2023

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Costume Design
Dir. Jennifer Tang

2023

Fuel Theatre/Shipwright

Dir. Melly Still
By Melly Still & Max Barton

2022

Improbable/Royal and Derngate

Dir. Lee Simpson
By Improbable

2022

Northern Broadsides

Dir. Laurie Sansom
By William Shakespeare

2021

Reading Rep

Dir. Owen Horsley
Written by Phoebe Eclair-Powell and Owen Horsley

2019

Victoria and Albert Museum

Designs included in exhibition

2019

Shakespeare's Globe

Revival of 2018 production

2019

New Vic Theatre

Dir. Anna Marsland
By David Grieg

2019

Hartshorn Hook

UK tour of Olivier Award-winning production

2019

Sogn og Fjordane Teater, Norway

Dir. Frode Gjerlow
By William Shakespeare & Frode Gjerlow

2018

Unicorn Theatre

Dir. Kirsty Housley
Adapted from Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales by Philip Wilson

2018

Wilton's Music Hall

Dir. Thomas Hescott
By James Graham

2018

Shakespeare's Globe

Dir. Federay Holmes and Elle While
By William Shakespeare

2018

Shakespeare's Globe

Dir. Federay Holmes and Elle While
By William Shakespeare

2018

Gate Theatre

Dir. Ellen McDougall

2017

Arts Theatre

West End transfer

2017

59E59, New York

Transfer of Olivier Award-winning production

2016

Exeter Northcott

Dir. Paul Jepson
By J.M. Barrie

2016

Pentabus

Dir. Elizabeth Freestone

2016

Trafalgar Studios 2

Transfer of Theatre503 production
Winner of the 2017 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre

2016

Human Zoo/Pleasance Courtyard

Dir. Florence O'Mahony

2016

LAMDA Linbury Studio

Dir. James Kerr
By Dennis Kelly

2016

LAMDA Linbury Studio

Dir. Tom Attenborough
By Richard Nelson

2015

Rio Cinema/The Big House

Dir. Maggie Norris
By Andy Day
'In the basement, amid the heating pipes and fuse boxes, a tiny cinematic wonderland has sprung up' - The Guardian
'Stunning production design by Parry' - The Stage

2015

Theatre503

Dir. Donnacadh O'Briain
By Jon Brittain
Nominated for 2015 Off-West End Award for Best Set Design and Best New Play

2015

Salisbury Playhouse

Dir. Gareth Machin
By Howard Brenton, Anders Lustgarten, Timberlake Wertenbaker & Sally Woodcock

2015

Southwark Playhouse

Dir. Russell Bolam
By Ben Musgrave

2015

Jermyn Street Theatre

Dir. Donnacadh O'Briain
By Ashley G Holloway
'The staging’s best aspect, though, is Parry’s design, which gives this tiny theatre a new in-the-round configuration and fills it atmospherically with twisted vines, dirt and weathered wood' - The Times

2015

London Children's Ballet

Dir. Lucille Briance
Choreo. Jenna Lee

2015

Nottingham Playhouse/Salisbury Playhouse

Dir. Susannah Tresilian
By Laura Wade
Regional Premiere

2015

Pentabus

Dir. Elizabeth Freestone
By Simon Longman

2014

Pentabus

Dir. Elizabeth Freestone
By Rory Mullarkey

2014

Arcola Theatre

Dir. Nicolas Kent

2013

The Theatre Chipping Norton

Dir. Caroline Leslie

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

2013

Tooting Arts Club

Dir. Bill Buckhurst

2013

Watermill Theatre

Dir. Nancy Meckler

2012

Taunton Brewhouse

Dir. Robert Miles

OTHER HANDS

2012

Riverside Studios/UK Tour

Dir. James Bounds

WITHOUT YOU

2012

Menier Chocolate Factory

Co-designer with Timothy Bird
Dir. Steven Maler

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2012

Yvonne Arnaud/UK Tour

Nominated for Off-West End Award
Dir. Helen Tennison

DON JUAN COMES HOME FROM THE WAR

2012

Finborough Theatre

Nominated for Off-West End Award
Dir. Andrea Ferran

PIPPIN

2011

Menier Chocolate Factory

Associate Set Designer to Timothy Bird
Dir. Mitch Sebastian

ELECTRIC HOTEL

2010

Fuel Productions/Sadler's Wells

Costume Design
Dir. David Rosenberg

GUTTED

2010

Assembly Productions

Dir. Chris George

PLUCKER

2010

Nylon Productions/Southwark Playhouse

Costume Design
Dir. Anna G Jones

KATY BRAND'S BIG ASS LIVE SHOW

2010

Leicester Square Theatre/UK Tour

Set Design
Dir. Ed Dick

Opera

ProductionCompanyNotes
2017

Glyndebourne Opera

Dir. Lucy Bradley
Composer Lewis Murphy
Librettist Laura Attridge

2015

Brighton Early Music Festival

Dir. Susannah Waters
By Francesca Caccini
The Guardian's Top 10 Classical Concerts and Operas of 2015

2014

Spoleto Opera Festival

Associate Designer
Dir. John La Bouchardière

2013

Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

Dir. Catherine Kontz

2013

Surrey Opera

Dir. Alexander Hargreaves

2013

Southbank Centre

Dir. Olivia Fuchs

2013

British Youth Opera

Dir. Martin Lloyd-Evans

2013

University College Opera

Costume Design
Dir. Jamie Hayes

AUTUMN OPERA SCENES

2012

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Dir. Martin Lloyd-Evans

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

2012

Royal College of Music

Dir. Bill Bankes Jones

THE FAIRY QUEEN

2011

Brighton Theatre Royal/Brighton Early Music Festival

Dir. Susannah Waters

CARMEN

2011

Sadler's Wells

Community Project
Dir. James Hurley

THE MAGIC FLUTE

2010

City Music Services, Glyndebourne

Community Project
Dir. Andrew Leveson

ALBERT HERRING

2010

Trinity-Laban

Dir. Bill Bankes Jones

GIUSTINO

2009

Trinity-Laban

Dir. Olivia Fuchs

CARMEN

2007

Blackheath Opera

Dir. Bill Bankes Jones

LES DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES

2007

Trinity-Laban

Dir. Bill Bankes Jones