Verity Quinn

Designer

Biography

Verity is a spacial designer based by the sea. She trained in theatre design at Nottingham Trent and her practice now spans performance and exhibition. Verity has designed extensively for young audiences, including working with Unicorn Theatre, Polka Theatre and Half Moon Theatre. Her work often involves close collaboration with the director to develop the visual dramaturgy for devised and co-created projects. Most recently she has designed for Pilot Theatre, Northern Stage, The Royal Court and Live Theatre in Newcastle.

Over the years, her work has been described by critics as ‘elegantly simple’ (Chocolate Cake, Polka Theatre), ‘sturdy and atmospheric’ (Ballad of Maria Marten, Eastern Angles) and a ‘weird and wonderful dream’ (Muckers, The Egg & Caroline Horton).

Credits

Theatre

Production Company Notes
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
2026
Northern Stage / Derby Theatre

Dir. Sarah Brigham

Northern Stage and Derby Theatre

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
2025
Northern Stage

Dir. Bryony Shanahan

By Lucy Kirkwood

Devised by Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood

 

AURORA
2025
The Egg, Bath / Filskit Theatre Company

Design Consultant

Devised by Katy Costigan and Sarah Shephard

LET'S BUILD!
2025
Polka

2025 revival

Dir. Trina Haldar

A SMALL ENCLOSED ROOM WITH ALFIE MURPHY
2025
Access All Areas

UK tour

Opened at Soho Theatre Upstairs

SOUND BOARD
2025
Zest Theatre

Small-scale, outdoor production

UK tour

TINY FRAGMENTS OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHT Alphabetti Theatre

UK tour

THE RAINBOW
2025
Perth Theatre

Based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence
Adapted by Nicola Werenowska
Dir. Jo Newman

A SMALL ENCLOSED ROOM WITH ALFIE MURPHY
2024
Access All Areas

A new production co-created with Associate Artist Cian Binchy in collaboration with Shaun Dunne and Leah Moore

THE BOUNDS
2024
Live Theatre / Royal Court

Directed by Jack McNamara
Written by Stewart Pringle

A SONG FOR ELLA GREY
2024
Pilot Theatre

Directed by Esther Richardson
Adapted by Zoe Cooper
Based on the novel by David Almond

BABY SHOW
2024
Unicorn Theatre

Created by Sarah Argent & Kevin Lewis
Directed by Sarah Argent

LET'S BUILD
2023
Polka Theatre

Directed by Trina Haldar
Lighting by Rajiv Pattani

TINY FRAGMENTS OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHT
2022
Alphabetti Theatre

Written by Allison Davies
Directed by Karen Traynor

THE FORUM
2022
Zest Theatre

Directed by Toby Ealdon
A pop up town square, fuelled by the voices of young people to inspire the next generation

ONE OFF
2022
Live Theatre

Directed by Jack McNamara
Written by Ric Renton

HIDDEN STORIES
2022
SeventeenNineteen / Sunderland Music Hub / MishMash Theatre

Exhibition design and curation

READY STEADY GO!
2022
Polka

Written and Directed by Peter Glanville

NOTHING HAPPENS TWICE
2021
Little Soldier Productions / Touring 2022

Directed by Ursula Martinez
Dramaturgy by Adam Brace
Composed by John Biddle

NO FUTURE
2021
Camden Peoples Theatre Out of the Box Commission

Written by Adam Welsh
Co-directed by Tim Trimingham Lee and Adam Welsh

WISH
2021
Cast Doncaster
CLIMATE CHANGE CATASTROPHE
2021
Cap-A-Pie

Devised by the company in collaboration with primary school students and Dr Ali Ford and team at Newcastle University
Directed by Brad McCormick
Music by Katie Doherty
Lighting Design by Dan Saggars
Production and Stage Management by Rachel Glover
Filming by Lindsay Duncanson with Dan Wallder
Sound Recording & Film Edit by Marek Gabrysch

LASAGNA
2021
Open Clasp

Written by Catrina McHugh
Directed by Laura Lindow
Lighting by Sherry Coenen
Composed by Roma Yagnik
A filmed play by Open Clasp Theatre, commissioned by Pause, Barnardos
2023 – Remounted for the stage, touring
Photos by Chris Bishop (2021)
Photos by Von Fox (2023)

THE BALLAD OF MARIA MARTIN
2020
Eastern Angles

Remount of ‘Polstead’ as in the round, touring 2020
By Beth Flintoff
Dir. Hal Chambers

TOOOB
2020
Angel Exit Theatre

Created by Angel Exit Theatre

VICTORIA: A ROYAL CHILDHOOD (Exhibition)
2019
Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace

Exhibition Interpretation and 3D design by Verity Quinn
in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces

BALTHAZAR'S TREASURE
2019
Lift
THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER
2019
Salisbury Playhouse

By Glyn Kerslake & Gareth Machin
Dir. Jo Newman

MAPPING BRENT FESTIVAL
2019
Kiln

Dir. Harry Mackrill and Stevan Mijailovic

CLIMATE CHANGE CATASTROPHE Cap-A-Pie
BIG UP
2019
Theatre Rites

As designer. Dir. Sue Buckmaster & Keith Saha

MUCKERS
2019
Theatre Madrid / Bath Theatre Royal / Oxford Playhouse

As set and costume designer
Director: Jose Troncoso

YOUTHQUAKE
2019 – 2020
Zest

Two National Tours
Created by Zest Theatre
Directed by Toby Ealden

DON'T FORGET THE BIRDS
2018
Open Clasp Theatre Company, tour
3 WINTERS
2018
RADA

By Tena Štivičić
Dir. Eleanor Rhode

MASTERPIECES
2018
Papercut Theatre / Finborough Theatre

Written by Sarah Daniels;
Directed by Melissa Dunne

OFF THE GRID
2018
Half Moon

An immersive new play by David Lane

CHOCOLATE CAKE
2018
Polka

By Michael Rosen
Adapted by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr
Directed by Peter Glanville

SEE-SAW
2018
Unicorn
POLSTEAD
2018
Eastern Angles

Writer: Beth Flintoff
Director: Hal Chambers

HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY
2017
Aine Flanagan / Young Vic

Revival of 2016 show

LAIKA
2017
Unicorn

Written and Directed by Bryony Hannah and Avye Leventis

THE BABY SHOW
2017
Unicorn
WHAT ONCE WAS OURS
2017
Zest Theatre / Half Moon

Tour

THE BORROWERS
2017
Polka

A Play by Charles Way
Based on the book by Mary Norton
Directed by Lee Lyford

UNDER THE RAINBOW
2017
Polka

2017 Revival in main Polka theatre
Written and Directed by Peter Glanville

VINEGAR TOM
2017
RADA

By Caryl Churchill

SHAKESPEARE SEASON
2016
Wimbledon WCTT
BEASTY BABY
2016
Theatre Rites
DAME NATURE - THE MAGNIFICENT BEARDED LADY
2016
Havoc Theatre Company
HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY
2016
Aine Flanagan Productions
MRS ARMITAGE AND THE BIG WAVE
2016
Ga Ga Theatre
GETTING DRESSED
2016
Second Hand Dance
SEPTIMUS BEAN AND HIS AMAZING MACHINE
2016
Unicorn Theatre

Based on the book by Janet Quin-Harkin, adapted by Adam Peck
Dir. Cressida Brown

UNDER THE RAINBOW
2016
Polka Theatre

Written and Directed by Peter Glanville

GARGANTUA
2016
New Wimbledon Young Company

Dir. Stuart Barter

BIG WOW
2016
Half Moon Theatre & Justin Coe

Dir. Chris Elwell

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
2015
Unicorn Theatre

Devised by the company
Dir. Malachy Orozco

HOLY MACKEREL
2015
Eastern Angles & Shanty Theatre Company

By Harry Long
Dir. Tim Bell

BEASTY BABY
2015
Polka Theatre & Theatre Rites

Dir. Sue Buckmaster

ALPHA BETA
2015
Finborough Theatre

By Ted Whitehead
Dir. Purni Morell
*Nominated for Best Set Design at the Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards)

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
2015
Club Adelphi

By Laura Lindow
R&D in various venues, site specific around Shoreditch
Dir. Felix Mortimer

FREE
2014
Half Moon Theatre & Touring

By David Lane
Dir. Chris Elwell

SELFIE
2014
National Youth Theatre, Amabassadors Theatre

Dir. Paul Roseby

PRIVATE PEACEFUL
2014
National Youth Theatre, Amabassadors Theatre

Dir. Paul Hart

SEESAW
2014
Unicorn Theatre

By Stewart Melton
Dir. Sarah Argent

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE UNIVERSE I LAUGH FOR NO REASON
2014
Unicorn Theatre

Created by the Young Company
Dir. Ellen Edwin-Scott and Emma Higham

COMMONWEALTH GAMES ATHLETES VILLAGE OPENING AND WELCOMING CEREMONIES
2014
National Youth Theatre

Dir. Kane Husbands and Richard Weinman

DORA
2013
Unicorn Theatre

Adapted from story by Helen East
Dir. Purni Morell

THE TRIAL
2013
Retz

Adapted from Franz Kafka’s The Trial
Site specific around Shoreditch
Dir. Felix Mortimer

HEARTBREAK SOUP
2012
The Empty Space/ UK Tour

Written & Directed by Laura Lindow
Has toured nationally 3 years in a row

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
2012
Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne

By Laura Lindow
Dir. Rosie Kellagher

BLUE BOY
2012
New Writing North/Northern Stage

By Margaret Wilkinson
Dir. Tess Denman-Cleaver

AMAZING GRACE
2012
Wisecrack Productions and Gala Theatre, Durham

By Trevor Woods and Ed Waugh
Dir. Emma Roxburgh

THE GIRLS FROM POPPYFIELD CLOSE
2011
Live Theatre, Newcastle

By Alison Carr
Dir. Rosie Kellagher

HOMING IN
2010
The Sage Gateshead

By Ian McMillian
Composed by Luke Carver-Goss
Dir. Debbie Little

APPLES
2010
Northern Stage and Company of Angels

By Richard Milward, adapted for stage by John Retallack
Dir. John Retallack

NURSING LIVES
2010
Vamos Theatre/ UK Tour

By Rachel Savage and Vamos Theatre
Dir. Amanda Wilsher

INSTALLATIONS & EXHIBITIONS
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
2012
Artichoke

Intents Schools Project – Part of Peace
Camp national exhibition
by Fiona Shaw and Deborah Warner

A CANNY JUBILEE! (2012)/ TYNE OF OUR LIVES! (2011) Newcastle City Council

Co Designer & maker
Interactive and beautifully designed popup photobooths commissioned for Newcastle City Council’s Jubilee celebrations and Bridges Festival respectively

DIAMOND JUBILEE EXHIBITION
2012
Sunderland Council

Co-Designer & maker
Held in 7 x 15msq temporary marquees at Sunderland Port, an immersive and interactive exhibition chronicling the life
of Sunderland since the Coronation.

AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - THROUGH HARDSHIP TO THE STARS
2011
Artichoke/Newcastle Gateshead Initiative

Mining banners woven with light,
suspended in the streets above Durham
Commissioned with Bethan Maddocks
Part of Lumiere 2011

STRANGER PLACES (2008) / THE STORY TREE (2010) Enchanted Parks / Left Luggage Theatre

Commissions for Enchanted Parks with Molly Barrett and Left Luggage Theatre respectively
Night time installations in a Victorian park in Gateshead, featuring automata, hand knitted electro-luminescent wire, soundscape and 200 jars filled with light and fairy stories.

Verity Quinn
Verity Quinn
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