Nell Ranney and Jonny Hawkins previously co-created the production Maureen: Harbinger of Death, and plan to extend on their collaborative practice together with a brand-new show.

Together they use a devised approach to generate written material based on improvised performance, tested in a rehearsal room environment. Utilising multiple and varied references as starting points, their works are a unique tapestry of character-rich storytelling.

MEET THE TEAM

Nell Ranney (Co-conceiver and director)

Nell Ranney is a director and producer of original and multi-disciplinary theatre work. Her credits include the Sydney premieres of TUESDAY by Louris van de Geer (Belvoir) and She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange by Amelia Roper (KXT). She is currently leading creative development of GRLZ by Victoria Haralabidou (supported by Australia Council of the Arts). Nell was Associate Director for Debra Oswald’s solo performance Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? (Ensemble and Griffin Theatre), and in 2018 she was appointed the Baylis Assistant Director at the Old Vic in London for SYLVIA (Old Vic/ ZooNation) by Kate Prince. Her previous roles in artistic programming include Program Manager of The Garden of Unearthly Delights from 2018-2020 and Artistic Associate of Belvoir from 2016-2017.

Jonny Hawkins (Writer and performer)

Jonny Hawkins is an actor, writer and DJ. They studied Acting at WAAPA, where they won the Burton Award for outstanding Shakespearian Performance, and they have subsequently won awards including the Sydney Theatre Critic’s Best Newcomer Award. Their appearances across film and TV include Mr Inbetween, Stan’s The Other Guy, Les Norton, the ABC’s award-winning RIOT and the mini-series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door. As a writer, their short film Joy Boy won Best Film at Melbourne’s Queer Film Festival and Best Screenplay at Vivid’s Fresh Flix. Maureen is Jonny’s first full-length play.

Jonny is also one of Sydney’s best loved DJs and founder of The Dollar Bin Darlings, preaching disco and love all over Australia.

RESIDENTS IN ACTION