Suzie Miller
Suzie Miller is a multi-award winning Australian/British playwright, librettist and screenwriter. In 2022, Miller makes her West End debut with the production of her play "Prima Facie" produced by Empire Street Productions and directed by Justin Martin. The play opens in April 2022 starring Jodie Comer in her West End debut. Overview. Suzie Miller is a contemporary international playwright, librettist and screenwriter drawn to complex human stories often exploring injustice. She has often been described as a courageous writer and won the Australian Writers’ Guild and Kit Denton Fellowship for Writing with Courage in 2008. Born  in Melbourne Australia, she now resides between London, United Kingdrom, and Sydney, Australia. Miller has been produced around the world winning multiple prestigious awards. Her most recent play Prima Facie (premiered 2019, Griffin Theatre) won the 2020 Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Drama; the 2020 David Williamson Award for Outstanding Theatre Writing; and the 2020 prestigious Major Australian Writers’ Guild Award across all categories of theatre, film and television. Its premier production earned 5-star reviews across all platforms. Suzie has a background in law and science, and is currently developing major theatre, film and television projects across the UK , USA and Australia. Suzie worked as a human rights lawyer and a children’s rights lawyer before leaving the law and moving to London in 2010 with her young family to pursue a theatre writing career full time and she now resides between both London and Sydney. Miller works in theatre, film and television. She is married to Robert Beech-Jones and has two children. Background & Works. Background. Having studied law, drama and science, Suzie is deeply interested in exploring the human condition and the issues that challenge contemporary society. She is a committed feminist and rights advocate. Her work  ranges from large scale plays to intimate plays (Griffin Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre Company), to films of original screenplays (with Participant; Bunya Productions; Hoodlum) to television work (Film Art Media; Matchbox/NBC; Bunya Productions). Miller has enjoyed many residencies throughout her career, in recent times these have included; University of Queensland (Creative Fellow 2018), Currency Press (2018 and 2019), National Theatre of Scotland (2014), National Theatre in London (2011 and 2009), Griffin Theatre Sydney (2012), Critical Stages NSW (2013), Theatre Gargantua Toronto (2013), and was the Artist in Resident at La Boite Theatre (2016 and 2015). She was  attached to Ex Machina in Quebec with Robert Lepage (2012) and has been commissioned by companies in Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. In 2006 and 2009 she was mentored by US playwright Edward Albee ("Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf"). Early Works. Miller’s first play "Cross Sections" was based on contemporary stories from the experience of working as lawyer for homeless youth in Sydney’s red-light district (Kings Cross), was nominated for major awards and transferred to the Sydney Opera House in 2005. A radio version of the play was recorded at ABC Radio and won the  Australian Writers’ Guild award for Radio. Both versions were directed by Chris Mead. “I was humbled to realise I could touch people with stories and start a conversation about changing our society; it was individual audience members sharing the personal impact of my first play that led to my belief that stories can raise awareness, change people and communities. I felt that I had more impact with my plays than my daily court battles”. Her two follow up plays "SOLD" (a darkly humorous play about selling our souls for materialism) directed by John Sheedy and "All the Blood and All  the Water" (tackling racism in Australia) directed by John Sheedy both won the Inscription award and a mentorship with Edward Albee. "SOLD" was later produced at Theatre503 in London (2011) directed by Natalie Ibu. An early work "Reasonable Doubt" played at the Edinburgh and New York Fringe Festivals at the Assembly Halls Edinburgh and the Cherry Lane Theatre NY in 2008. Directed by Lee Lewis it won the New York Fringe Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting. Recent Works. Prima Facie (2019/2020). In 2020 Miller’s drama Prima Facie (premiered 2019, Griffin Theatre directed by Lee Lewis). The production of  Prima Facie returned to Sydney in 2021 toured Australia at the Queensland Theatre with covid cancelled seasons at the Malthouse Theatre Melbourne, and other venues to be rescheduled. Prima Facie won Suzie the 2020 Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Drama; the 2020 David Williamson Award for Outstanding Theatre Writing; and the 2020 prestigious Major Australian Writers’ Guild Award across all categories of theatre, film and television. It won the Griffin Award in 2018. Prima Facie will premiere in 2022 at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End produced by James Bierman (ex Donmar, Almeida and Michael Grandage Company ) for Empire Street the production stars Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and is directed by Justin Martin. Prima Facie is published in Australia by Currency Press. The Mathematics of Longing (2018). The Mathematics of Longing premiered in 2018 at the La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Queensland. It is published in Australia by Currency Press. Dust (2017). Dust premiered with the Black Swan State Theatre in Perth, Western Australia at the Heath Ledger Theatre in 2017. It won the Western Australian biannual Premier’s Award for Literature. Medea - A Feminist Retelling (2017). Medea - A Feminist Retelling premiered at the La Boite Theatre in  2017. Velvet Evening Séance (2017). Velvet Evening Séance was developed by National Theatre of Scotland, Cove Park Artists Residency and Arts Scotland for a premiere season at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and then Lemon Tree Theatre. The Sacrifice Zone (2016). The Sacrifice Zone premiered in Toronto, Canada with Theatre Gargantua in 2016. Snow White - The Opera (2016). Snow White - The Opera had its premiere season at the Brisbane International Arts Festival. Sunset Strip (2016). Sunset Strip premiered in 2016 at Griffin Theatre then toured Australia with Critical Stages. It is published in Australia by Currency Press. Caress/Ache (2015 ). Caress/Ache premiered in 2016 at Griffin Theatre, Sydney and had other productions in New Zealand. Onefivezeroseven (2014). Onefivezeroseven premiered at the Perth International Arts Centre at the State Theatre Studio Theatre in 2014. In the Heart of Derby Park (2013). In the Heart of Derby Park had its premiere season in Glasgow, Scotland with Oran M’or Theatre Company in 2013. Driving Into Walls (2012). Driving Into Walls premiered at the Perth International Arts Centre at the State Theatre Studio Theatre. It toured Australia, including the Sydney Opera House. Transparency (2009). Transparency premiered at The Old Museum Theatre with Ransom  Theatre Company in Belfast in 2009 before touring Northern Ireland. Awards. Miller has won or been shortlisted for a number of Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, and Premier’s awards (Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales). She also received the 2008 National Kit Denton Fellowship for writing with courage. She was shortlisted for the 2010 Australian Writers Guild Award for drama, and was shortlisted for the Griffin Award 2009. She won the 2006 and the 2009 Inscription award. Miller was mentored by Edward Albee in 2009. She received the 2008 New York Fringe Festival 'Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting '. She received the 2005 Theatrelab award. She was shortlisted for Premiers' awards and AWGIES (Writers Guild awards). Miller has sat on the board of Playworks, Playwriting Australia, TRS, State of Play, Darlinghurst Theatre and the Australian Writers Guild Theatre  She has been a judge for the Australian Writers Guild for film scripts, plays and the Kit Denton, and has sat on the Australia Council of the Arts Literature Board as a theatre peer. She is also on the reader panel for various theatre companies in Australia and London.