E.M. Parry
Designer
Heads of Department
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. In 2024 they were a Top Ten Finalist for the Queer Britain Art Prize.
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.
It is handsome in its look, E Mallin Parry’s set slowly modernising itself, from a spare court to a graffitied one. The period dress, designed in a lovely palette of creams, golds, greys and blacks, does the same in the second half, which brings us closer into our world
The Guardian on Richard III (Shakespeare's Globe)
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)
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)
Mixing period and modern, Parry's costumes are a continual delight
The Independent on As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe)
absolutely always dares to dazzle ... designer EM Parry’s gothic playground
The Guardian on Dorian (Reading Rep)
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2024 | Bad Wolf / BBC | Costume Assistant |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2024 | Shakespeare's Globe | Dir. Elle While |
2023 | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Costume Design |
2023 | Fuel Theatre/Shipwright | Dir. Melly Still |
2022 | Improbable/Royal and Derngate | Dir. Lee Simpson |
2022 | Northern Broadsides | Dir. Laurie Sansom |
2021 | Reading Rep | Dir. 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 |
2019 | Hartshorn Hook | UK tour of Olivier Award-winning production |
2019 | Sogn og Fjordane Teater, Norway | Dir. Frode Gjerlow |
2018 | Unicorn Theatre | Dir. Kirsty Housley |
2018 | Wilton's Music Hall | Dir. Thomas Hescott |
2018 | Shakespeare's Globe | Dir. Federay Holmes and Elle While |
2018 | Shakespeare's Globe | Dir. Federay Holmes and Elle While |
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 |
2016 | Pentabus | Dir. Elizabeth Freestone |
2016 | Trafalgar Studios 2 | Transfer of Theatre503 production |
2016 | Human Zoo/Pleasance Courtyard | Dir. Florence O'Mahony |
2016 | LAMDA Linbury Studio | Dir. James Kerr |
2016 | LAMDA Linbury Studio | Dir. Tom Attenborough |
2015 | Rio Cinema/The Big House | Dir. Maggie Norris |
2015 | Theatre503 | Dir. Donnacadh O'Briain |
2015 | Salisbury Playhouse | Dir. Gareth Machin |
2015 | Southwark Playhouse | Dir. Russell Bolam |
2015 | Jermyn Street Theatre | Dir. Donnacadh O'Briain |
2015 | London Children's Ballet | Dir. Lucille Briance |
2015 | Nottingham Playhouse/Salisbury Playhouse | Dir. Susannah Tresilian |
2015 | Pentabus | Dir. Elizabeth Freestone |
2014 | Pentabus | Dir. Elizabeth Freestone |
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 |
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY 2012 | Yvonne Arnaud/UK Tour | Nominated for Off-West End Award |
DON JUAN COMES HOME FROM THE WAR 2012 | Finborough Theatre | Nominated for Off-West End Award |
PIPPIN 2011 | Menier Chocolate Factory | Associate Set Designer to Timothy Bird |
ELECTRIC HOTEL 2010 | Fuel Productions/Sadler's Wells | Costume Design |
GUTTED 2010 | Assembly Productions | Dir. Chris George |
PLUCKER 2010 | Nylon Productions/Southwark Playhouse | Costume Design |
KATY BRAND'S BIG ASS LIVE SHOW 2010 | Leicester Square Theatre/UK Tour | Set Design |
Opera
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2017 | Glyndebourne Opera | Dir. Lucy Bradley |
2015 | Brighton Early Music Festival | Dir. Susannah Waters |
2014 | Spoleto Opera Festival | Associate Designer |
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 |
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 |
THE MAGIC FLUTE 2010 | City Music Services, Glyndebourne | Community Project |
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 |