I make film, theatre and stories, as a director, movement director, dramaturg and actor. I have made work with: Barbican, National Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Park Theatre, BBC, Objective productions, ENO, KneeHigh, Chris Goode. 

 I often create in collaboration with other artists, and sometimes with people who might not consider themselves as artists. I studied at Jacques Lecoq, and have a BA in English and a Masters in Shakespeare. English and French, with Creole roots, I worked in the UK, France, Lebanon and Australia. My work is founded on a passion for both devised work and classic texts, dynamic staging and turning the kernels of the imagination into great entertainment.

As artistic director of Boileroom, I received the 2007 Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Award, for bold, innovative theatre, with The Terrific Electric (Barbican, 2007), which I conceived and directed. I am currently director and dramaturg for the development of British Asian playwright Bushra Laskar’s, Sanguine Night, a play for a cast of 6 BAME women actors set in a post-apocalyptic India, which explores the legacy the1984 Bhopal Union Carbide disaster. Boileroom was awarded the Park Theatre Accelerator Program 2016 for its development, and it was subsequently supported by the Old Vic, OvalHouse and RADA festival.

Boileroom develop work through a laboratory approach- devising with actors, writer, a sound artist and specialists in the field of science and medicine to create dynamic staging of new writing.

I was associate movement director for The Mask of the Red Death Lates (BAC, Punchdrunk/GIdeon Reeling) and the all-female site specific Richard III (Wales Millennium Centre, 2015). I've worked on movement for Howard Barker and the Wrestling School. I have also given vocational actor training at the award-winning IDSA.

I also work in film and comedy, co-founding the award-winningThe History Girls, who were commissioned by Objective Productions to film for BBC Comedy online. My sitcom pilot Like-a-looks won The UK Sitcom Trials in 2016, with a live showcase which I directed at the Gilded Balloon. I have directed several short comic films which have won awards and premiered at the London Short Film Festival.

I give workshops on devising and collaboration, and am available as a consultant/director for theatre and film makers.

AWARDS

Samuel Beckett Theatre Award 2007 for Boileroom and The Terrific Electric (director, co-director)

Coup de Coeur Canal Plus Award 2004 for short film Rosbeef (associate director/producer)

Co-Filmic 2012 Audience Award for The History Girls (writer, associate director)

Shortlisted for Total Theatre Award 2009, Time Out Critics Choice for Sweeney Todd: His Life, Times and Execution (movement director, composer)

TESTIMONIALS

I have worked with Vanessa over the last year and been thoroughly impressed by her attention to detail and creative tenacity. Both in her film and theatre work she has an eye for talent, stylish storytelling and audience engagement and I’m keen to see her develop these skills more for film-making where possible. We need more female talent of this quality on UK film.- Brek Taylor (Head of Film, Creative England) 

Vanessa’s input as a writer and director was invaluable. She gave me the confidence to continue developing the characters to the next level. She is an excellent director with endless drive, a great team spirit with a super eye for detail and nuances within characters, music and tone. I would recommend her without hesitation for any project -David McCusker (performer, writer, Captain Pancake)

Vanessa ensured the work was flexible and responsive to the ensemble and the research nature of the project. As a Director I found it inspirational and thought provoking.- Yvonne Murphy (producer, director, Omidaze Productions)

An exciting world which sparkles with witty dialogue and funny one liners-BAFTA Rocliffe on Vanessa-Faye's pilot script for Like-a-Looks

Reviews

bags of talent, huge commitment and plenty of imagination-  Time Out on Boileroom 

experimental theatre at its multi-layered best – British Theatre Guide on The Terrific Electric

Completely engaging... truly sublime... brilliant- Three Weeks on The History Girls: A Summary of Things So Far