Ramin Gray

Biography

Personal

Born in London in 1963, Ramin grew up in Oxford, Tehran, New York and Paris before graduating from Christ Church, Oxford with a BA (Hons, 2:1) in Oriental Studies (Persian and Arabic) in 1987. He speaks French, Persian, Arabic, and German and has travelled extensively, especially in the Middle East. He is divorced, has five children and now lives mainly in London.

Contemporary Theatre

Ramin began directing professionally in 1988 with a production of John Marston’s 'The Malcontent' at the Latchmere Theatre in London. In 1990 he was awarded a Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme bursary to Liverpool Playhouse where he directed Wedekind’s 'Spring Awakening' and Miller’s 'A View from the Bridge'. He re-opened the Playhouse Studio as a dedicated space for new plays from 1992-95, where he directed Gregory Motton’s 'A Message for the Broken-Hearted'. In Paris at Odéon Théâtre National de l’Europe and Théâtre National de Gennevilliers he directed 'Cat and Mouse (Sheep)' by Gregory Motton in English and French versions while at the Gate Theatre he directed Jon Fosse’s 'The Child' and Paul Godfrey’s 'The Invisible Woman'.

From 2000-09 Ramin was at the Royal Court Theatre, first as International Associate, then as Associate Director where he directed over fifteen world or British premieres. In the Theatre Upstairs these included: 'Push Up' by Roland Schimmelpfennig, 'Terrorism' by the Presnyakov Brothers, 'Ladybird' by Vassily Sigarev, 'Way To Heaven' by Juan Mayorga, 'Woman and Scarecrow' by Marina Carr, 'Just a Bloke' by David Watson and 'Scenes from the Back of Beyond' by Meredith Oakes.

In the Theatre Downstairs he directed Simon Stephens’ 'Motortown' (also Wiener Festwochen, Falter critics’ prize), Max Frisch’s 'The Arsonists', Martin Crimp’s 'Advice to Iraqi Women', two plays by Marius von Mayenburg, 'The Ugly One' and 'The Stone', and 'Over There' by Mark Ravenhill (also Schaubűhne, Berlin).

Ramin’s freelance theatre work in the UK includes two plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company, David Greig’s 'The American Pilot' and Leo Butler’s 'I'll Be The Devil', and Alistair Beaton’s 'King of Hearts' which he co-directed with Max Stafford-Clark for Hampstead Theatre and Out of Joint.

Internationally, Ramin has directed two plays by Simon Stephens, the German language premiere of 'Harper Regan' at the Salzburg Festival in a co-production with the Schauspielhaus Hamburg and 'On The Shore of the Wide World' at Volkstheater Wien (Karl-Skraup Prize). His 2010 Viennese production of Dennis Kelly’s 'Orphans' was nominated for the Nestroy Prize. His Russian production of 'The Ugly One' won Best Director at the Textura Festival, Perm in 2010.

Ramin is currently Artistic Director of ATC Theatre for whom he has directed 'The Golden Dragon' by Roland Schimmelpfennig, which saw 110 performances worldwide including India and Northern Iraq, the first major revival of 'Crave' by Sarah Kane and a new Russian play, 'Illusions' by Ivan Viripaev.

Ramin most recently directed the new play from David Greig, entitled 'The Events', which was voted by critics in The Guardian as the 'Best Play of 2013'. Co-produced with the Young Vic, Schauspielhaus Wien and Brageteatret in Drammen, and Schauspielhaus Vienna, Ramin also directed the Norwegian and Austrian productions of 'The Events'.

Opera Work

In 2009 Ramin directed Benjamin Britten’s 'Death in Venice' at the Hamburgische Staatsoper, conducted by Simone Young. The production then transferred to Theater an der Wien, conducted by Donald Runnicles. In 2010 he directed the European premiere of Brett Dean’s 'Bliss' at Hamburgische Staatsoper.

In 2013 Ramin will direct the UK premiere of Gerald Barry’s 'The Importance of Being Earnest' for the Royal Opera.