Milli is an internationally acclaimed Theatre, Film and Radio Director, and Dramaturg from East London.
She is an Associate Artist at Synergy. She was Associate Director at The Royal Court Theatre until December 2023.
Before this, she was Trainee Director and then Literary Associate at The Royal Court, Associate Artist at The Bush Theatre, Resident Assistant Director at Birmingham Rep and Creative Associate at The Gate Theatre. Her training includes The National Theatre Director's Programme, and The Old Vic 12.
She is a two-time Olivier Award nominee, for her productions of seven methods of killing kylie jenner and Blue Mist, both premiered at The Royal Court Theatre. Her other work has been nominated for Visionary Arts Awards, Off West End Awards, EE Actas and Asian Media Awards, and her work has both received West End and international transfers. She was photographed by Rankin as part of his 'Performance' series, and an interview about her practice was recently published as one of 24 in 'Conversations With Women Theatre Directors' by Rosemary Waugh'.
"Our most brilliant, fearless and creative women directors open the door on their craft, discussing their work in the theatre in intimate and illuminating detail.
Through a series of fascinating conversations with many of the leading talents working on British stages, Running the Room explores what it takes to succeed in the field, and how each director approaches the work in their own way."
Her work as Director includes:
THEATRE
seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones (Jerwood Theatre Upstairs 2019, Jerwood Theatre Downstairs 2021, Film 2022, Public Theater New York and Woolly Mammoth Washington DC 2023, Royal Court) *Olivier award nomination
seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones (Riksteatern, Swedish National Theatre, National tour 2022. *Selected to return for the Biennale in 2023)
Blue Mist by Mohamed-Zain Dada (Royal Court) *Olivier award nomination
Liberation Squares by Sonali Bhattacharyya (Nottingham Playhouse/Brixton House/National tour) *Off West End nomination 'Best Director'
Chasing Hares by Sonali Bhattacharyya (Young Vic) *winner of The Sonia Friedman Production Award, winner of the Theatre Uncut Political Award, nominated for the AMA for Best Stage Production
Maryland by Lucy Kirkwood (co directed with Vicky Featherstone and Lucy Morrison, Royal Court/South Bank Centre)* nominated for a Visionary Arts Award
Baghdaddy by Jasmine Naziha Jones (Royal Court)
My White Best Friend and other letters left unsaid (Bunker 2018/2019, Royal Court 2020)
Macbeth: Bloody Instructions, adapted by Eleanor Tindall. (Tour/Donmar Warehouse)
Dismantle This Room by Nina Segal (Bush Theatre 2018/Royal Court 2019)
Half Full by Yasmin Joseph (Royal Court/RWCMD)
This Liquid Earth by Amy Jephta (Royal Court/Edinburgh International Festival)
I'm tired of waiting, someone pass me the duct tape by Travis Alabanza (Stratford East)
The Hijabi Monologues (Bush Theatre)
FILM
Aunty Ji by Mohamed-Zain Dada (in post production. Pinctada Productions)
HomeBODY by Jasmine Lee-Jones (short film - Young Vic)
Yash Gill's Power Half Hour by Nikesh Shukla (short film featuring Sacha Dhawan)
Living Newspaper, a series of short films by writers including Zia Ahmed, Mohamed-Zain Dada, Maya Zbib and Suhaiymah Manzoor Khan (Royal Court)
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl (The Roald Dahl Story Company)
RADIO
Ghosts In The Blood by Joel Tan (Audible).
As an Assistant and Associate Director, she has worked across productions at theatres including Hampstead Theatre, The Royal Court, Manchester International Festival, The Globe and The Gate.
Milli has extensive experience in new writing and dramaturgy. She was Literary Associate at The Royal Court for two years, and has read for several theatres including The Bush, The Royal Court and Birmingham Rep. She now works alongside her directing career as a freelance dramaturg.
She has facilited playwriting workshops and courses, and has developed and directed plays internationally with theatres including Santiago A Mil (Chile), Ajoka Theatre (Pakistan) and Riksteatern (Sweden). She has comprehensive experience working with young and vulnerable people, with organisations such as refuges Leeway and NAWP/London Black Women's Project, The Young Vic, Thames Reach, Bush Theatre, The Royal Court, Hackney Empire, Stratford East, Birmingham Rep, The National Youth Theatre, LAMDA and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Aunty Ji by Mohamed-Zain Dada
watch seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones here until April 17th 2022
watch the trailer for seven methods of killing kylie jenner here
