Liz Ranken
Born
Elizabeth Ranken
NationalityBritish
Alma materLondon University
Occupations
  • Choreographer
  • painter

Elizabeth Ranken is a British choreographer, performer, director, movement director and artist. She is an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)[1] and was a lead performer with DV8 Physical Theatre. Her work encompasses opera, theatre, physical theatre, dance, television, film and art.

Early years

Ranken initially read biology and holds a BSc from London University. She later qualified as a speech therapist from Central School of Speech and Drama before moving to Laban Dance Centre to train in choreography and performance.

Career

On leaving Laban Dance Centre, Ranken was invited by Jacob Marley to set up Company of Cracks, which was a cross over between dance and performance art. In the early '80s, Ranken met Angus Farquhar and became a member of the industrial music group Test Dept.[2]

In 1986, Ranken was invited by Lloyd Newson to join DV8 Physical Theatre as a deviser and performer.[3] She became an Artist in Residence at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA, Glasgow) creating her own work.

In 1992 Ranken began a collaboration with Shared Experience, working with Helen Edmundson and becoming an Associate Artist for the company. In 1993 Ranken won the Edinburgh Evening News Capital Award for directing, devising and performing 'Funk Off Green' at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Ranken was invited by Michael Attenborough to work as Movement Director at the RSC, ultimately becoming an Associate Artist with the company.[1] She has an ongoing association with Michael Boyd, who later became Artistic Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Ranken began painting in 2011 with a painting of Michael Boyd, which is currently in the collection at the RSC.

In 2015, she made her debut as a choreographer in opera with L'Orfeo for the Royal Opera House.[4]

Theatre

Credits as Movement Director:

Year Title Production Notes
1991Anna KareninaShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler, revived 1993 & 1998[5]
1992The Changeling by Thomas MiddletonRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Attenborough[6]
1993Mill on the FlossShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale, revived 1995 & 2001[5]
1995Richard III by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Steven Pimlott[7]
1996War and PeaceShared Experience and Royal National Theatredirected by Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale, revived 2008[5]
1996As You Like It by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Steven Pimlott[8]
1996Jane EyreShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale, revived 2006[5]
1997The TempestShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler[5]
1998Troilus and Cressida by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd[9]
1998The House of Bernarda AlbaShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[5]
1998Arabian NightsYoung Vic (1998)and Royal Shakespeare Company (2009)directed by Dominic Cooke[10]
1999A Midsummer Night's Dream by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd, transferred to Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)[11]
1999Mother Courage and her ChildrenShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler[5]
2000Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd[12]
2000Henry VI by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd[13]
2000Henry VI: Part II by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd, revived 2006[14]
2000Henry VI: The Battle for the Throne by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd, revived 2006[15]
2001Richard III by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd, revived 2006[16]
2002The Magic ToyshopShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[5]
2002The Malcontent by John MarstonRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[17]
2002The Tempest by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd[18]
2003A Passage to IndiaShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler[5]
2003Cymbeline by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[19]
2003A Doll's HouseShared Experiencedirected Polly Teale[5]
2004Gone to EarthShared Experiencedirected Nancy Meckler[5]
2004Macbeth by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[20]
2004House of DesiresRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Nancy Meckler[21]
2004HamletRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd[22]
2005BrontëShared Experiencedirected Nancy Meckler, revived 2010 & 2011[5]
2005Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Michael Boyd[23]
2005The Comedy of Errors by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Nancy Meckler[24]
2005As You Like It by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[25]
2006OrestesShared Experiencedirected Nancy Meckler[5]
2006The Crucible by Arthur MillerRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[26]
2006Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Nancy Meckler[27]
2006Pericles by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[28]
2006The Winter's Tale by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[29]
2007KindertransportShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[5]
2007Richard IIRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd[30]
2007Henry IVRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd[31]
2007Henry IV: Part IIRoyal Shakespeare Company and The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd[32]
2007Noughts & Crosses by Malorie BlackmanRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Dominic Cooke[33]
2008MineShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[34]
2008 The Dance of Death Shaftesbury Theatre directed by Sean Matthias
2009The Caucasian Chalk CircleShared Experiencedirected by Nancy Meckler[35]
2010The Glass MenagerieShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[36]
2011SpeechlessShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[37]
2000FirefaceRoyal Court Theatre (2000) Young Vic (2012)directed by Dominic Cooke[38]
2012Mary ShelleyShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[39]
2013All's Well That Ends Well by William ShakespeareRoyal Shakespeare Companydirected by Nancy Meckler[40]
2013Bracken MoorShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[41]
2015MermaidShared Experiencedirected by Polly Teale[42]
2018 Tamburlaine by Christopher Marlowe Royal Shakespeare Company directed by Michael Boyd[43]
2021 The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer The National Theatre directed by Dominic Cooke [44]

Physical Theatre and Dance

Credits:

Year Title Production Notes
1987Deep EndDV8 Physical Theatreconceived and directed by Lloyd Newson starring Nigel Charnock, Lloyd Newson, Michelle Richecoeur, Liz Ranken[45]
1987My Body, Your BodyDV8 Physical Theatreconceived and directed by Lloyd Newson[46]

Opera

Credits as Choreographer and Movement Director:

Year Opera Production Notes
2015Orfeo by MonteverdiRoyal Opera House & The Roundhousedirected by Michael Boyd[4]
2016Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyGarsington Operadirected by Michael Boyd, starring Roderick Williams and Brindley Sherratt.[47][48]
2017Pelléas et Mélisande by Claude DebussyGarsington Operadirected by Michael Boyd[49][50]
2017The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš JanáčekByre Operadirected by PJ Harris[51]
2021Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyGarsington Operadirected by Michael Boyd[52]

Film work

Ranken has appeared in the following films:

  • 1990 Silences
  • 1991 Caught Looking directed by Constantine Giannaris
  • 1991 Edward II directed by Derek Jarman[53]
  • 1993 Three Steps to Heaven directed by Constantine Giannaris'
  • 1994 Touched[54] directed by Wendy Houstoun

Ranken was the choreographer for:

Awards

  • 1988 Ranken won The Place portfolio choreographic award with composer John Eacott. This was for artists to watch out for and invest in. Matthew Bourne also won this award in the same year.
  • 1992 She won The Time Out Award for choreographing Anna Karenina for Shared Experience theatre company.
  • 1993 Ranken won the Edinburgh Evening News Capital Award for directing, devising and performing 'Funk Off Green' at the Edinburgh Fringe

Paintings

2011: Ranken's portrait of Michael Boyd was taken into the Royal Shakespeare Company Portrait collection.

2013: Ranken's painting of James Rowsell, Louise Bangay and their daughter Isadora entitled Diamond Values was taken into the Heinz Archive at the National Portrait Gallery.

2013: Ranken's painting, entitled Held in Infinity, was taken into the Heinz Archive and Library at The National Portrait Gallery.

Other

  • 1986: Ranken began performing with the band Test Department. At this time, she had started to collaborate with Test Department's percussionist Angus Farquhar[56][57] while she was at the Laban. He was at Goldsmiths studying drama and they shared the same campus. In 1998 Ranken collaborated with Angus Farquhar and his new company NVA performing at the National Day for Britain at the World EXPO in Lisbon. They created a pagan fire festival with musicians and dancers from Scotland and Portugal, burning 15-meter high straw figures (gigantones) in front of a live audience of 10,000.
  • 1992: She was performer/choreographer for The Big Tease working with strippers for the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Ranken performed alongside the strippers whose autobiographies were the basis of the show.
  • 1995: She was the performer/devisor of Doing Bird directed by Irvine Allan for Glasgow Mayfest, then touring prisons in Scotland including Barlinnie Prison. The piece then was performed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and toured prisons in Leeds including Armley Jail.

References

  1. 1 2 "Associate artists – Royal Shakespeare Company". Rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Program for Progress: The Fall from Light – test dept". testdept.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "DV8 Physical Theatre". Dv8.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Orfeo – Productions – Royal Opera House". Roh.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Shared Experience has thrilled audiences the world over with its powerful visually stunning productions including A Passage to India, Mill on the Floss and Jane Eyre". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – CHB199211 – The Changeling – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – RI3199509 – Richard III – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – AYL199604 – As You Like It – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – TRO199812 – Troilus and Cressida – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Billington, Michael (16 December 2009). "Theatre review: Arabian Nights, Courtyard, Stratford-upon-Avon". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – MND199903 – A Midsummer Night's Dream – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – ROM200007 – Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HH1200012 – Henry VI – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HH2200012 – Henry VI, Part 2 – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HH3200012 – Henry VI: The Battle for the Throne – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – RI3200102 – Richard III – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – MAG200208 – The Malcontent – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – TEM200209 – The Tempest – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – CYM200308 – Cymbeline – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  20. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – MAC200403 – Macbeth – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HOI200407 – House of Desires – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  22. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HAM200407 – Hamlet – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  23. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – TWE200504 – Twelfth Night – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  24. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – COM200507 – The Comedy of Errors – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  25. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – AYL200508 – As You Like It – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – CRU200603 – The Crucible – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – ROM200604 – Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – PER200611 – Pericles – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  29. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – WIN200611 – The Winter's Tale – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  30. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – RI2200708 – Richard II – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HF1200708 – Henry IV, Part 1 – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – HF2200708 – Henry IV, Part 2 – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  33. ↑ "Noughts & Crosses – Royal Shakespeare Company". Rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  34. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – Mine". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – The Caucasian Chalk Circle". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  36. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – The Glass Menagerie". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  37. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – Speechless". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  38. ↑ Billington, Michael (2 June 2000). "Fire in the family". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – Mary Shelley". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  40. ↑ "Search – RSC Performances – ALL201307 – All's Well That Ends Well – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". Collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  41. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – Bracken Moor". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Shared Experience – Productions – Mermaid". Sharedexperience.org.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Michael Boyd 2018 Production".
  44. ↑ "The Normal Heart review – the National Theatre revives Larry Kramer's play | WhatsOnStage".
  45. ↑ "DV8 Physical Theatre". Dv8.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  46. ↑ "DV8 Physical Theatre". Dv8.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  47. ↑ "Eugene Onegin – Garsington Opera". Garsingtonopera.org. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Eugene Onegin (Garsington Opera at Wormsley)". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "Pelléas et Mélisande – Garsington Opera". garsingtonopera.org. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  50. ↑ "Opera Today : Pelléas et Mélisande at Garsington Opera". Operatoday.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  51. ↑ "Cunning Little Vixen 2017 – Tour – Opera Scotland". Operascotland.org. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  52. ↑ "Orchestra and chorus light up Garsington's Eugene Onegin revival".
  53. 1 2 3 "Liz Ranken". BFI. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  54. ↑ "Wendy Houstoun Film and Other Work". Wendy Houstoun. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  55. ↑ "Alive and Kicking aka Indian Summer". Park Films. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  56. ↑ Ramaswamy, Chitra. "All Fired Up: The people behind the Beltane Festival". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  57. ↑ "Angus Farquhar: For love and reconnection". Beltane.org. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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