Hi people. Here’s me.
I’m a director and dramaturg working in theatre, audio, film and XR.
I also occasionally work as a writer and verrrrry occasionally (mostly for love, not for money) as a sound artist.
I co-founded Sleepdogs with Tim X Atack and I’m a resident at Pervasive Media Studio, Watershed, Bristol.
I’ve been an Associate Director in the West End, working with director, Dominic Cooke on productions with star actors including Sophie Okenedo and David Tennant. In Autumn 2024, I’ll be the staff director on the National Theatre’s production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.
I’m also prepping a new play by Tim X Atack called DELAY, a queer sci-fi heartbreaker, for production in 2025.
“It’s highly unlikely you’ll experience a more unforgettably visceral, immersive, darkly intense
and mesmerisingly beautiful theatrical 105 minutes this year.”
– 365Bristol.com on DARK LAND LIGHT HOUSE
Here are some production stills from work I’ve directed:
If you’re interested in working with me, please drop me a line.
Complete CV available on request.
Here’s a selection of what you’ll find on it:
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTING CREDITS include:
JULIUS CAESAR by William Shakespeare (Malcolm X Centre, Bristol). Produced by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
WE ANCHOR IN HOPE by Anna Jordan (LAMDA Linbury Theatre). Produced by LAMDA.
ABSOLUTE SCENES by Tim X Atack (The Marble Factory, Bristol). Commissioned and produced by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Performed by a cast of 28 actors. Presented site-specifically at the Marble Factory, Bristol.
OUT OF SORTS by Danusia Samal (Theatre503). Produced and presented by Theatre503.
Winner of the Theatre503 International Playwriting Prize.
THE PAPER MAN (Improbable) Presented by Tobacco Factory Theatres, Soho Theatre.
OCEAN CONFESSIONS (Sura Medura, Sri Lanka) site-specific augmented audio piece, created by Sleepdogs.
DARK LAND LIGHT HOUSE (Bristol Old Vic) written by Tim X Atack. Produced by MAYK. In 2021, awarded a Trailblazer grant to enable concept development for adapting the show for VR
CHECK THE LABEL (Bristol Old Vic) written and performed by Eno Mfon.
THE BULLET AND THE BASS TROMBONE (Bristol Old Vic and national touring) written and performed by Tim X Atack. Produced by MAYK. UK tour including: National Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Butterworth Hall, Manchester Royal Exchange, Brighton Festival.
WRITING/DRAMATURGY includes:
SALTSEA CHRONICLES (character creation & worldbuilding collaborator) story-led computer game for Die Gute Fabrik
YOU HEARD ME (dramaturg) performance by Luca Rutherford.
CANTATA and ELIA & SADIQ (writer/director). Short films in development with Lobu Films
FOREST 404 (dramaturg), radio drama podcast. Written by Timothy X Atack, for BBC Sounds
ICE ROAD and THE STICK HOUSE (dramaturg), site-specific/immersive theatre for Raucous
SAM HALMARACK & THE MISERABLITES (dramaturg)created by Sam Halmarack. Produced by Bristol Old Vic Ferment. Toured UK & internationally.
COMPOSING/SCORING includes:
OCEAN CONFESSIONS site-specific, augmented audio piece, Sura Medura, Sri Lanka.
LNK_A short album of electro-pop made entirely from field recordings of Sri Lanka. Created by Sleepdogs and available to buy on bandcamp.
RESIDUE Short film. Directed by Sookie Greene. Commissioned by Channel 4 Random Acts.
I spent a couple of years trying my hand at sound design for theatre, and though it’s not something I offer any longer, I’m proud that my work included: SALT. by Selina Thompson, directed by Dawn Walton; STATUS by Chris Thorpe & Rachel Chavkin; THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL by Inua Ellams, directed by Nancy Medina.
Fellowships/Awards include:
– Twice shortlisted for the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director’s Award (2021 and 2023)
– Industry Fellowship: Expanded Performance (2020-21) researching how XR technologies can deepen people’s experience of live performance. Awarded by Bristol & Bath Creative R&D
– Leverhulme Arts Scholarship (2017) attached to Bristol Old Vic
I have given talks, guest lectures, workshops and masterclasses for events and organisations including: Storyfutures Academy ‘Training the Trainers” programme, Hello Culture/BBC Digital Cities, JMK Regional Directors Programme, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Seoul Performing Arts Market (with the British Council) and Breaking theatre is more fun than making theatre for Watershed Pervasive Media Studio. My essays have been published in D.I.Y (Ed. Robert Daniels, University of Chichester, UK, 2014), An Audience (R)evolution (Ed. Caridad Svich, Theater Communications Group, USA, 2016), Towards A Future Theatre (Ed. Caridad Svich, 2022) and on theatrebristol.net
And back in the mists of time, I was co-Director of Theatre Bristol; Associate Producer at In Between Time; Live Art and Dance co-ordinator at Arnolfini; and served on the boards of Uninvited Guests, the Mike Atack Trust, and New Work Network. Also sold books at Waterstones (back when they still mostly sold books) and vinyl (plus also duvets, for some reason) at Replay Records (gone, but always in my heart).
Some words by other people about things I did:
“Tanuja Amarasuriyaʼs production brings out the playʼs warmth and humour,
[…] a sense of tenderness permeates the whole piece.”
– The Stage on OUT OF SORTS
“This layered, nuanced piece of writing is worthy of the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. Itʼs brought to life through Amarasuriyaʼs vision, who maintains a breakneck pace typical of the familiar and familial environment – conversations interrupted, things unsaid because of shared understandings, rivalries and quarrels all too recognisable in the parent- daughter, sibling or squabbling best friend dynamic… Out Of Sorts is an ensemble effort of thought-provoking, emotionally wrenching theatre.”
– Miro Magazine on OUT OF SORTS
“What an incredible piece. So vulnerable and exposing and confronting and hilarious and brave.
It’s not what you think it will be all. Thank you SO MUCH for this important work.”
– @LouLouMason on THE PAPER MAN
“a phenomenal, ever-present score from Sleepdogs, that buzzes and jangles constantly,
refusing to allow us to become too settled or comfortable.”
– Time Out on salt.
“It’s theatre at its most demanding, its most uncomfortable, its most evocative, its most primal, its most human, its most complex, and its most brilliant.”
– 365bristol.com on DARK LAND LIGHT HOUSE
“Utterly transported by The Bullet & The Bass Trombone: haunting, spellbinding & exhilarating.”
– @jonathanwakeham on THE BULLET AND THE BASS TROMBONE
“This isn’t a show you see. This is a show you breathe, you hear, you feel in your arteries.
It’s almost impossible to describe.”
– Emma Geraghty on THE BULLET AND THE BASS TROMBONE
“What starts out as ludicrous standup in feathers and claw feet carries with it a startling emotional trajectory, moving from savage humour to a haunting final scene.”
– the Guardian, on BUZZARD.