Irina Brook is an British-French theatre and opera director known for her work in both classical and contemporary productions, and a former actress.
Personal life Born in Paris to director Peter Brook and actress Natasha Parry, she was educated between England and France before moving to New York to study acting with Stella Adler, making her stage debut in Off-Broadway productions.
Acting Brook worked for several years as an actor appearing in films such as Captive (1986).
Directing career Brook’s recognition as a theatre director came in London in 1996 with ‘Beast on the Moon’ at the Battersea Arts Centre. She directed productions of ‘Mrs Klein’ at the Palace Theatre and ‘All’s Well that Ends Well’ at the Oxford Playhouse before establishing herself in Paris with her French adaptation of ‘Beast on the Moon’, which won five Molière Awards, including Best Director and Best Play.
Her opera career began directing Mozart’s ‘Die Zauberflöte’ for the Nederlandse Reisopera. She has since directed a range of operatic works at major opera houses around the world, including Tchaikovsky’s ‘Yevgeny Onegin’, Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola’ and Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’. Her work at Teatro La Scala in Milan includes ‘Die Sieben Todsünden’, ‘La Rodine’ and ‘Il Matrimonio Segreto’.
In 2003 she formed Irina’s Dream Theatre Company, through which she toured globally with productions of Brecht’s ‘Der Gute Mensch von Sezuan’, Marivaux’s ‘L’Île des Esclaves’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ internationally. Her work at major festivals includes the Salzburg Festival, Barbican Centre, Spoleto Festival, and her production The Island Trilogy, which toured internationally.
From 2014-2021, she was the first female Director of the Théâtre National de Nice, where she produced, curated and directed the theatre’s programme.
Her work in theatre and opera has been recognised with several awards, including the ‘Chevalier and Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’, the ‘Molière Award’ for Best Director & Best Play and in 2023 the ‘Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’.
Theatre +Beast on the Moon1996BAC, LondonMrs Klein1997The Palace, WatfordAll’s Well that Ends Well1997Playhouse, OxfordUne Bête sur la Lune (Beast on the Moon)1998Théâtre de l'Oeuvre, ParisResonance2000Theâtre de l'Atelier, ParisDer Gute Mensch von Sezuan2004Theatre National de Challiot, ParisDer Gute Mensch von Sezuan2005International TourThe Canterville Ghosts2008Shakespeare & Company, MasscheutasA Midsummer Night’s Dream2008Dedans-Dehors, Brittany & International TourSomewhere...la Mancha2008Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Festival & International TourThe Tempest2012Salzberg FestivalPeer Gynt2012Salzberg FestivalThe Island Trilogy (La Trilogie des Îles)2013Spoleto FestivalThe Island Trilogy (La Trilogie des Îles)2013International TourThe Odyssey2014Theatre National, NicePeer Gynt2014Barbican Theatre, LondonArtistic Director 2014 - 2021Theatre National, NiceArtist-in-Residence2021Teatro Stabile del Veneto, VeniceArtist-in-Residence2023Château d’Hardelot’s Elizabethan Globe Theatre
Opera +Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)1999 & 2001Nederlandse ReisoperaYevgeny Onegin2002Festival d’Aix-en-ProvenceLa Cenerentola2003Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, ParisYevgeny Onegin2004International TourLa Traviata2004Opéra de LilleLa Cenerentola2004Teatro Comunale di BolognaGiulio Cesare2006Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, ParisLa Traviata2007Teatro Comunale di BolognaDon Pasquale2017Vienna State OperaL’elisir d’amore2017Deutsche Opera, BerlinA Midsummer Night’s Dream2019Vienna State OperaMahagonny-Songspiel2021La Scala, MilanDie Sieben Todsünden2021La Scala, MilanIl Matrimonio Segreto2022La Scala, MilanLa Rondine2024La Scala, MilanCarmen2025Nikikai Opera, TokyoBrecht/Weill Triple Bill2025La Scala, Milan
Awards +Best Director1998Molière AwardBest Play1998Molière AwardNew Talent1999Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs DramatiquesMolière de la révélation théâtrale féminine2000Molière AwardPrix Mitrani2002International Festival of Audiovisual Programs (FIPA)Chevalier and Officier2002Ordre des Arts et des LettresCommandeur de l’Ordre2017Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
References
External links