CORA BISSETT
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Cora Bissett

Cora Bissett is a director, writer, actor and singer/songwriter. After graduating from the RCS in 1997 Cora worked as an actor for 14 years before launching her Production Company and flagship Production ROADKILL.

Cora is passionate about creating innovative cross-form work rooted in collaboration, and frequently seeks out ‘real life’ stories which feel urgent and untold. Her work has toured the UK and internationally. Amongst numerous awards for her work, she gained an Olivier for the acclaimed production ROADKILL in 2012 for 'Outstanding Production in an Affiliate Theatre’.

She has been  an Associate Director with the National Theatre of Scotland, since 2014 where her work  includes ADAM, a real life story centring on a young Egyptian trans man who settled in Glasgow was conceived and directed by Cora, written by Frances Poet. It opened at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival 2017 before going to the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow. In May 2018 it played Brighton Festival and in Autumn this year comes to the Battersea Arts Centre.  RITES, a verbatim production about FGM, which was co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and Contact Manchester and which toured across the UK in 201.

​Recent other work includes the remount of her  popular Political Musical GLASGOW GIRLS, which she co-created with David Greig as well as directed, in 2017 and which will play the Kings Edinburgh and Kings Glasgow in Jan 2019; She directed the Scottish premiere of  JUMPY at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh in Autumn 2016. She was co-lyricist and co-composer on Emma Donoghue’s new musical adaptation of her novel ROOM, which Cora also directed for its May 2017 opening at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Cora’s first play WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF opens at the Traverse during the Edinburgh Festival 2018 in which she will play the lead role supported by a live band of actor-musicians and will be directed by the Traverse Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin.
Awards

Director
  • Event of the year, Scots Trad Music Awards, GRIT: The Martyn Bennett Story, 2014
  • Creative Scotland, Theatre Award, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, 2012
  • Olivier Award, Best Production in an Affiliate Theatre, Roadkill, 2012
  • Fringe First, Roadkill, 2010
  • Amnesty Award for Freedom of Expression, Roadkill, 2010
  • Herald Angel, Roadkill, 2010
  • Total Theatre Award for Innovation, Roadkill, 2010
  • Edinburgh International Festival Award, Roadkill, 2010
  • Holden St Theatre Award (Australia), Roadkill, 2010
  • Stage Award for Best Actress – Mercy Ojelade, Roadkill, 2010
  • Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland, Best Production, Roadkill, 2010
  • Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland, Best Actress – Mercy Ojelade, Roadkill, 2010
  • Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland, for Best Use of Music in Theatre nominee, Amada, 2007

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​“faultless as Chris Guthrie. She beautifully managed the transition from bright-eyed girl to determined woman.”
(Sunset Song,The Scotsman)


“If there is one persuasive reason to see this show it is Cora Bissett”
(Sunset Song, The Herald)


“Bissett in particular lends the whole an unexpected depth”
(Misery Guts, The Independent)


“Bissett invests Stella with an infectious energy … a standout, coming close to stealing the show by adding subtle, emotionally
​complex touches”
​(A Streetcar Named Desire, The List)

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All Content copyright© 2018 Cora Bissett. All rights reserved.
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