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Danyah Miller

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Danyah Miller is an English writer and theatre producer.

Biography

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Danyah Miller trained in drama, dance and English at Bretton Hall College from 1983 to 1986 and L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq from 2002 to 2003. Her first job was as a front of house usher at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.[1]

Miller was the first female front of house manager for Stoll Moss Theatres in 1986, Marketing Manager at the Soho Poly Theatre, General Manager at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and Chief Executive of the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.[2] She was included in Debrett's People of Today from 1989 for her contribution to British society.[3]

Miller founded theatre production company Wizard Presents in 1999 with her husband John Miller.[4] They produced musicals including All You Need is Love featuring over 50 Lennon & McCartney songs,[5] and Soul Sister, which opened at the Hackney Empire for a limited run before transferring to the Savoy Theatre in August 2012.[6] The musical was nominated for 2013 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.[7] The production also toured the UK in 2013.[8]

The musical production of Pippi Longstocking played a limited season at Royal and Derngate Northampton in December 2019[9][10]

Storytelling

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Miller was a regular storyteller on BBC Three Counties Radio for three years and a course leader at The School of Storytelling in East Sussex.[11] Her storytelling tips were published by The Guardian in 2014.[12]

In 2013 Miller adapted and performed I Believe in Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo for the stage with director Dani Parr, produced by Wizard Presents. The production debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Pleasance Courtyard in 2013.[13] It toured the UK and transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End for limited runs in 2014[14][15] and 2015.[16][17] In 2023 the production played the Lyric Theatre for a gala performance in aid of The Reading Agency[18] and the Apollo Theatre for a limited run.[19] Reviews for the show were positive. Victoria Segal in her review for The Sunday Times wrote "keeping small children in their seats takes magic and wonder, qualities that 'I Believe in Unicorns' has in abundance."[20] Neil Norman for The Daily Express commented that "Miller delivers a one-woman show that is pure storytelling, pure theatre and pure magic."[21] I Believe in Unicorns won the Argus Angel Award for Artistic excellence at the Brighton Festival 2014[22] and the Audience Choice Award for Best Family Welcome at the Get Creative Family Arts Festival 2015 awards.[23]

Miller also adapted and performed Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo, which toured the UK and played a limited season at Ovalhouse in London in 2016.[24][25] She wrote and performed Perfectly Imperfect Women which opened at Ovalhouse[26] and ran at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pleasance Courtyard 2017.[27]

Kika's Birthday by John and Danyah Miller opened at Orange Tree Theatre in December 2017.[28] The production transferred to Little Angel Theatre[29] and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pleasance Courtyard in 2018.[30]

Miller adapted and narrated an audio version of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett as part of The Secret Garden Experience in 2021[31] produced by Wizard Presents with Watford Palace Theatre and Oxford Playhouse.[32]

Writing

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Miller's first book Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling was published by Hawthorn Press in November 2023.[33][34] Her stage script of Michael Morpurgo's I Believe in Unicorns, co-adapted with Dani Parr, was published by Oberon Books in 2015.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Danyah Miller: storyteller". The Stage. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  2. ^ admin (2020-08-24). "People Profile - Danyah Miller - Storyteller & Writer". Cranleigh Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. ^ "Debretts's People of Today 1989". Debrett's. 1989. ISBN 1-870520-02-5.
  4. ^ "Wizard Presents - on Spotlight". app.spotlight.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  5. ^ "London Theatre Guide Theatre Current Reviews / All You Need is Love 2001". London Theatre. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  6. ^ "Tina Turner musical Soul Sister transfers to West End, 20 Aug". 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. ^ "Olivier Winners 2013". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  8. ^ "Tina Turner musical Soul Sister announces 2013 tour dates". 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  9. ^ "Pippi Longstocking in Northampton Tickets". 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  10. ^ Billington, Michael (2019-12-19). "Pippi Longstocking review – Lindgren's rule-breaker is a delight". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  11. ^ "Interview with Danyah Miller". Voice Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  12. ^ Miller, Danyah (2014-10-06). "Danyah Miller's top ten tips for stunning storytelling". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  13. ^ "Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Michael Morpurgo's I Believe in Unicorns". The Edinburgh Reporter. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  14. ^ "Michael Morpurgo's I Believe in Unicorns transfers to West End". 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  15. ^ Gillinson, Miriam (2014-08-21). "I Believe in Unicorns review – Michael Morpurgo's book comes alive". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  16. ^ "I Believe In Unicorns | Closed: 30 August 2015". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  17. ^ "I Believe in Unicorns". Time Out London. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  18. ^ "I Believe in Unicorns by Micheal Morpurgo | Gala Performance | Reading Agency". readingagency.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  19. ^ Staff Writer (2023-05-10). "Danyah Miller Announces Summer Season & Gala Performance of Michael Morpurgo's I Believe In Unicorns". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  20. ^ Segal, Victoria (2023-12-13). "Horrible Histories and six other shows to keep the kids happy". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  21. ^ Norman, Neil (2023-08-10). "'A one-woman show that is pure magic' - I Believe in Unicorns review". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  22. ^ "ARGUS ANGEL WINNER Brighton Festival: I Believe In Unicorns, Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, May 25". The Argus. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  23. ^ "Get Creative Family Arts Festival 2015 Award Winners Announced!". Family Arts. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  24. ^ BWW News Desk. "Ovalhouse's Autumn/Winter Season Closes with Michael Morpurgo's WHY THE WHALES CAME". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  25. ^ Fox, Tal (2016-12-23). "Review: Why the Whales Came, Ovalhouse". A Younger Theatre. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  26. ^ "Perfectly Imperfect Women, Oval House Theatre". View from the Cheap Seat. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  27. ^ "Danyah Miller: Perfectly Imperfect Women | ThreeWeeks Edinburgh". Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  28. ^ Briggs, Paddy (2017-12-23). "Review of Kika's Birthday at the Orange Tree Theatre London". LondonTheatre1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  29. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej (2018-05-09). "'Kika's Birthday' review". Time Out London. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  30. ^ Wiegand, Chris (2018-08-06). "Edinburgh fringe: six of the best shows for children". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  31. ^ "The Secret Garden Experience tickets | Official London Theatre | Closed: 21 May 2022". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  32. ^ London, The Reviews Hub- (2021-05-29). "The Secret Garden Experience – Wizard Presents/ Watford Palace Theatre/ Oxford Playhouse". The Reviews Hub. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  33. ^ "Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling - Danyah Miller - 9781912480869". Hawthorn Press. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  34. ^ "Our Children Need Stories Now More Than Ever". www.primarytimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  35. ^ "I Believe in Unicorns – Oberon Plays for Young People" waterstones.com 23 December 2015
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