SUSANNAH TRESILIAN 

INTERVIEW WITH SUSANNAH TRESILIAN

As the founder of the network, it was in speaking to Susannah that we got to the heart of the purpose and principles of Ariadne, and how this group of ‘incredible’ women came to be collected together inside their ‘skein of red thread’ as an artistic force. Susannah has been a professional theatre director for the past twenty years, combining national and international touring with developing new work and advising on the future direction of the UK’s cultural and creative industries. Susannah has combined her theatre career with award-winning journalism and radio production, experience and reach which helped her to develop and nurture Ariadne.

Though Susannah talks very emphatically and earnestly about the formation and continuation of Ariadne, the conversation was dotted with her characteristic self-deprecating asides and astute witty observations. We see here that she is simultaneously able to hold the vision and values of the nascent organisation, alongside the creativity and playfulness that has sustained her professional theatre career. Susannah is humble to her achievements in setting up the network, but here dares to imagine the potential for the legacy of this project to inspire other female theatre-makers in the future.