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About
BIO
Her work explores the family, relationships and sexuality, illness and disability, and how technology is changing our inner lives. She is interested in how we come to know each other, and believes that people are always more complicated than we expect.
Work for screen includes Better (BFI Network at the London Film Festival, Nowness and Vimeo Staff Pick), Our Fathers (Scottish Documentary Institute, Glasgow Film Festival and BBC Scotland) and ill, actually (BBC4). Her plays include Cecilia, shortlisted for the Yale Drama prize (King’s Head Theatre), 1.17am, or until the words run out longlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award, and the three times OffWestEnd Award nominated Gap in the Light (Engineer Theatre at the New Diorama Theatre).
Zoe began her directing career in documentaries at the BBC, and her writing career in theatre. Her process often incorporates documentary techniques, and she enjoys working in collaboration with artists or contributors with experience of the themes of her work.
Zoe is a BAFTA Connect writer/director, an associate member of Directors UK and also lectures part time at LSBU on the BA Filmmaking. She also holds a first-class degree in Physics & Philosophy (BSc), and sees analytical parallels between philosophy, maths and dramatic structure.
Her latest play 1.17am, or until the words run out recieves its world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in February 2026, after a sold-out preview run at Theatre503 in July 2025. Her latest short film, Rexy is on the festival circuit. She is developing long form projects across film, theatre and television.
The BFI / BFI Network / BBC Arts / BBC Scotland / The Scottish Documentary Institute / Creative Scotland / Arts Council England / Independent Cinema Office / Theatre 503 / Finborough Theatre / Arcola Theatre / Kings Head Theatre / New Diorama Theatre.
ALUMNUS OF
Soho Theatre Writers / Finborough Writers Group / Bristol Old Vic New Voices / North Wall Theatrecraft / Lyric Hammersmith New Voices /Camden Roundhouse New Voices
AWARDS
AS FILMMAKER / WRITER & DIRECTOR
SHORTLISTED
SHORTLISTED
WON
WON
SHORTLISTED
NOMINATED
Primetime Empowerment Fund: REXY
Shiny Award: Solace Women’s Aid Campaign
Miles Ketley Bursary, ICO
Best First Film, Together Film Festival
Best Director, Women X Film Festival
Phyllis Crocker Award, Ealing Film Festival
2024
2024
2023
2020
2020
2019
AS WRITER
LONGLISTED
LONGLISTED
LONGLISTED
NOMINATED
SHORTLISTED
Theatre 503 Playwriting: 1:17AM
BBC Writersroom Drama Entries: 1:17am
Theatre 503 Playwriting: Laird
3 Off West End Awards - Gap in the Light
Yale Drama Prize: Cecilia
2019
2019
2018
2017
2016
SELECTED PRESS
★★★★
Everything Theatre, on Zoe’s play 1:17am at Theatre 503, 2025
“Fantastic. Beautifully observed.”
Arjun Sajip, film journalist on Zoe’s short film Better at London Film Festival 2023
“a pertinent reminder of the wider need for empathy still missing in contemporary society.”
Directors Notes, on Zoe’s short film ill, actually at Shortest Nights Festival 2019
"Superbly-crafted… part neatly understated domestic drama, part Stanley Kubrick psychological thriller."
★★★★ The Stage, on Zoe’s play with Engineer Theatre, Gap In The Light at the New Diorama 2017
"extremely well written... the writing really is first class"
★★★★ London Theatre One, on Zoe’s play Cecilia at the Kings Head Theatre 2015