Bryony Shanahan is a freelance theatre director. Between 2019-2023 she was Joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Her directing credits for the Royal Exchange include Bloody Elle, No Pay? No Way! Beginning, Let The Right One In, Nora: A Doll's House, Wuthering Heights, Queens of the Coal Age, Weald, and Nothing. Bloody Elle transferred to the Traverse Theatre, Soho Theatre and the West End (Lyric Theatre).

Other directing credits: Trade (Young Vic), Enough (Traverse Theatre), Chicken Soup (Sheffield Theatres), Operation Crucible (59E59 NYC, Sheffield Crucible, UK Tour), and Bitch Boxer (UK Tour).

Reviews for No Pay? No Way!

“A masterclass in carefully controlled chaos… immaculate comic timing… [but] you could almost hear a pin drop at its conclusion” The Stage (5 stars)

Reviews for Operation Crucible, Brits Off Broadway

‘Operation Crucible is a show that must be seen. This New York Times Critics Pick deserves its many accolades. The play is an unforgettable and affecting theatre experience’ Broadway World

‘Powerfully directed with a machine tooled precision…by Bryony Shanahan’ New York Times

Reviews for Let the Right One In, Royal Exchange

'Beautifully crafted stage magic' The Stage (4 stars)

'Bryony Shanahan's mesmerising revival' Daily Mail (4 stars)

'[Shanahan’s production] eschews easy shocks in favour of something much more moving' The Guardian (4 stars)

Reviews for Beginning, Royal Exchange

'Bryony Shanahan's artfully rendered revival' - The Stage - 4 stars

Reviews for Bloody Elle, Royal Exchange

'Blisteringly magnificent' Reviews Hub - 5 stars

'Gig Theatre at it's best' - British Theatre Guide