Annabel Arden


Annabel Arden is a British actress, theatre and opera director, and one of the co-founders of Théâtre de Complicite.

Early life and education

Arden was born in London in 1959 and studied English from 1978 to 1981 at Newnham College, Cambridge.

Career

Théâtre de Complicité

After university, she trained at Jacques Lecoq's theatre school in Paris with Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier. She then toured internationally with Neil Bartlett. In 1983
Arden founded Théâtre de Complicité with Simon McBurney and Marcello Magni.

Opera

For Opera North, Arden has directed The Magic Flute, The Return of Ulysses, La Traviata and The Cunning Little Vixen. In addition, for the English National Opera, she has directed The Rake’s Progress. At Glyndebourne Festival Opera, she has directed Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Rachmaninov’s The Miserly Knight, Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore.and Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

Theatre

As well as acting and directing for Théâtre de Complicité, Arden has also worked with plays at the National Theatre, the Arcola, the Royal Court as well as for BBC Radio.

Personal life

Arden was married to playwright Stephen Jeffreys, until his death on 17 September 2018.
Awards