Roz Riley

Roz Riley began her academic life with an honours (1) degree in Mathematics and Physics, then a Masters degree in Pure Mathematics and a PhD (Sydney University 1986 ) in the mathematics of Computer Science. After working and lecturing in those fields for some years, she returned to her early love of theatre and text in performance, and having obtained an Honours (1) Masters degree in Performance Studies (NSW 1988) decided to create a new theatre company, Dr Riley became the founding Artistic Director of the Factory Space Theatre Company in 2001. The name was chosen to commemorate the first performance space was a factory on the Northern Beaches.

Since its inception the theatre company has performed in many spaces around the city including the SBW Stables, the Hub, the Tap Gallery and has finally found a permanent home as the resident professional company at the Star of the Sea Theatre in Manly. The Company has won three international annual awards from the ICWP (International Conference on Women’s Playwriting).

Dr Riley has also directed productions for festivals around the world including the Adelaide festival, the Edinburgh festival and the Shakespeare festival at Stratford-upon-Avon in England. As a result of those productions she was invited to direct for the Arts Theatre in the West End of London.