Isley Lynn

Isley is an American-born, London-based playwright and poet. Her play ALBATROSS was a commission by Paines Plough and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and transferred to the Gate Theatre in London. The UK tour of her hit play SKIN A CAT visited the Pulse Festival, Wolverhampton Arena, Offbeat Festival, Brainchild Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Previously SKIN A CAT played at the Bunker, where it was nominated for four Off West End Awards, including Best New Play. It was originally performed as part of the Vault Festival in London and was awarded “Pick of the Year” by the festival. It has since been picked up by Playground Entertainment and Isley is adapting it herself for TV. Another play, REVOLUTIONS, is currently in development with support from Old Vic New Voices, the Michael Grandage Company, and the Arcola Lab. Her European debut SIE UND WIR (“US & THEM”) was performed in German at Werk X, Vienna. Her play TOTTY, written for Paines Plough and Tamasha’s COME TO WHERE I’M FROM: LONDON, is available for free through the CTWIF app. Her play BRIGHT NIGHTS was the 2014 Script6 winner at the Space. Her short play SLEIGHT OF HAND for BAREtruth Theatre’s LITTLE STICHES was performed at Theatre503, Arcola Theatre, and Gate Theatre. She has also written two short films, “Taketh” and “Struck,” the latter of which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. Isley is a graduate of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme and Royal Court Invitation Studio Group and was a Creative Associate of the Soho Theatre Young Company from 2011–2012. Her work has been supported by writing programs at the National Theatre Studio and Cottesloe Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, the Tricycle, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Ovalhouse, the Peggy Ramsey Foundation, and the Orange Tree Theatre. Isley’s monologue WHAT’S SO SPECIAL was performed as part of THE GET OUT at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs. Isley received Special Commendation from the 2012 Soho Young Writers Award and won first place for two Editor’s Briefs (IdeasTap) with the poems “Sweetbread” and “The Body but Hides the Heart.” Her critically acclaimed debut play LEAN enjoyed an extended run at the Tristan Bates Theatre and was performed by Theatre N16. She was named Champion of Literary Death Match at Norfolk and Norwich Festival.