Starting her career acting and directing in theatre, Penny has gone on to direct hundreds of hours of television drama, becoming known for bringing out powerful performances from her actors and her strong visual style. With over 30 years of directorial experience, Penny has a great rapport with actors and understanding of the creative process, thinking in performance as well as in pictures. A favoured director on multiple returning productions, Penny has been the rock at the centre of a plethora of standout episodes of television. As such, Penny has been able to establish herself as a truly adaptable director across a range of one-hour and half-hour drama.
A passionate multilinguist, Penny has a good ear for languages and regional dialects, being fluent in French and Welsh, and has previously directed for shows in Scots Gaelic and Swahili. From the villages of Kenya to the Outer Hebrides, Penny has a proven record of adapting to a variety of environments and crews.
Penny is also keen to support and provide opportunities to new and up-and-coming talent in the industry by participating in mentoring schemes, occasional stints as a lecturer teaching directing at postgraduate level and has previously spent two years on Kenyan soap Makutano Junction directing, teaching and supporting local directors and production crews.
Penny is currently a returning director for Coronation Street, EastEnders, Pobol Y Cwm and Fair City having previously directed on shows such as Hollyoaks, The Bill, Family Affairs, Grange Hill and Welsh prison drama Tu Fewn Tu Fas.
| Short Film: | |
|---|---|
| I, Dido | Director (2021) The Boden International Film Winner: Best First Time Short Film, Best Director (Short Film)“I, Dido recounts the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the mixed-race daughter of a British Navy Captain and an enslaved woman. Born in the 18th century, Dido was raised in the home of her great uncle, Lord Mansfield, who as the Lord Chief Justice was being asked to rule on issues pertaining to the slave trade. The film explores the extent to which a professional persona can be challenged by family life and the unwitting influence we have on those around us.” I, Dido has won 21 awards at international film festivals including Best Female Director (London Indie Short Festival, 2021), Best Historical Film (Toronto International Women Film Festival, 2021), Best First Time Short Filmmaker (Berlin International Art Film Festival) and Best First Time Filmmaker (European Cinematography Awards, 2021). |
| Television (broadcast): | |
|---|---|
| Emmerdale | ITV Studios / ITV1 Director of a block on the ITV drama 3 x 30’ episodes |
| Coronation Street | ITV Studios / ITV1 Director on the ITV continuing drama series Approx 60 x 30’ episodes |
| Fair City | RTÉ / RTÉ One Director on the RTÉ continuing drama series Approx. 150 x 25’ episodes |
| Pobol Y Cwm | BBC Studios / S4C Director on the Welsh language continuing drama series |
| Eastenders | BBC Studios / BBC One Director on the BBC One continuing drama series Approx 50 x 30’ episodes |
| Hollyoaks | Lime Pictures / Channel 4 Director on the popular Channel 4 drama Approx. 100 x 30’ episodes |
| Makutano Junction | Mediae Director on Mediae’s issue led drama 18 x 30’ episodes |
| Family Affairs | Talkback Thames / ITV Director on the ITV daily soap, directing many of the show’s most important episodes Approx. 125 x 30’ episodes |
| The Bill | Talkback Thames / ITV Director on continuing crime drama 4 x 60’ episodes |
| Grange Hill | BBC / CBBC Director on CBBC’s school drama 4 x 30’ episodes |
| Machair | STV Director on Scots Gaelic drama 22 x 30’ episodes |
| Glan Hafran | S4C Director on the Welsh language medical drama series 30 x 30’ episodes |
| Bristol Old Vic Plays | Penderyn / HTV |
| The Sherman Plays | Penderyn / HTV |
| Dr Elen | S4C Director on the Welsh language drama series 3 x 50’ episodes |
| Tu Fewn Tu Fas | Pontcanna / S4C Director on the Welsh language prison drama series 3 x 60’ episodes |
| Dinas | HTV Wales Directing on the Welsh language drama 40 x 30’ episodes |