Julia Cranney

Julia is an award-winning writer, director and actor born and based in Liverpool.

For stage, her debut play Empty Beds was the winner of the Scottish Daily Mail Award, transferring from Underbelly Edinburgh to the Arcola Theatre as part of their Pick of the Fringe Season. Her second play Moments played in rep with Empty Beds at the Hope Theatre, where she was nominated for the Most Promising New Playwright Offie. Her latest play Attachment is published by Methuen and was produced on the mainstage of the Liverpool Everyman in June 2026 to critical acclaim. She’s also worked with The Wardrobe Ensemble, contributing to their latest show Party Season with the support of the NT Studio’s Generate programme.

A member of BAFTA Connect, her work for screen includes an award-nominated episode of EastEnders (Edinburgh TV Festival’s New Voice Awards: Best Debut Writer), three feature films with Reel One (distributed internationally by Paramount), an animated adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC Teach and the award-winning short film Measure, which Julia co-write and co-directed with Helen Simmons. Measure screened at Academy qualifying festivals internationally, winning the prestigious Méliès Award for Best European Short Film at Molins de Rei.

She has developed projects with Warp Films, Quay Street, Roughcut, Moonriver, The Fold and Lime Pictures and currently has a number of television, film and theatre projects in active development. Alongside her creative work she has over a decade of experience working in education in a variety of settings and she is a volunteer counsellor with Childline and an Independent Visitor with NYAS.