Lauren Jackson

Lauren trained at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland in German and Film, TV & Media Studies. She works as a playwright, director, filmmaker, actor and drama tutor.

Lauren has directed various stage productions for the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, Smackbang Theatre Company, ATC and Four Afloat Productions. She began her career playing the lead in the NZ feature film Alex. Following her graduation from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2001, Lauren has enjoyed a variety of stage, screen and radio work. 

In 2005 Lauren won the Chapman Tripp Most Outstanding New Playwright of the Year Award for her play Exchange, which premiered at BATS in the Young & Hungry season. Exchange was published by Playmarket and produced by Radio New Zealand. In 2010 Lauren directed Exchange for ATC’s Young & Hungry festival. In 2009 Lauren wrote Polly Hood in Mumuland – a Pacific adaptation of Red Riding Hood – which premiered as part of Pasifika 09. Polly Hood in Mumuland has also been produced by ATC in association with the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts for its successful 2011 season.

Lauren attended film school in Germany in 1998 and in 2004 represented New Zealand at the 40th International Young Theatre Practitioners Forum in Berlin. Lauren has had her writing on the German and New Zealand film industries published here and in Germany.