Yaël Farber is a multiple award-winning director and playwright of international acclaim - invited to direct in theatres across the world. Her productions have toured extensively internationally - earning her a reputation for hard-hitting, controversial works of the highest artistic standard.

Yaël's most recent production KING LEAR starred Danny Sapani at the Almieda Theatre.

Her productions includes; MY BRILLIANT FRIEND at the National Theatre of Iceland, and her acclaimed production of MACBETH at the Almeida, starring Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle. In 2018, she directed HAMLET, featuring Oscar nominee Ruth Negga, at St Anne’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, NYC. First created and presented at Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ireland – HAMLET has received critical acclaim and a rave review in the New York Times. Late last year, Farber directed Lorca’s BLOOD WEDDING for the Young Vic in London, adapted by Marina Carr. Prior to that, Athol Fugard’s BOESMAN & LENA (NYT Critic’s Pick) at Signature Theater in NYC; and David Harrower’s KNIVES IN HENS at Donmar Warehouse in London. She directed Loraine Hansberry’s unfinished final work LES BLANCS for the National Theatre in London to powerful acclaim. Her recent production of SALOMÉ (written and directed by Farber) for Washington’s Shakespeare Theater Company was nominated for 10 Helen Hayes Awards – and won 7, including Best Director and Best Play 2015. The production transferred to the National theatre in London. Farber’s production of Arthur Miller’s THE CRUCIBLE for The Old Vic at London’s West End, garnered ten 5-star reviews from the UK’s top national press publications, and a rave review from The New York Times. The production is one of the most successful in The Old Vic’s illustrious history. NIRBHAYA (directed and written by Farber in India 2013) earned exceptional reviews and three international awards at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival. MIES JULIE (written and directed by Farber) won a string of international awards at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival, was named one of the Top Ten Productions of 2012 by The New York Times, and Top 5Productions of 2012 by The Guardian. This production has toured to multiple countries. NIRBHAYA, MIES JULIE and several other works written and directed by Ms. Farber continue currently on prestigious international touring circuits.

A selection of Ms. Farber’s awards and significant nominations include: An Olivier Best Revival 2015; an Evening Standard Best Director Nomination 2015; Broadway World Best Director (2014); Asian Media Award (2014); The Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award (2013); Best of Edinburgh Award (2012); Scotsman Fringe First Awards (2000, 2012, 2013); Herald Angel Awards (2003, 2012, 2013); South Africa’s Fleur du Cap (2012), Vita (1991) and Naledi Awards (2002, 2008, 2013); Boston’s Elliot Norton Award (2013); Canada’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (2014) and a BBC Sony Award (2001). She was named Artist of the Year in her native South Africa (2003).

Her productions have toured across the major cities of the USA, the UK, Africa, Canada, Australia, Japan, Europe, India, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Hong Kong. She has been an invitee at the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab (NYC), a guest artist at Mabou Mines Theatre Company (NYC), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), The Public Theater (NYC) and the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab (Utah). She served as Head of the Directing Program at the National Theatre School of Canada between 2009 and 2012.

Ms. Farber was named amongst the top 100 South Africans by City Press in 2013. Her plays are published by OBERON BOOKS (London, UK).