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Eleanor Taylor
Freelance
Writer, Director
Eleanor is a writer and director. In 2023, she won the BAFTA Rocliffe for Children, Family and YA Media with her short film ‘The Silent Songbird: A Musical’ and has since written for Zodiak Kids and Family TV, and Sky Family. She is currently writing / directing a new animated short (‘The Lightmill’) for release in 2026. She also received the 2023 LOOP audio commission (supported by Freeturn Productions / Screen Yorkshire) and is currently developing a new audio drama series.
Eleanor also writes and directs for theatre. Having graduated from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2013, Eleanor has staged new work for families and younger audiences nationally and internationally, including work for the New Vic Theatre, Gala Durham, Vienna English Theatre and the Meervaart Theatre (Amsterdam). She was the associate director on UK Tour / West End transfer of ‘The Worst Witch’ (Olivier Award for Best Family Show) and, having been the resident assistant director at the New Vic Theatre from 2017-18, she then supported the 2019 US / UK tour of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (New Vic Theatre / Kenny Wax Family Entertainment) . She was a member of the inaugural Headlong Origins Directors program and, in 2023, directed the Headlong Theatre Company / New Vic Theatre production of ‘A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction’ by Miranda Rose Hall, as part of wider exploration into creating a more sustainable, touring theatre practice.
Eleanor Taylor's Sessions
Let's Hear It for the Boys!
Takeaways Young viewers look at TV as ‘acting’, a medium for actors and performers but see platforms like YouTube as real life. As a result, young viewers see social media as the ‘most authentic’ media space. Young viewers would like to see more friendship/kinship on screen. Creators need to be…
Creative Keynote - Please Look After This Bear
Takeaways: Paddington’s core values of kindness, curiosity, optimism are still needed in the world today. Ensuring the Paddington brand remains consistent and committed to these values is one reason why the character has endured. But it is the bear in Michael Bond’s imagination which has truly prevailed: a vivid character…
Commissioner Conversations - BBC, RTÉ, S4C
Takeaways Do your research! Ensure your pitch is not too similar to existing content. Audience first; make sure you understand your audience. Be transparent about the use of any AI in your pitch. Each individual broadcaster shared their work and shed light on their broadcasters commissioning process. First to the…
Come Together – Co-production Know How for a New Era
Takeaways Clarify your editorial and creative expectations from the start. Consider having your co-production strategy locked in at co-development stage. Co-production is a fast moving environment which keeps changing, so forward thinking is key. Host Alix Wiseman introduced the session by acknowledging that co-production is a huge part of the…
