Ellie CootE

Ellie is an award-winning director, writer and dramaturg specialising in new musical theatre. Ellie is an award-winning director, writer and dramaturg specialising in new musical theatre. Most recently, her new musical Hot Mess (book writer & director) transferred to Southwark Playhouse following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received multiple awards including a Fringe First, the Popcorn Award, and Musical Theatre Review’s Best New Musical. She and co-writer Jack Godfrey were also recognised among The Stage Five.

In 2024, Ellie was nominated for Best Director at The Stage Debut Awards for her work on 42 Balloons (Quays Theatre, The Lowry), and subsequently directed its North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Spring 2025.

Further directing credits include: The Way Way Deep (Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe / Fringe World); Mario: A Super Musical (The Cockpit / Union Theatre); Train On Fire (MT Fest); Bluff (a radio musical); and as co-director, Catch Me (CSSD) and The Limit (CSSD).

Ellie is also the co-founder of Chalk Musical Theatre Dramaturgy and has collaborated with musical theatre artists across the UK, US, Canada and Australia to develop new musicals.