Declan Donnellan is an internationally acclaimed theatre director, co-founder and joint Artistic Director of Cheek by Jowl, and author of The Actor and the Target and The Actor and the Space. Born of Irish parents, Donnellan grew up in London and formed Cheek by Jowl with his partner Nick Ormerod in 1981. A focus on the actor's art has always been central to the company's work. Cheek by Jowl now performs in several languages with companies of actors in Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria. Donnellan's work has been seen across the Globe including his iconic As You Like It, Ubu Roi and Boris Godunov. As Associate Director of the National Theatre, his productions included Fuenteovejuna, Sweeney Todd and the British premiere of both parts of Angels in America. He has been invited to teach and give workshops in many countries, and has received awards in Moscow, Paris, London and New York. He is a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and was a 2016 recipient of the Golden Lion of Venice.