Gillian Hanna studied at Trinity College Dublin from where she graduated with a First Class degree in Modern Languages. She then worked as an actress and translator. In 1975 she was a co-founder of The Monstrous Regiment, the touring feminist company with whom she worked extensively for fifteen years. Her book about the company, MONSTROUS REGIMENT: A COLLECTIVE CELEBRATION is published by Nick Hern Books, and her essay AN AGE OF INNOCENCE was published in Dublin as part of the collection TRINITY TALES – TRINITY COLLEGE IN THE SIXTIES.

Translations include: DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PROSTITUTE AND ONE OF HER CLIENTS by Dacia Maraini and Marivaux’ THE COLONY (both for Monstrous Regiment); AUNT AGGIE’S HOOCH by Philippe Gaulier; A DAY AT MY MOTHER’S by Charlotte de Turckheim for the West Yorkshire Playhouse; THE FAULT LINE by Massimo Bavastro for Croydon Warehouse Theatre; THE NORTHERN FOX by Noelle Renaude for the Royal Court Theatre; SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE by Philippe Gaulier; TITA LOU by Catherine Anne for the Meeting Ground Theatre Co.; DEJAVU by Edoarda Erba for Croydon Warehouse; PIRANDELLO x 3 for the New End Theatre;  DO YOU LOVE ME and GENOA 01 by Fausto Paravidino for The Royal Court Theatre; BUCCHETINO (THE TALE OF THUMBKIN) for the 2001 LIFT Festival (performed at Battersea Arts Centre); LES JUSTES by Albert Camus for the Gate Theatre London; DON’T LOOK TO TOMORROW by Filippo del Corno for the Almeida Opera Project; SONG FOR FALLUJAH by Francesco Niccolini for Croydon