Aranza Coello

After studying acting at Canary Islands Acting School (EAC), she continued her studies in London (Philippe Gaulier and Complicité). She earned a master’s degree (first-class honours) in theatrical creation directed by Juan Mayorga at the UC3M university in Madrid, she participated in acting and playwriting workshops (Gabriel Calderón, Will Keen, Claudio Tolcachir, La Zaranda, Pablo Messiez, Álvaro Tato and Lucía Miranda), and trained in ballet and contemporary dance (Daniel Abreu, Paloma Hurtado, Laura Marrero and Alberto Cortés). She has been a professional actress since the 1990s. In 2003, she founded Burka Teatro, with over 25 theatrical productions to her credit. Author and director of research projects on language and movement: La batalla (2015, translated to French by the Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers) and TheRoomToBe (2018), which won the SGAE Teatro Autor Exprés award. She wrote and directed ¡Valientes! (2017) and the monologue Nos-otros, Historia de un secuestro (2021). She is the founder of the artistic collective about migration El patio de mi casa no es particular, sobre migración (2020). In 2022, she created #CAER.Del suelo no pasas, from which the one-person show Desprendimiento (2024) derived (shortlisted in 2025 MAX awards). She wrote and directed Mala sangre for Estudio Guimerá (2024), and adapted the novel La Tuerta (2025). She has taught drama since 1998 and she has been involved in artistic mediation in the Canary Islands, Bolivia and Mexico. Awarded in Spain and abroad as actress, director and creator: two nominations to MAX awards (La Lapa and Senderos de Gloria); Arkoiris award for best theatrical director (2023); Premio Nacional José María Rodero award for stage director (2015) and Premio Réplica Especial award for playwriting and direction for La Batalla), and three Premios Réplica awards for best actress (2010, 2012, 2014) and best leading actress - Festival de Mar del Plata-Argentina (2010). In film, she has worked with directors Sinje Köhler (Allmen, 2023), Pablo Vilas (Las cosas queridas, 2022), Daniel Monzón (Yucatán, 2018), Andrés Koppel (La niebla y la doncella, 2017), Gracia Querejeta (Felices 140, 2015), Lucas Fernández (Óscar, 2008) and Patrick Bencomo (Cero, 2006).