James Brining was born and brought up in Leeds and is Artistic Director/Chief Executive of Leeds Playhouse. After studying English at University, he ran his own theatre company in Newcastle on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme before becoming Artistic Director of Proteus Theatre Company, a new writing company touring community venues and small theatres around the South of England. He then moved to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond where he was Community Director making work in both schools and theatre spaces. In 1997, he moved to Glasgow to take up the post of Artistic Director of TAG Theatre Company, the national touring company making work for and with children and young people throughout Scotland. In 2003, he was appointed Artistic Director/CEO of Dundee Rep, where he directed new and classic work including Sweeney Todd and Sunshine on Leith which won UK Theatre Best Musical Award in 2010 and 2007 respectively. Since joining Leeds Playhouse in 2012, he has directed a range of shows from new plays to large scale musicals including Oliver!, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Little Night Music (co-production with Opera North), The Wizard of Oz, Into the Woods (co-production with Opera North), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He re-created Sweeney Todd for Welsh National Opera at Wales Millennium Centre as well as in Brussels for La Monnaie and in Copenhagen for Royal Danish Opera. For Opera North: The Magic Flute.

Writing credits include: Macbeth (an Undoing), The Scent of Roses, The Duchess (of Malfi), Rhinoceros, Christmas Tales (all Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh); This Restless House (Citizens Theatre / National Theatre of Scotland), Meet Me At Dawn (Traverse Theatre), How To Hold Your Breath, Nightingale and Chase (Royal Court Theatre), The Wheel, Julie (National Theatre of Scotland), Further than the Furthest Thing (Royal National Theatre/Tron Theatre); Midwinter, Solstice (RSC); Fall (Traverse Theatre/RSC); By Many Wounds (Hampstead Theatre); A Doll’s House (Donmar Warehouse).
Directing credits include: The Scent of Roses, The Duchess (of Malfi), A Number (all Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh), Gut (Traverse Theatre / National Theatre of Scotland), Tracks of the Winter Bear (Traverse Theatre), The Garden (Sound Festival), Midwinter, Solstice (RSC), Gilt (7:84), Dealers Choice (Tron Theatre)
Television includes: Partners in Crime, Spooks, (both BBC1) Richard Is My Boyfriend, Born With Two Mothers (Channel 4)
Film credits include: Writer and Director for her short film A Glimpse.
Awards include: Zinnie has received multiple playwriting and directing awards including the 1999 Peggy Ramsay Award, John Whiting Award, Arts Foundation Fellowship award and several Fringe First Awards. Her short film A Glimpse won best short drama at SMHAF Festival. She was joint winner of the 2011 Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award.  Zinnie won the CATS award for Best Director for her production of A Number at The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and Best New Play for This Restless House. Macbeth (an undoing) has been nominated for four Drama Desk awards 2024 including Outstanding Adaptation.
Zinnie is currently the Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.