 two cows, various sheep and many chickens. She would regularly attend the theatre, often to see Eastern Angles Theatre Company. She believes their simple low tech techniques of telling humanistic stories still influences her work today.
In 2005, Rebekah migrated North to Yorkshire to study acting at degree level. The course focused on devising and writing and substantiated her passion for creating original work.
After graduating she co-founded Chotto Ookii Theatre Company. With them she devised and performed in two productions, both of which toured nationally. In 2006, they were awarded The Total Theatre Best Newcomers Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Today Rebekah lives in Leeds, and works as a puppeteer, performer and creative arts project manager. Currently Rebekah is touring the U.K festival circuit with a full body bright green walk about puppet named Lois. The Autumn will see her once again working with Odd Doll Theatre of Puppetry to create their new family show and returning to Berlin for further experimentation with COSmino Theatre. Below is an account of Rebekah's creative endeavours to date: October 2012 - Director - The New Mother A Halloween happening on Woodhouse Ridge, collaborating with Leed's based storyteller Matthew Bellwood, combining spoken word, music and shadow play. The New Mother - 2012 October 2012 - Drama Facilitator - HRM Prison Armley Delivered a week long project within the prison with prisoners and their children. This ground breaking project focused on building family relationships prior to release to reduce re-offending. July 2012 - Shadow Puppeteer - Tiger Shadow Completed her first music video for Leeds based hip hop outfit; Tiger Shadow. Puppetry & Performance July 2012 - Co-Producer/Director - Peter Pan Co-produced and directed Peter Pan at Gipton Together working with young people aged 6-16. May - June 2012 - Puppeteer - Odd Doll Theatre of Puppetry Devised the company's first production; The Trick, and completed a short promotional tour.Puppetry & Performance "An important voice in puppetry… [they] venture well beyond mere adaptation of Andersen and Kafka to make their own compelling mythology." Total Theatre April 2012 - Drama Facilitator - HRM Prison Armley Delivered a week long project within the prison with prisoners and their children. This ground breaking project focused on building family relationships prior to release to reduce re-offending. April 2012 - Shadow Puppetry and Phyiscal Theatre Practitioner - Northern Ballet Lead artist on a week-long project combining shadow puppetry, physical theatre and ballet for young people ages 7-16. March 2012 - Puppetry Adviser - COSmino Theatre Working in Berlin advising in object manipulation and shadow play on their new production; Tales From The Mother Ground. January 2012 - Puppeteer - Whispers Developing a new production at Freedom Studios, Bradford working in object manipulation and shadow installation with Elise Rhode Hansen. December 2012 - Shadow Puppet Workshop Facilitator - Opera North Leading a group of young people ages 12-16 with Asperger’s Syndrome to devise and make a shadow puppet performance. December 2012 - Shadow Puppeteer -World on a String A shadow puppet performance to an original musical score created by Musical Arc, an ensemble of disabled & non-disabled musicians. World on a String - 2011
July 2011 - Puppeteer - The Garden Performs her first full length solo puppetry piece at Buxton Puppetry Festival. The Garden - 2011 July 2011 - Project Manager/Director - Time to Face The Music Directed a self devised performance with a group of young people with autistic spectrum condition.
May 2011 - - Co-Producer - The Wizard of Oz Co-produced The Wizard of Oz at Gipton Together working with young people aged 6-16. For images follow this link- The Wizard of Oz - 2011 February 2011 - Actor - Seaweed Under the Sofa Plays the love interest in the music video for Biscuithead and The Biscuit Badger's 'Seaweed Under The Sofa'. For video follow this link-Seaweed Under the Sofa - 2011 February 2011 - Puppeteer - Ballroom of Shadows Shadow puppet installation at Bitter Orange's Mothstep. For images follow this link-Ballroom of Shadows - 2011 January - April 2011 - Project Manager - Fairfield Castle Manages a team of artists to transform a classroom into a castle at Bramley Primary School, Leeds, and deliver a series of interactive performance workshops from within the set. For images follow this link- Fairfield Castle - 2011
January 2009 - December 2011 - Drama Facilitator - Specialist Autism Services/Sacar
In this role, Rebekah delivers therapeutic drama sessions to adults with Autistic Spectrum Condition and Asperger's Syndrome at Specialist Autism Services, Bradford. With the group she has directed and produced one self-devised production, 'Solo's Journey'.
For images follow this link- Solo's Journey 2010
May 2008 - December 2011 - Co-Director - The Ladybird Project
Co-director of 'The Ladybird Project', a touring creative arts workshop and performance venue based in Leeds. Within the organisation she delivers puppetry workshops from her caravan 'Gladys', performs puppetry as part of the cabaret, designs signs and decorations for the space and performs walkabout theatre. She also leads Ladybird workshops at local community events and work behind the scenes to coordinate volunteers.
For images follow this link- The Ladybird Project-2008-Present
October 2010 - Shadow Puppeteer - Blood Curdle Performed a Halloween-themed shadow puppet show as part of Blood Curdle, an interactive 'house of horror' show curated by Sheffield's Green Top Circus. For images follow this link- Blood Curdle 2010
May 2010 - September 2010 - Puppeteer - Once Upon An Old Suitcase Toured her self-devised puppetry piece Once Upon an Old Suitcase, performing at various festivals and events across the UK. For images follow this link- Once Upon An Old Suitcase - 2010
April 2010 - Co-Producer - Annie 2010 Co-produced Annie 2010 at Gipton Together working with young people aged 6-16.
July 2010 - Parade Coordinator - Kendal Calling Festival Designed and curated a large scale parade at Kendal Calling Festival, an interactive piece that incorporated giant puppets made by young people over a series of workshops, live music and choreographed movement.
June 2009 - February 2010 Toured her self-devised piece Matilda, performing at various festivals and events across the UK including Glastonbury Festival and Bootleggers and Baptists, Sheffield. For images follow this link- Matilda 2009
July 2009 Facilitates A Play In A Day at Manifest, Hull.
May 2009 - Co-Producer - Bugsy Malone Co-produced Bugsy Malone at Gipton Together working with young people aged 6-16. June 2005 - December 2008 - Co-founder, writer, performer and financial director - Chotto Ookii Theatre Company Co-founded Chotto Ookii Theatre Company in 2005 and went on to coordinate two national tours, perform at Germany's Arena Festival and win the Total Theatre's Best Newcomes Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006. During this time Rebekah developed excellent performance skills in physical theatre, dance, mime and puppetry. For images follow this link- Chotto Ookii Theatre Company 2005-2008
August 2008 - Dancing Robot - Infest Devised and performed a stage performance supporting one of the main act's at Infest Music Festival.
October 2007 - Puppet Maker and Puppeteer - The Leeds Pageant Worked to create and develop a performance with giant puppets at the Leeds Pageant with Pointed Arrow Theatre Company. For images follow this link- Leeds Pageant 2007
September 2002 - June 2005 Completed a BA(Hons) degree in acting at Bretton Hall College, specialising in Post Modern Theatre and Theatre in Education.
September 2000 - June 2002 Completed A-levels in Performance Studies, Theatre Studies and Film Studies at at Hewitt Framlingham Earl Sixth Form College, Norwich.
March 1999 - October 2001 Worked with Crude Apache Theatre Company, touring the pubs and parks of Norfolk with self-devised productions.
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Biography |