Emma Rice

Last updated

Emma Rice
Born
Emma Juliet Rice

1967 (age 56–57)
Oxfordshire, England
Occupation(s) Director, Actress, Writer
Known for Kneehigh Theatre,
Shakespeare's Globe,
Wise Children

Emma Juliet Rice [1] (born August 1967) is a British actor, director and writer. Hailed as a fearless director, [2] Rice's work includes theatrical adaptations of Brief Encounter , The Red Shoes and Wise Children. In 2022, Rice was named in the Sky Arts Top 50 most influential British artists. [3] Rice worked with Kneehigh Theatre [4] in Cornwall for twenty years as an actor, director, then artistic director with co-artistic director, Mike Shepherd. She was the Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe from 2016-2018, before founding her own touring theatre company Wise Children. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life

Rice was born in Oxfordshire [7] and grew up in Nottingham where her mother was a social worker and her father was a lecturer in personnel management. [8] After studying English and Stage Design at Harrington College [9] Rice went on to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. [4]

Career

After graduating from Guildhall, Rice spent eight years working with Alibi Theatre, performing theatre that emphasised storytelling . [9] Alongside touring the UK and performing to children and communities with Alibi, Rice developed her craft, training in Poland, with Gardzienice, a company founded by Włodzimierz Staniewski. [8]

In 1994 Rice joined the Cornish theatre company, Kneehigh, as a performer. [10] After taking on increasing creative responsibilities, [9] Kneehigh Artistic directors Bill Mitchell and Mike Shepherd encouraged her to direct [11] and her first production, The Itch, was staged in 1999. [9] As a director, Rice says that her long-running production of The Red Shoes represented the point in her career when she came into her own. [11] [12] Rice went on to become the Artistic Director of Kneehigh, alongside Mike Shepherd, and under their stewardship Kneehigh produced a plethora of adaptations and original work, including Tristan and Yseult,The Bacchae and a 'seedy, dreamy' take on Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus. [13] Whilst Rice's work did not always appease critics, Kneehigh's 'visually stunning, inventive, often subversive and unashamedly populist' shows toured in the UK and internationally. [9]

In 2015 it was announced that Rice would take over from Dominic Dromgoole as artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, [14] [15] with Rice applying for the role despite stating “I have tried to sit down with Shakespeare but it doesn’t work... I get very sleepy and then suddenly I want to listen to The Archers.” [16] After a summer season that included Rice's A Midsummer Night's Dream and 'exceptionally strong' box office returns, [17] it was announced in October 2016 that Rice would leave the Globe in April 2018. The announcement followed a decision by the theatre's board, which cited concerns over authenticity and her use of lighting technology [18] [19] after she steadfastly refused to abide by the Globe’s founding principles of “shared light” and non-amplified sound. [20] Previous Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole disagreed with Rice's attempts to move away from this traditional "shared light" - in which the actors and audience are in the same light - which he said was "at the heart of her disagreements with colleagues and the board". [21] Her final Shakespeare production at the Globe was Twelfth Night, which received middling reviews, [22] [23] with the Arts Desk stating the production "ends up giving two fingers to Shakespeare, which rather makes the board’s case for them." [24]

In 2017 Rice announced her new touring theatre company, Wise Children. [6] Standard Issue Magazine made her their woman of the year in 2016 for “her fearlessness, leadership, innovation and bravery”. [2] Wise Children was accepted into Arts Council England’s group of regularly supported organisations and allocated annual funding of £475,000 from 2018. This was not without controversy however; Christy Romer, a journalist for Arts Professional, said that allowing Wise Children into the Arts Council’s national portfolio despite its lack of any track record “makes a mockery of the entire arts funding system”. [25]

During the COVID-19 pandemic Rice's Wise Children live streamed a fully staged production to a global audience with their production of Romantics Anonymous which had been due to tour the US prior to the pandemic. [26] [27] [28] Alongside the live streams Rice also presents a podcast series looking behind the scenes of her work and process [29]

In 2021, Rice directed an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights which toured at Bristol Old Vic and Theare Royal Brighton, receiving mixed [30] [31] [32] to positive [33] [34] [35] reviews from critics.

Emma Rice Production Credits
ProductionsYear Of Originating ProductionRoleProduction CompanyNotes
The Itch [36] 1999Director/PerformerKneehigh Theatre
The Red Shoes2000Adapter/DirectorKneehigh TheatreThis production has had numerous revivals
Cry Wolf2001PerformerKneehigh Theatre
Pandora's Box2002Adapter/Performer/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Tristan & Yseult [37] 2003Adapter/Performer/DirectorKneehigh TheatreThis production has had numerous revivals
The Wooden Frock2004Adapter/Performer/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
The Bacchae2005Adaptor/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Nights At The Circus2006Adapter/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Cymbeline [38] 2006Director/PerformerKneehigh Theatre
Rapunzel2006DirectorKneehigh Theatre
A Matter Of Life & Death2007Adapter/DirectorNational Theatre
Brief Encounter2007Adapter/DirectorDavid Pugh/Kneehigh TheatreThis production has had numerous revivals
Don John [39] 2008Adapter/DirectorKneehigh Theatre/RSC
The Wild Bride2011Adapter/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Midnight's Pumpkin2011Adapter/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Steptoe & Son [40] 2012Adapter/DirectorKneehigh Theatre
Rebecca [41] [42] 2015Adapter/DirectorDavid Pugh/Kneehigh Theatre
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg [43] 2011Director
Oedipussy [44] 2012DirectorSpyMonkey
The Empress [45] 2013DirectorRSCA Play by Tanika Gupta
The Flying Lovers Of Vitebsk2016DirectorKneehigh TheatreBased on a play by Daniel Jamieson & Emma Rice (The Birthday) [46]
9462017Adapter/DirectorKneehigh TheatreBased on the book by Michael Morpurgo (The Story of Adolphus Tips) [47]
A Midsummer Nights Dream [48] 2016DirectorShakespeare's GlobeAlso broadcast by the BBC [49]
Wah Wah Girls [50] 2015DirectorSadlers WellsA Play by Tanika Gupta, music by Niraj Chag [51]
Twelfth Night2017DirectorShakespeare's Globe
The Little Match Girl2017DirectorShakespeare's Globe
Romantics Anonymous2016DirectorShakespeare's GlobeAdapted and directed by Emma Rice with music by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond
Wise Children [52] 2018Adapter/DirectorWise ChildrenA co-production with The Old Vic London, Bristol Old Vic & York Theatre Royal. Based on the novel by Angela Carter. This production was also filmed for cinema release and broadcast by the BBC. [53]
Bagdad Cafe2021Adapter/DirectorWise ChildrenA co-production with The Old Vic London based on the film by Percy Adlon. [54] This production was also Live Streamed as part of the Old Vic In Camera series.
Malory Towers2019Adapter/DirectorWise ChildrenBased on the books of Enid Blyton. A co-production with David Pugh
Wuthering Heights2021Adapter/DirectorWise ChildrenBased on the novel by Emily Bronté. This production has been filmed for Sky Arts.
Blue Beard2024Adapter/DirectorWise ChildrenA co-production with Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and York Theatre Royal, [55] based on the French folktale.

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References

  1. ↑ "Emma Juliet RICE – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 Campbell, Karen. "Woman of the Year: Emma Rice". Standard Issue Magazine. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "HE'S A STARMAN! The 50 most influential British artists of the last 50 years revealed". www.skygroup.sky. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 "theartsdesk Q&A: Director Emma Rice". theartsdesk.com. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Whats On Stage News Release".
  6. 1 2 "Playbill".
  7. ↑ "findmypast.co.uk". Search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Emma Rice: 'I don't know how I got to be so controversial'". the Guardian. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Liptrott, Josephine (13 December 2016). "BIOGRAPHY: Emma Rice – Theatre Director". The Heroine Collective. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Shakespeare's Globe appoints Emma Rice as new artistic director". the Guardian. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  11. 1 2 Laura Barnett, Portrait of the artist: Emma Rice, artistic director, The Guardian, 29 May 2012.
  12. ↑ Elisabeth Mahoney, The Red Shoes, The Guardian, 3 August 2010.
  13. ↑ "Emma Rice: The director with sky-high ambitions". The Independent. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "Shakespeare's Globe appoints Emma Rice as new artistic director". the Guardian. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - Best of Today, New Globe director on changes to Shakespeare". BBC. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  16. ↑ Brown, Mark; correspondent, Mark Brown Arts (5 January 2016). "The Globe's Emma Rice: 'If anybody bended gender it was Shakespeare'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "Emma Rice to step down as artistic director at Shakespeare's Globe". the Guardian. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Emma Rice: Shakespeare's Globe boss to leave over lighting row". BBC News Online . BBC. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  19. ↑ Brown, Mark (25 October 2016). "Emma Rice to step down as artistic director at Shakespeare's Globe". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  20. ↑ Writer, Richard Morrison, Chief Culture (29 February 2024). "Globe's choice of great Shakespearean actress is a canny move". ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 29 February 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "Shakespeare's Globe: The real-life drama that led Emma Rice to quit". BBC News. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  22. ↑ Treneman, Ann (29 February 2024). "Theatre review: Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe". ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  23. ↑ Billington, Michael (25 May 2017). "Twelfth Night review – Emma Rice's Highland fling brings that sinking feeling". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  24. ↑ "Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's Globe review - Emma Rice goes out with a bang". theartsdesk.com. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  25. ↑ "£2m in Arts Council funding for Emma Rice's new company is everything that's wrong with the arts". ArtsProfessional. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  26. ↑ White, Jessica (20 August 2020). "Romantics Anonymous is to stream online from the Bristol Old Vic". Stage Chat. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  27. ↑ Turnbull, Greig Box (24 August 2020). "Covid-19 hit theatre musical Romantics Anonymous, returns via live stream". TicketCo UK. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "Culture in lockdown: Emma Rice – 'Running has been the only thing that has cleared my mind'". The Stage. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  29. ↑ "Wise Children on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "National Theatre's Wuthering Heights is blustering and boisterous – review". The Independent. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  31. ↑ "Wuthering Heights, National Theatre review - too much heat, not enough light". theartsdesk.com. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Evans, Suzy (10 February 2022). "'Wuthering Heights' at the National Theatre review — Emma Rice brings humour to the Emily Brontë novel". London Theatre. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  33. ↑ "Wuthering Heights review – Emma Rice's audacious riff on Emily Brontë's classic | Theatre". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  34. ↑ Lukowski, Andrzej. "The National Theatre's 'Wuthering Heights' is a stormy triumph". Time Out London. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  35. ↑ Curtis, Nick (7 February 2022). "Wuthering Heights review: Brontë brings joy to the National Theatre". Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  36. ↑ "The Itch - 1999". warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  37. ↑ "Mediaeval romance feels like starting over". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  38. ↑ "Cymbeline · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  39. ↑ "What to say about … Kneehigh's Don John". the Guardian. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  40. ↑ "Steptoe and Son – review". the Guardian. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  41. ↑ Kneehigh Theatre, Rebecca: Directed and adapted by EMMA RICE.
  42. ↑ "Rebecca review – Kneehigh add extra shivers to Du Maurier's chilling tale". the Guardian. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  43. ↑ Maxwell, Dominic. "Talking to... Emma Rice on Umbrellas of Cherbourg". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  44. ↑ "Spymonkey > OEDIPUSSY". www.spymonkey.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  45. ↑ "The Empress | By Tanika Gupta | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  46. ↑ Ltd, Supercool (26 August 2022). "An Interview with Daniel Jamieson and Emma Rice". Bristol Old Vic. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  47. ↑ stefanlesik (14 July 2016). "The Globe's Emma Rice and Michael Morpurgo talk 946: The Story of Adolphus Tips". Michael Morpurgo. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  48. ↑ Trueman, Matt (6 May 2016). "London Theater Review: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Directed by Emma Rice". Variety. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  49. ↑ "BBC - Shakespeare Lives, A Midsummer Night's Dream". BBC. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  50. ↑ "Wah! Wah! Girls". Tanika Gupta. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  51. ↑ "WAH! WAH! GIRLS". World Stages London. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  52. ↑ "WISE CHILDREN | 2018 Production". Wise Children v3. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  53. ↑ "Emma Rice's Wise Children". The Space. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  54. ↑ "Things to know about Bagdad Cafe - Old Vic Theatre". www.oldvictheatre.com. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  55. ↑ "Blue Beard". HOME. February 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
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