Rebecca Gadsby
Theatre Director
Current/Upcoming work (2020):
1. in production for a new Theatre App to coincide with a future production of A Midsummer Night's Dream; a ground-breaking new show. See www.digitalmidsummer.com
2. Creating short "Theatre at Home" videos with Fly High Stories as part of their "At Home" project. See https://www.flyhighstories.co.uk/the-emperor-s-new-clothes
About
She began her professional career in theatre at the age of 15 as a child actor in a production with Opera North. She later went on to Warwick University to study Theatre and Performance, where her ground-breaking work into Reminiscence Theatre earned her a 1st class honours. Since then she has directed almost 70 full-scale theatre productions for Mid-scale Theatre, studio theatres, Fringe, Open Air Theatre, T.I.E and Site-Specific performances.
Her knowledge and expertise of the Regency and Victorian periods has helped to create a series of successful adaptations of Austen, Dickens, Brontë's, Wilde and Elizabeth Gaskell. It is rare that her period dramas receive anything less than a 5 Star review, and this has helped to carve a reputation for excellent quality period dramas on stage.
Career highlights have included a production of Pride & Prejudice which was performed to 3,000 people at Chatsworth House; the biggest event of it's kind in the UK. In 2011, her production of Sense and Sensibility was used in the BBC2 documentary, The Many Lovers of Austen (aired Boxing Day, 2011 on BBC 2). Most recently, she directed Johnathon Lynn's Yes Prime Minister and Alan Ayckbourn's Communicating Doors for the re-opening of the Leatherhead Rep Season, receiving 4 and 5 star reviews respectively.
Rebecca is currently on a journey to create her own work, and has set up her own production company RG PRODUCTIONS. Since Winter 2016, she has been developing technology in theatre in association with Quad Arts Centre, Derby and a number of other partners. This ground breaking work is intended to assist story-telling, fuel imaginations and to engage a younger audience with theatre. She is currently leading an innovative project to develop a "Theatre App" in association with this production, which has been funded by Innovate UK. Due to release in September 2020.
For a full list of credits, please see the profile on Mandy or click here
Credits
For a full list, please see the profile on Mandy or click here
Reviews
PRIDE & PREJUDICE: “The acting, direction and script were all pin sharp, and the cast received a standing ovation from the enraptured audience.” *****"
Nick Le Mesurier, 4th May 2018Leamington Courier
COMMUNICATING DOORS: “Hilarious, inventive and brilliant rep at the Leatherhead Theatre this week – no spoilers – just go and see Ayckbourn at its best!” *****"
Janice WindleEssential Surrey, 3rd May 2018
JANE EYRE: “Rebecca Gadsby’s direction exhibits great clarity with excellent use of the small stage to depict such a vast tale.” ****"
Francesca Morrison, 27th July 2015The Stage
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: "...a rugged and fearless production...immersing us in a desperate melodrama " The Stage, 27th June 2014 ****"
Francesca Morrison, 27th June 2014The Stage
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: “This lively production is marked by clear delivery and well-choreographed physical antics. Director Rebecca Gadsby envisages the entire plot as a dream in which bizarre things happen and her physical comedy works well.” ****"
Kevin Berry, 2014The Stage
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: The team managed to deliver a sugar-coated wrapping containing absurd humour, surprises, song and dance, sparkling repartee with the audience, and a heart-warming message. Can live theatre get any better than that? *****""
Time Mottershead, Dec 18th 2011Remotegote
TWELFTH NIGHT "...the audience were whisked away into a fantasy world of music, trickery, mistaken identity and love...the physical comedy element was exaggerated to great effect." Birmingham Mail 18th July 2013"
18th July 2013Birmingham Mail
SENSE & SENSIBILITY: "...they didn't disappoint. a five-star show.*****""
Hubert Murphey, July 27th 2011Drogheda Independent
CRANFORD: "the characters matter, their schemes and hopes grip, their embarrassments are enjoyed. ****""
Kevin Berry, August, 2011The Stage
