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Emma Rice

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This article is about the theatre director. For other people with the same name, see Emma Rice (disambiguation).
Emma Rice
Born
Emma Juliet Rice

1967 (age 56–57)
Oxfordshire, England
Occupation(s)Director, Actress, Writer
Known forKneehigh 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 to 2018, before founding her own touring theatre company Wise Children.[5][6]

Early life

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Rice was born in Oxfordshire, England,[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

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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] While 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,[10][14] 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."[15] After a summer season that included Rice's A Midsummer Night's Dream and 'exceptionally strong' box office returns,[16] 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[16][17] after she steadfastly refused to abide by the Globe's founding principles of “shared light" and non-amplified sound.[18] 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".[19] Her final Shakespeare production at the Globe was Twelfth Night, which received middling reviews,[20][21] with the Arts Desk stating the production "ends up giving two fingers to Shakespeare, which rather makes the board’s case for them."[22]

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".[23]

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.[24][25][26] Alongside the live streams Rice also presents a podcast series looking behind the scenes of her work and process[27]

In 2021, Rice directed an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights that toured at Bristol Old Vic and Theare Royal Brighton, receiving mixed[28][29][30] to positive[31][32][33] reviews from critics.

Emma Rice Production Credits
Productions Year Of Originating Production Role Production Company Notes
The Itch[34] 1999 Director/Performer Kneehigh Theatre
The Red Shoes 2000 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre This production has had numerous revivals
Cry Wolf 2001 Performer Kneehigh Theatre
Pandora's Box 2002 Adapter/Performer/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Tristan & Yseult[35] 2003 Adapter/Performer/Director Kneehigh Theatre This production has had numerous revivals
The Wooden Frock 2004 Adapter/Performer/Director Kneehigh Theatre
The Bacchae 2005 Adaptor/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Nights At The Circus 2006 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Cymbeline[36] 2006 Director/Performer Kneehigh Theatre
Rapunzel 2006 Director Kneehigh Theatre
A Matter Of Life & Death 2007 Adapter/Director National Theatre
Brief Encounter 2007 Adapter/Director David Pugh/Kneehigh Theatre This production has had numerous revivals
Don John[37] 2008 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre/RSC
The Wild Bride 2011 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Midnight's Pumpkin 2011 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Steptoe & Son[38] 2012 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre
Rebecca[39][40] 2015 Adapter/Director David Pugh/Kneehigh Theatre
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg[41] 2011 Director
Oedipussy[42] 2012 Director SpyMonkey
The Empress[43] 2013 Director RSC A Play by Tanika Gupta
The Flying Lovers Of Vitebsk 2016 Director Kneehigh Theatre Based on a play by Daniel Jamieson & Emma Rice (The Birthday)[44]
946 2017 Adapter/Director Kneehigh Theatre Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo (The Story of Adolphus Tips)[45]
A Midsummer Night's Dream[46] 2016 Director Shakespeare's Globe Also broadcast by the BBC[47]
Wah Wah Girls[48] 2015 Director Sadlers Wells A Play by Tanika Gupta, music by Niraj Chag[49]
Twelfth Night 2017 Director Shakespeare's Globe
The Little Match Girl 2017 Director Shakespeare's Globe
Romantics Anonymous 2016 Director Shakespeare's Globe Adapted and directed by Emma Rice with music by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond
Wise Children[50] 2018 Adapter/Director Wise Children A 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.[51]
Bagdad Cafe 2021 Adapter/Director Wise Children A co-production with The Old Vic London based on the film by Percy Adlon.[52] This production was also Live Streamed as part of the Old Vic In Camera series.
Malory Towers 2019 Adapter/Director Wise Children Based on the books of Enid Blyton. A co-production with David Pugh
Wuthering Heights 2021 Adapter/Director Wise Children Based on the novel by Emily Bronté. This production has been filmed for Sky Arts.
Blue Beard 2024 Adapter/Director Wise Children A co-production with Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and York Theatre Royal,[53] based on the French folktale.

References

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